In: Nursing
Critical Thinking-Unfolding Cast Study Stage III
Stage III
Jean wanted nothing more than to live her final days at home. It was disappointing to her that she went to the hospital for lightheadedness and now would never return home. In long term care, she secretly hoped she would be able to return home, she thought, if she worked hard enough. Her mood was uplifted when visited by her grandchildren. One evening, after her visitors had left, Jean placed her call light on for assistance to use the restroom. She waited for 20 minutes and nobody came to help. She was worried she would be incontinent and soil her underclothing, so she got up on her own. Unfortunately, she was too weak and dizzy and fell on the carpeted floor. Now she was really scared. She thought she certainly wouldn’t be allowed to return home after falling. Fortunately, she was not injured, but would not be allowed to leave her bed without the help of others. She became depressed and sadly, died one week later in the long-term care, surrounded by her family.
Stage III Questions
1. Reflect on your answers to part I of the case study. Did Jean’s desire for independence stand out to you as important? If the staff knew Jean valued her independence, how could they have used this information to promote safety?
2. Explain how clinical forethought is used to predict potential complications and what it means to you as a future nurse.
3. Describe the value of seeing healthcare through the patient’s eyes. How can nurses have an impact on the lives of patients like Jean?
4. In your opinion, did Jean receive patient-centered-care? Why or why not?
1. Reflect on your answers to part I of the case study. Did Jean’s desire for independence stand out to you as important? If the staff knew Jean valued her independence, how could they have used this information to promote safety?
Yes the desire for independence stood out as important because autonomy and self help is very important to any individual. In case of Jean she knew her days were numbered and wanted independence and control over her remaining days in order to spend them with family and not be alone. So if this strong desire of being independent was known by the staff then her propensity to get up and go by herself ignoring her medical condition and compromising her safety would have been predicted. To promote safety a regular and watch nurse could have been stationed so that she does not compromise her safety or try to move on her own rather than just telling her not to move.
2. Explain how clinical forethought is used to predict
potential complications and what it means to you as a future
nurse.
Clinical forethought refers to the information gathered on the habits of the patients or certain inclinations that help the caregivers to anticipate certain behaviors or eventualities and take certain precautions based on that. So as a matter of clinical forethought potential complications are assessed such as if the person has history of overdosing on medications then the medications given are strictly monitored and medicines are kept at a safe distance or completely away from the patient, etc. As a future nurse it is critical to the job role and nursing consideration that we determine the clinical forethought and take appropriate steps to avoid medical complications.
3. Describe the value of seeing healthcare through the
patient’s eyes. How can nurses have an impact on the lives of
patients like Jean?
The value of seeing healthcare through the patient’s eyes is very important as it gives the nurse a perspective as to how and what the patient feels and take appropriate actions and provide the required support to the patient. Nurses can have a big impact on the life of the patient by not only taking medical care but also being empathetic and provide the human touch with care and concern and providing the positive hope of the given treatment which patient can believe and recover quickly.
4. In your opinion, did Jean receive patient-centered-care?
Why or why not?
Jean in my opinion did not receive the patient-centered-care as during the incidence she was left for 20 minutes after the falling incidence and no amount of close cooperation or care was seen. Jean could have suffered some serious injury or complication given her terminal condition. Leaving a patient unattended for such a long time does not reflect any form of patient-centered-care in the given scenario. Ignoring or leaving the patient unattended s poor sign of patient care and Jean deserved the care as after this incidence she felt more discouraged about being able to recover and leave hospital and this affected her negatively which eventually resulted in her death.