Question

assignment in which you will need to complete an SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation) on a chosen patient. in this case study

Case Study Unplanned Pregnancy: Options and Counseling

Difficulty: Beginning
Setting: Office or clinic
Index Words: pregnancy, pregnancy counseling, abortion, adoption Giddens Concepts: Coping, Patient Education, Reproduction
HESI Concepts: Patient Education, Sexuality/Reproduction, Stress & Coping

Case Study Unplanned Pregnancy: Options and Counseling

u Scenario
L.W., a 20-year-old college student, comes to the university health clinic for a pregnancy test. She has been sexually active with her boyfriend of 6 months, and her menstrual period is now “a few” weeks late. The pregnancy test result is positive. The patient begins to cry, saying, “I don't know what to do.”

Answer 1

Pregnancy is often regarded with excitement however, stress and other forms of emotional distress are likely to occur. It not only affects the physical health but mental and psychological health of an individual too. As a health care professional one must remember

- Not to impose any decision on the patient, and allow the patient and other trusted individuals, to make the decision.

-Allow the patient to express the feelings of anxiety

- Reassure the patient, and allow the patient to ask questions.

- Clear all the queries of the patient

- Always make sure that patient has given her consent

Options

Once the diagnosis is made, depending upon the gestational age of the pregnancy, the patient has the following options available:

• Carrying the pregnancy to delivery and raising the infant
• Carrying her pregnancy to delivery and making an adoption or kinship care plan
• Terminating the pregnancy

It is advisable to present the options in a factually accurate and nonjudgmental manner while respecting the patient's personal, family and spiritual beliefs and with the patient's consent.

Patient Education

By continuing the pregnancy, the patient has to be educated about the risks and complications that are associated which may include

- pre-term delivery, small gestational age infants, neonatal death.

One must also allows the patient to look at the other factors such as socioeconomic status, financial status, maternal weight gain etc.

Kinship care or adoption is also another option, whereby a grandparent or a relative serves as a parent which enables the mother to be involved with the child.

However, grief and feelings of guilt may accompany post adoption.

Abortion: it is very important that the patient should have adequate knowledge associated with abortion.

Medical and surgical abortion is safe when performed by a licensed and experienced physician.

Feelings of grief, and loss can be accompanied after the procedure this, one should always be ready to provide emotional and psychological support to the patient.

Also, it is recommended that the patient may communicate with another individual who has experienced the same situation. This allows the patient to have adequate knowledge, and enables the patient to make a rational decision.

Advice the patient to discuss the matter with the trusted and supportive individuals.