Clinical Reasoning: A Case Study
Clinical reasoning
Clinical reasoning involves nurses learning and practical experience to play. Any errors or misjudgement can lead to various adverse conditions (Levett-jones et al, 2010). Identification of patient problems, understanding his situation, collecting information and cues followed by processing the information and identifying the key problems, establishing goals, taking action, evaluation of outcomes, and reflection is what forms the clinical reasoning cycle. All these areas should be efficiently covered by the nurse in order to avoid any adverse event. Various levels of thinking for understanding the patient problem and its evaluation is a very complex process (Lavoie, pepin and Boyer, 2013). Clinical reasoning involves a multi layered thinking capacity which can be rendered with experience and is not observed in nurses who are novice and with little experience (Benner, Hughes & Sutphen, 2008).
Application of clinical reasoning in a case study
The present case study involves an 86 year old female who was brought to the ward post-surgery in response to a fractured neck of Femur due to a fall at home. Fractures cases in old aged individuals require immediate and …show more content…
utmost clinical care. Surgery is the best way to provide relief from pain in the cases of hip fractures in any age. The most challenging part of the situation are the issues related with problems in movement and hampering of daily activities. Various factors require critical thinking and decision making or clinical reasoning by the nurse attending the patient with this scenario. Pain management is combatted by using medications like NSAID’s with adjustment of doses on the basis of response from the patient.
Having a past history of Parkinson’s disease, depression and one artificial eye it is important for the nurse to be presumptive of various factors which can go wrong after hip surgery and minimal mobility.
It is important to understand the importance of following the required measures like giving pureed thick fluids in diet and feeding the patient, providing crushed medications and always helping the patient in elevating the heels at all times to avoid any displacement events. Being a diabetic patient, the nurse should give her lantus and measuring the BSL pre-lunch for subjection of other medications. Another important aspect to keep in mind is the deconditioning of the body due to immobility leading to pressure ulcers. Critical observation and complete support is a must in these
cases.
It is sometimes not given a huge attention but can lead to various complications in the patients is the occurrence of infections which can be avoided by removing the catheter within 48 hours. Use of Vancomycin or cefazolin as a pre and postoperative antibiotics to prevent any occurrence of infections in patients.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation can help in quick healing and mitigation of other associated deteriorating conditions. Suggesting a podiatry review can help in prevention of ulcer formation and also in management of other risks involved. The discharge of the patient needs to be done only when confirmed about appropriate arrangements of care for the patient is done at home. Educating the patients and the family with the complications and response towards them is very important. Clear and easy understanding of the medications and supplements, physiotherapy, revisits should be provided.
Clinical reasoning involves nurses learning and practical experience to play. Any errors or misjudgement can lead to various adverse conditions (Levett-jones et al, 2010). Identification of patient problems, understanding his situation, collecting information and cues followed by processing the information and identifying the key problems, establishing goals, taking action, evaluation of outcomes, and reflection is what forms the clinical reasoning cycle. All these areas should be efficiently covered by the nurse in order to avoid any adverse event. Various levels of thinking for understanding the patient problem and its evaluation is a very complex process (Lavoie, pepin and Boyer, 2013). Clinical reasoning involves a multi layered thinking capacity which can be rendered with experience and is not observed in nurses who are novice and with little experience (Benner, Hughes & Sutphen, 2008).
Application of clinical reasoning in a case study
The present case study involves an 86 year old female who was brought to the ward post-surgery in response to a fractured neck of Femur due to a fall at home. Fractures cases in old aged individuals require immediate and …show more content…
utmost clinical care. Surgery is the best way to provide relief from pain in the cases of hip fractures in any age. The most challenging part of the situation are the issues related with problems in movement and hampering of daily activities. Various factors require critical thinking and decision making or clinical reasoning by the nurse attending the patient with this scenario. Pain management is combatted by using medications like NSAID’s with adjustment of doses on the basis of response from the patient.
Having a past history of Parkinson’s disease, depression and one artificial eye it is important for the nurse to be presumptive of various factors which can go wrong after hip surgery and minimal mobility.
It is important to understand the importance of following the required measures like giving pureed thick fluids in diet and feeding the patient, providing crushed medications and always helping the patient in elevating the heels at all times to avoid any displacement events. Being a diabetic patient, the nurse should give her lantus and measuring the BSL pre-lunch for subjection of other medications. Another important aspect to keep in mind is the deconditioning of the body due to immobility leading to pressure ulcers. Critical observation and complete support is a must in these
cases.
It is sometimes not given a huge attention but can lead to various complications in the patients is the occurrence of infections which can be avoided by removing the catheter within 48 hours. Use of Vancomycin or cefazolin as a pre and postoperative antibiotics to prevent any occurrence of infections in patients.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation can help in quick healing and mitigation of other associated deteriorating conditions. Suggesting a podiatry review can help in prevention of ulcer formation and also in management of other risks involved. The discharge of the patient needs to be done only when confirmed about appropriate arrangements of care for the patient is done at home. Educating the patients and the family with the complications and response towards them is very important. Clear and easy understanding of the medications and supplements, physiotherapy, revisits should be provided.