Question

1. Case Study - Mrs. Jaiden is an 83-year-old patient who experienced a hip fracture several weeks ago. After a significant snowfall, Mrs. Jaiden was walking down her driveway to get her mail, when she slipped and fell. A neighbor witnessed the fall and called 911. Following surgical repair of her hip, Mrs. Jaiden was discharged to a rehabilitation facility to undergo 6 weeks of intensive rehabilitation. The nurse notices that Mrs. Jaiden’s most recent laboratory results show:

Hemoglobin, 10.4 g/dL

Hematocrit, 33%

WBC, 9,000 cells/mcL

Serum calcium, 8.0 mg/dL

Serum phosphorous, 4.8 mg/dL

a. What significance of abnormal laboratory values should the nurse recognize?

b. What normal age-related physical changes should the nurse recognize?

c. What nursing interventions and patient/family teaching should be provided to ensure Mrs. Jaiden’s safety?

Answer 1

a. Her hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Serum calcium level is low and her serum phosphorus level is high which can indicate to some kidney disorder, weakness and dehydration.

b.

• Nursing care plan for clients with anemia includes: assess risk factors, decrease fatigue, maintenance of adequate nutrition, maintenance of adequate tissue perfusion, compliance with prescribed treatment regimen, and be free from complications.
• Discontinue diuretics/laxatives.
• Use potassium-sparing diuretics if diuretic therapy is required (eg, severe heart failure)
• Treat diarrhea or vomiting.
• Administer H2 blockers to patients receiving nasogastric suction.
• Control hyperglycemia if glycosuria is present.

C. Nursing interventions

• To keep an eye on her, so that any future falls could be avoided.
• To always help around with her day to day routine.
• To be patient with her, so that she gets stressed out which can be really bad for her mental health.
• To let her know that she has to consume sufficient fluids time to time
• Administer sodium in her mealtime to time