Case Study Essential Care Needs

Kate is a 66-year-old lady, retired from her job as a nurse 10 years ago. She has lived alone since the death of her husband 7 years ago, and has one very supportive son who lives locally and visits 2-3 times a week. Kate was referred to the hospital by her doctor after presenting with an 18-month history of memory problems and it was decided that she should attend the day hospital for a period of six weeks to be assessed and to be involved in therapeutic activities whilst there.

Susan is a 78 year old widowed lady who was admitted to a medical ward following an episode of coffee brown vomiting and breathlessness. Susan has a past medical history of chronic

In this Assessment nursing course, one of the major things that is taught is the most important part of giving proper care to a patient. Correct patient assessment is needed before any nursing care plan or treatment can be implemented. This post-review of a person’s assessment will demonstrate the proper way to go about assessing a person’s health.

R.H. has a large, active family in the area who assist in his care and plan of treatment as much as possible, and provide daily visits. Prior to the most recent hospital admission, the family reports he was an active man who lived alone, and was quite capable of caring for himself and his house. He has a wife who suffers from dementia and is cared for by their children. He meets with his primary care doctor as well as a home health nurse frequently to monitor his condition and review treatment options. Additionally, the patient is a non-practicing Catholic, with a close group of friends and other support systems within the community. Even with the high level of support he has, the patient is still at an increased risk for ineffective coping due to the sudden onset of his symptoms. Due to his continued weakness and confusion related to high levels of pain medications, much of the decision making is left up to his family, particularly his eldest daughter causing stress for the whole family. Because of his self-care deficit, which will likely extend after discharge, he will likely require extensive rehabilitation as well as being required to live either with family members or in a care facility. The patient and family will need to be continually monitored for ineffective coping for the duration of his hospital stay, as well as following discharge.

In May of 2012, my mother had suffered her third sever stroke and was hospitalized with pneumonia for a month but could not remain in the hospital die to my father's inability to pay for her hospitalization. As a result of her stroke, she also developed Parkinson's disease. My mother was seriously suffering from Type II Diabetes, abnormal heart murmurs, high blood pressure

Normal aging is a gradual decline in certain processes (Gladyshev, & Gladyshev, 2016). The decline is not static and can be increased or reduced depending on choices made (Gladyshev, & Gladyshev, 2016). Changes commonly attributed to aging include declines in the five senses, most organ systems, appearance and brain function (Tully, 2016). The five senses include reduction in taste buds, smell, ability to hear high frequency sounds and speech discrimination, reduced ability to see in the dark and a reduction in tactile sensory (Tully, 2016). In the organ systems there is a reduction in the hearts response to work, bone mass, skin turgor, vital capacity in the lungs, renal and colon function (Tully, 2016). Most notable is the age-related changes

On Sunday, January 10, 2016 at approximately 2135 hours, FHEO Security Officers were dispatched to the Special Care Unit (SCU) room E.D. #38 for a Disorderly Baker Act patient attempting to leave. Security Officer Omar Alonso along with Officer Thomas Mejia and Supervisor Steven Evans, arrived at 2136 hours and met with Nurse Kristen Strauch who was standing next to the patient. The patient, Tyler Hull (DOB: 01/07/1987; FIN# 85068604) was in a state of anxiety and stating that he could no longer take being coped up in a room and he needed to leave. Security staff explained to the patient what the Baker Act Law meant and why he was not allowed to leave until he had been medically cleared and seen by a Psychotherapist.

According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA), the use of nursing diagnoses is to assists the nurse in assessments and treatments of nursing problems. It provides an outline for the nursing model, and gives nurses a reference. The nursing diagnosis provides a clear focus for the development of health goals and nursing interventions. Nursing diagnoses and interventions focuses on individual patient crises, specific interventions, or medical diagnose (Warren, 1998). “It is imperative that information on common nursing diagnoses and interventions be researched, discussed, and incorporated into education and training” (Warren, 1998).

Systematic and accurate health assessments conducted by the nurse allows healthcare providers to identify and encourage positive health behaviours that may aid with the patients recovery (ARHQ 2013). It also helps to ensure that the treatment plan is safe, and it provides an opportunity for adult patients to share their opinions on the different treatments that are available (American Society of Clinical Oncology 2012). Other than that, nurses play an important role in health assessment because it may allow for an early detection of any underlying and subsequent health risks that may be present within the patient (Singapore General Hospital 2014). This enables the nurse to treat the risk before it systematically spreads, allowing for control over the complication, and lowers the risk of further deterioration (Singapore General Hospital 2014). Lastly, nurse related health assessments allows for a holistic approach towards identifying any physiological, psychological, cultural, psychosocial and spiritual deterioration that may be present within the patient (Dillon 2007, p.

For the past seven years I have seen my great-grandmother struggle with mobility. She has a weak heart with two valves that are very weak. This cause for her to have poor blood flow to her legs. She has developed sores that cause throbbing pain with bloody discharge. She struggles to walk and care for herself every day. Yet she does not give up and refuses to use assisted living.

The family live on an island 80 km’s away from Brisbane’s major hospitals, with a population of 18 thousand which does not have the medical service to support Jane’s specialised needs (Australian Bureau of Statistics,

An assessment was conducted in the clients home, patient felt it would give us more privacy and her husband was not at home. Patient lives at home have always had a healthy relationship with her husband almost 55 years. Retired registered nurse who maintains all her faculties. FB is a 78-year-old female who has a history of hypertension, the beginning stages of CHF, injured right hip and leg, and stress incontinence. FB visits her PMD annually to her annual examines. Monitors her blood pressure by exercising, preparing meals at home and watching sodium intake. Overall, patient lives a healthy lifestyle. Even though she has discomfort in right hip/leg and occasionally lower back pain,

2007). Chronic pain could act as a barrier to teaching/learning as well as affecting her ADLs and IADLs if not well controlled and not well managed. (Kozier, 2014). Inactivity can increase the risks of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer (NIH, 2012), and prolonged bed rest will increase the risk of developing DVT, circulatory complications, atelectasis, pressure ulcers, constipation and muscle atrophy (SHHC, 2005). Malnutrition/high sodium content put the patient at risk for nutriment deficiency (vitamins, iron, calcium, etc.), lack of energy, deficit in self-care, impaired skin integrity, activity intolerance, delayed wound healing and susceptibility to infection, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, kidney failure (Lewis, 2014). Mrs R lives alone which puts her at risk for falls, social isolation, depression, poor nutrition, inability to keep up with daily chores and housekeeping (neglect), medication management and economic issues (BJGP, 2007). Resources: She has good social support from her daughter and granddaughter, her oncologist at the CLSC and mainly from her friends through social

Physiological changes occur with aging in all organ systems. The cardiac output decreases, blood pressure increases and arteriosclerosis develops. The lungs show impaired gas exchange, a decrease in vital capacity and slower expiratory flow rates. The creatinine clearance decreases with age although the serum creatinine level remains relatively constant due to a proportionate age-related decrease in creatinine production. Functional'changes, largely related to altered motility patterns, occur in the gastrointestinal system with senescence, and atrophic gastritis and altered hepatic drug metabolism are common in the elderly.

Assessment in nursing has been determined by the problem-solving framework of the nursing process and nursing models. It is a dynamic and continuous process as clients needs change; it promotes individualized care and responds to clients in a responsible and timely manner to improve or maintain their level of health (RCN, 2004). A health assessment not only comprises of gathering health information about a patient, but also analyzing and synthesizing the information, and evaluating the effectiveness of nursing interventions on patients health care outcomes (Weber & Kelley, 2013).