CASE MYSTERY: THE PROFESSOR
Nursing is a profession that offers a broad spectrum of choices for practice. Each nurse gathers tools for use in a chosen specialty as experience and knowledge is gained through practice. One of the most interesting tools gathered by professional nurses is the ability to be a detective of sorts. Working with a team of medical professionals, nurses contribute to the plan of care and treatment by providing outstanding assessment skills, evaluating interventions for effectiveness and by educating patients on treatments, medications and needed lifestyle changes.
Patients present to nurses each day as a puzzle in need of solving. There are times when most of the puzzle is complete and the professional nurse implements …show more content…
According to Bergman (2011), “TIA is being viewed more seriously and is considered a medical emergency as a result of its correlation with increased risk of recurrent stroke” (p. 660). Recent literature supports that a TIA is often a precursor to stroke and should be treated as a warning sign. “A stroke workup and diagnostic testing are necessary to determine the etiology of the stroke. The pathophysiology of ischemic stroke and TIA include, but are not limited to, atherosclerotic plaque buildup, thrombosis, and embolism” (Bergman, 2011, 660-661). It is important to do magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography scan (CT) of the head and neck to assess the blood flow to the brain and locate any thrombus or areas of narrowing.
A likely candidate for the cause of the professor’s TIA could be a partially blocked carotid artery caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a hardening or narrowing of the arteries caused by damage to the endothelium, or inner lining, of the vessels which can be attributed to the professor’s high cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure) and high blood sugar. The professor reported not taking his blood pressure or cholesterol medications which likely accelerated the onset of his …show more content…
It is very important that he adequately control his blood glucose to prevent further damage to his blood vessels. According to Cornell (2012) “Drug selection also should fit the patient’s lifestyle and preferences. For example, an inability to take medication around meals when required may interfere with therapy effectiveness and may increase nausea/vomiting. Poor patient adherence and sporadic meals are a greater problem for short-acting therapies and agents required to be timed to meals (p. 520). Patient centered care is vital to the success of the plan and if the medications are chosen to best treat the disease and fit the patient’s lifestyle it can prevent further damage to his brain, eyes, kidneys, heart and blood
Nursing is a profession that offers a broad spectrum of choices for practice. Each nurse gathers tools for use in a chosen specialty as experience and knowledge is gained through practice. One of the most interesting tools gathered by professional nurses is the ability to be a detective of sorts. Working with a team of medical professionals, nurses contribute to the plan of care and treatment by providing outstanding assessment skills, evaluating interventions for effectiveness and by educating patients on treatments, medications and needed lifestyle changes.
Patients present to nurses each day as a puzzle in need of solving. There are times when most of the puzzle is complete and the professional nurse implements …show more content…
According to Bergman (2011), “TIA is being viewed more seriously and is considered a medical emergency as a result of its correlation with increased risk of recurrent stroke” (p. 660). Recent literature supports that a TIA is often a precursor to stroke and should be treated as a warning sign. “A stroke workup and diagnostic testing are necessary to determine the etiology of the stroke. The pathophysiology of ischemic stroke and TIA include, but are not limited to, atherosclerotic plaque buildup, thrombosis, and embolism” (Bergman, 2011, 660-661). It is important to do magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography scan (CT) of the head and neck to assess the blood flow to the brain and locate any thrombus or areas of narrowing.
A likely candidate for the cause of the professor’s TIA could be a partially blocked carotid artery caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a hardening or narrowing of the arteries caused by damage to the endothelium, or inner lining, of the vessels which can be attributed to the professor’s high cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure) and high blood sugar. The professor reported not taking his blood pressure or cholesterol medications which likely accelerated the onset of his …show more content…
It is very important that he adequately control his blood glucose to prevent further damage to his blood vessels. According to Cornell (2012) “Drug selection also should fit the patient’s lifestyle and preferences. For example, an inability to take medication around meals when required may interfere with therapy effectiveness and may increase nausea/vomiting. Poor patient adherence and sporadic meals are a greater problem for short-acting therapies and agents required to be timed to meals (p. 520). Patient centered care is vital to the success of the plan and if the medications are chosen to best treat the disease and fit the patient’s lifestyle it can prevent further damage to his brain, eyes, kidneys, heart and blood