The faces scale should be used last due to its frequency of misinterpretation (Herr, 2010). The alert patient will be able to vocalize their pain level, the location, duration, frequency, intensity and type of pain. The nurse will also be able to see differences in facial expression while speaking with the alert patient. The unconscious or not alert patient will be assessed differently. The nurse must be very observant and watch for signs of pain.
I would do the Beck’s Depression Inventory with her to determine the severity of the problem. I would do a mental exam on her to determine the severity of the Alzheimer’s. - Clinician Characteristics To be best able to work with Mrs. Sanders I would have to show her that I cared, show empathy, as well as a desire to help her. I would have to be able to motivate her and promote her continued independence. I would need to be structured, creative, and positive to help her find ways to deal with the Alzheimer’s.
This essay will examine the methods of pain assessment and whether nurses tend to underestimate patients’ pain or lack of adequate pain management is provided due to the medical orders for pharmacological means. The essay will also discuss the physiology of pain and the effect of different pain management strategies in relation to pain physiology along with the issue of effective pain management in adults and children and how effective pain management will be achieved. Pain assessment is an essential method to providing effective post-operative pain management and in the general promotion of patients’ comfort. However, despite the increased awareness and knowledge of pain assessment, Horbury and colleagues (2005) suggest that nurses continue to underperform pain assessment not only in the post-operative patients but also in other hospitalised patients. Moreover, this is indicative to be one of the most problematic aspects of achieving optimal pain management (Nash et al, 2001, p.180-189).
Unit 13 1.1 The term Dementia is described by a number of symptoms such as memory lose, changes in mood, and unable to communicate normally. A mental decline in the ability to function in every day life. 1.2 Key functions of the brain affected by dementia are frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, cerebrum and hippocampus. 1.3 Dementia can be mistaken for depression, delirium and age-related memory impairment because they are very similar in appearance. 2.1 The medical model sees the patient with dementia as a problem.
It is also important to know where and how theories can best apply to current nursing practice. Compare and Analyze a Common Core Concept A common core concept among Virginia Henderson’s need theory and Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory is nursing. Both theorists use the nursing concept in their theory to define the role of nursing. Henderson defines nursing as the unique function of a nurse to help a person sick or well in the performance of activities contributing to health or its recovery that the person would perform unaided if he or she had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge. Nursing can also consist of assisting an individual to a peaceful death.
It’s important to observe mental status changes and functional status changes, this can determine how well the patient can take care of themselves and deal with their health promotion on their own. Altered cognition is not a normal part of aging and the nurse may need to pay close attention to the possibilities of the onset of dementia. Activities of daily living include everything we do during our normal day to properly take care of ourselves and as we get older these tasks may become more difficult. Nurses need to assess how well a patient can see or hear, vision and hearing loss can be quite debilitating to performing ADL’s and it’s the nurses job to make sure our patient is in a safe environment and that they have proper vision/hearing care with proper strength prescriptions for their glasses or hearing assessments. It is very important to remember that hearing and vision loss is normal with aging and that when we perform our assessments we should talk slowly and annunciate clearly so the patient can understand any direction or education that is given (GCU, 2012).
Challenging Behaviour in Dementia A person centred approach Maria Mulhall Exact word count: 3,052 This paper will discuss the nature of challenging behaviour displayed by a person with dementia. The writer will give a personal account of a client with dementia whosebehaviour was challenging for the care giver. The writer will discuss person centred approaches to care and indicate literature and research to support same. The writer will use Trudy as a case study to outline the implementation of a person centred approach to meet individual needs. In doing this the writer will discuss effective care and therapies and how they were used to improve Trudy’s care and quality of life.
As a health care professional trained in different approach, I assessed my client based on the theory and learning experience that I have had. The client was been diagnosed with dementia, limited mobility, and inadequate verbal communication. I undertook a full assessment to a client with a sacral pressure sore. Assessment using observation was been completed to the sacral area, and graded the level of pressure ulcer using the Braden scale. The nurse mentor was been informed about the type of dressing and intervention that should be provided to the client, along with the explanation with the rationale to the procedure that I have decided to use.
Having a personalised and holistic approach to pain and discomfort needs good teamwork. Example: when my client once felt pain on her lower back, after discussion with the client and family members, I called up the Nurses at the GP to seek for advice, as my client didn’t want to take any painkillers, and a check-up was necessary to be able to help. 1.2 The most effective approaches to alleviate pain are the wide variety of drugs, they come in four different categories: Analgesics (e.g. aspirin and paracetamol) Opiates (e.g. morphine and heroin) Anti-inflammatories (e.g.
She is diagnosed with pressure ulcers, while also suffering from diabetes and osteoarthritis. The IDT team that was involved in her treatment comprised of medical officer, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, incontinence and tissue viability nurse, nutritionist and the nurse. The medical officer reaches a medical diagnosis and prescribes the medical treatment necessary. The use of supportive tools to the patient such as walking aides, use of pillows to sleep on and comfortable mattresses should be prioritized by the occupational therapist; depending on the case. This helps to prevent pain and reduce the probability of skin tear.