Our client, Ertha Williams is a 99 year old female who lives alone in a low-income apartment complex on the second floor in Monroe, Michigan. Ertha suffers from chronic kidney disease and has a history of hypertension and type one diabetes. Due to her chronic kidney disease Ertha has regular scheduled dialysis appointments three times a week, but since the death of her son and husband and her inability to drive it is difficult for Ertha to get to her dialysis appointments. She also has difficulties preparing the multiple medication she is required to take to manage her hypertension and diabetes. After her last dialysis appointment the nurse reported that Ertha appeared frail and emaciated. Ertha herself also stated that she worries about financial issues frequently and has good and bad days occasionally. Based on these findings Ertha is in need of some assistance to help alleviate some of the problems and stresses she is undergoing. Several nursing diagnoses can be established based on Ertha’s current situation and through these diagnoses it will be easier to establish what kind of services Ertha will need from the surrounding community of Monroe and what types of barriers she might encounter in attempting to access these services.
Ertha’s most prominent issues are her inability to get to her prescribed dialysis appointments three times a week and the difficulties she has in preparing her medications. Based on this evidence a nursing diagnosis of ineffective health
The knowledge of nursing sensitive indicator can be helpful in providing the patient care which meets the quality and ethical standards. Nursing sensitive indicators rely on evidence to take patient care decisions (Patrician, 2010). According to Patrician (2010), Evidence Based Nursing is the use of personal expertise and research to take decisions on patient care. In case of Mr. J, there is a clear lack of evidence based nursing. Mr. J was kept in restraint without considering that Mr. J was not trying to get out of bed by himself. When the pressure ulcer was identified, the nurse
Ms. Cetiner has been an RN in the hemodialysis unit for the past 6 years. She provides excellent care to our Veterans, and consistently functions in a professional manner with staff, patients and families. She was part of a unit I CARE award presented by Dr. Mayo-Smith for quality and commitment to our Veterans. She demonstrates competency in the utilization of the nursing process as evidenced by the accurate assessment, plan, implementation, and evaluation of patient care in her daily practice. She developed a unit diabetic foot
Nursing sensitive indicators reflect the structure, process and outcomes of nursing care. The structure of nursing care is indicated by many factors such as supply of staff, education level and quality of care provided. Process indicators measure aspects of nursing care such as assessment, intervention, and RN job satisfaction. Patient outcomes that are determined to be nursing sensitive are those that improve if there is a greater quantity or quality of nursing care (Nursing world, 2013). In 1999, the American Nursing Association recognized a total of 10 indicators that apply to hospital based nursing care (Americansentinel.edu, 2017). Indicator such as pressure ulcers, patient falls and nosocomial infections are recognized in this list and are considered preventable with proper nursing action. Knowledge of these indicators could have assisted the nurses in several ways involving this case study involving Mr. J.
It is no secret that the United States is currently experiencing a shortage of nurses . “The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics ( 2009 ) estimated that more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2018 to meet the increased demands of the health care workforce” (). The stressful conditions under which nurses work, due in part to the nursing shortage, are among the risk factors that contribute to nurses’ abuse of illicit drugs and alcohol. Nurses are unique in that they work in an environment where they not only have access to controlled substances, but also are exposed to critically ill patients, traumatic situations, death and dying, the stress of which can increase the risk of substance abuse. (Epstein, Burns, & Conlon, 2010). Unfortunately, it is the patient that suffers the most.
The purpose of this paper is to illuminate and discuss healthcare vulnerabilities of the elderly rural population in Baker County, Florida and describe how the nursing profession can address these problems. Rural health has been a complex and multifaceted challenge for government and healthcare practitioners. The elderly who live alone in the county suffer from low socioeconomic status, low health literacy rates, declining cognitive and physical health and lack of healthcare facilities. The health status of this vulnerable group is impacted by rural culture and social values, healthcare policy and funding affecting rural healthcare facilities, distance and lack of transportation, and health literacy.
Write one nursing diagnosis that reflects a priority need for this person. Remember a wellness diagnosis is a possibility.
The shortage of nurses in the United States has been discussed often and has been fully reported in the media over the past several decades. There have been reports of shortages so critical that they actually have become "…a national security concern" (Nelson, 2002). Moreover, the reasons for the shortages and potential solutions for this crisis are extremely well covered in the scholarly literature. In this paper, an article in the peer-reviewed Health Marketing Quarterly points to how the nursing shortage can be addressed using marketing strategies. In addition, other scholarly articles will be reviewed in order to address the challenges and consequences that could result if this crisis is not addressed immediately.
As an African American male who was diagnosed with end stage renal disease, I was a patient in need of financial assistance while on dialysis, a patient who needed to use Medicaid to help pay for medical expenses, and a patient that needed a healthcare provider to understand the amount of stress and anxiety I was under. My experience has given me a deeper understanding of what is needed to provide care to underserved communities. Underserved communities are in need of medical providers that are attuned to the social, emotional and economic disparities these patients encounter. For me, from a patient’s viewpoint, everyone deserves to be heard and served fairly. I will use my personal experiences to provide the underserved community in my career as a Nurse Practitioner, so that the underserved population can receive the best care
The most frustrating thing about Ms. Goodman’s job is the lack of funding from the state of Tennessee. She says that, “Memphis is the poorest area of Tennessee, yet the state government gives the same amount of money to Memphis as they do Nashville and Knoxville. Those cities have many more resources available and a much lower population of individuals that are dependent on the government assistance” (J. Goodman, personal communication, September 15, 2016). According to Ms. Goodman, there is only one assisted living facility in Memphis that accepts Tennessee government healthcare (TennCare), and there is a very long waiting list. The only option that leaves available is to place people prematurely into nursing homes, or leave them in their homes where they often do not get the help that they need (J. Goodman, personal communication, September 15, 2016).
The medical field of nursing is based on servitude in God’s mission and through the means of compassion. Our missional goals must align with God’s (Wright, 2012). Nursing consists of care and compassion for the disadvantaged, weak, sick, and injured. This is in addition to the pursuit of high standards in professionalism, articulated in the delivery of a valuable service that is based on unique knowledge and experience, performed ethically, and practiced autonomously. The major characteristic of compassion is from God and how it relates to this world of professionalism is seen through nursing. Any job that advances God’s work in the world is a Godly choice (Col. 1:16-20).
Historically, the American Medical Association (AMA) has continuously contended the progression of nursing practice, in particular advanced nursing practice (Keeling & Bigbee, 2005). They have done so by opposing the advances of nursing practice claiming the broader and more specialized roles of advanced practice nurses (APNs), which includes diagnosing and prescribing, encroaches on physician practice and claim nurses are not educationally sufficiently prepared to take on these roles (Summers & Summers, 2007). The medical profession posits APNs should be supervised by physicians in their advance practice roles. Examples of such opposition are evident in for example AMA’s posting of a recent speech given by Nancy Nielsen (2009) stating
The national nursing shortage is an ever-growing concern, and it is essential for healthcare organizations to confront the looming issue. Possible solutions to the nursing shortage include retaining older nurses who are looking to retire, increasing the amount of students graduating from nursing schools, and drawing nurses back to the bedside who have left the nursing workforce (Hatcher, 2006). Leaders must assess the nursing turnover in their organization, and they must strategize on ways to retain those nurses. Organizations must implement techniques to retain older nurses to help combat the national nursing shortage and prevent a national healthcare disaster (Keller & Burns, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to identify the demographic breakdown of an organization, explain how the organization’s environment is conducive and non-conducive for older workers, and describe tactics to retain older workers.
People are living longer and want to live independently as long as possible, but the aged people living alone with chronic diseases face threats on their safety and well-being. The patient Salle Mae Fisher featured in “The Home Visit with Sallie Mae Fisher” (Grand Canyon University, 2016), is an eighty two years old woman who has been recently discharged from hospital after her chronic disease conditions are intensified. She has been scheduled for a homecare visit by the nurses. In this paper prioritized problems and identified risks during the home visits, will be described with evidence, as well as the recommendations and interventions to help make Sallie Mae safer at home.
Caring for the elderly and disabled has always been a relevant issue among American’s; however, not until recently has it become a significant issue within society. Change has occurred in the past couple decade as the workforce dynamics have transitioned from the family based farm living to the inner city, college educated worker who follows opportunity. Decades ago it was common place to have an aging relative live with the family in a multi-generational home; however, that is no longer a practical option in many cases. Although this transitioning of society has created a new issue and that is providing care to those elderly or disabled members of society who cannot rely on the support of family
Transitioning from the hospital and working for the local department of Health and Human Services as a registered nurse is a dream job. The position is first shift, no required weekends and absolutely no on call. The days of being requested to come “help on the unit” have completely diminished. Employee insurance is provided with a nominal monthly payment and low copayments for office or emergency care visits. Twelve calendar paid days a year, guaranteed Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving Day off without the hassle of shift switching. A state retirement and a lifetime pension plan, depending on years of service pension can be transferred to your spouse. Never did the thought occur regarding how the government regulates healthcare delivery and the direct relationship is has on all program funding at local health departments. During my employment at the department of Health and Human Services nearly every year issues arise and nurses are requested to notify local city council members and state officials with a letter or phone call. These notifications are designed to justify or plea importance of programs and request funding be continued. Healthcare delivery is constantly evolving which causes health professionals to question what circumstances lead to healthcare reform, how the nursing profession will be impacted and imagine what the future holds for healthcare in the United States.