In Order To Write A Case Study Paper, You Must Carefully ✓ Solved

In order to write a case study paper, you must carefully

In order to write a case study paper, you must carefully address a number of sections in a specific order with specific information contained in each. The guideline below outlines each of those sections.

Introduction (patient and problem)

  • Explain who the patient is (Age, gender, etc.)
  • Explain what the problem is (What was he/she diagnosed with, or what happened?)
  • Introduce your main argument (What should you as a nurse focus on or do?)

Pathophysiology

Explain the disease (What are the symptoms? What causes it?)

History

  • Explain what health problems the patient has (Has she/he been diagnosed with other diseases?)
  • Detail any and all previous treatments (Has she/he had any prior surgeries or is he/she on medication?)

Nursing Physical Assessment

List all the patient’s health stats in sentences with specific numbers/levels (Blood pressure, bowel sounds, ambulation, etc.)

Related Treatments

Explain what treatments the patient is receiving because of his/her disease.

Nursing Diagnosis & Patient Goal

  • Explain what your nursing diagnosis is (What is the main problem for this patient? What needs to be addressed?)
  • Explain what your goal is for helping the patient recover (What do you want to change for the patient?)

Nursing Interventions

Explain how you will accomplish your nursing goals, and support this with citations (Reference the literature).

Evaluation

Explain how effective the nursing intervention was (What happened after your nursing intervention? Did the patient get better?)

Recommendations

Explain what the patient or nurse should do in the future to continue recovery/improvement.

Your paper should be an appropriate length and will be graded on how well you complete each of the above sections. You will also be graded on your use of APA style and on your application of nursing journals into the treatments and interventions. For integrating nursing journals, remember the following:

  • Make sure to integrate citations into all of your paper.
  • Support all claims of what the disease is, why it occurs and how to treat it with references to the literature on this disease.
  • Always use citations for information that you learned from a book or article; if you do not cite it, you are telling your reader that YOU discovered that information (how to treat the disease, etc.)

Paper For Above Instructions

The case study presented here focuses on a 65-year-old female patient, Mrs. Smith, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) two years ago. Mrs. Smith is a widow who lives alone and has a history of hypertension, which complicates her diabetes management. The primary nursing focus will be blood glucose control and educating Mrs. Smith on lifestyle modifications to promote better health outcomes.

Pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, leading to high blood glucose levels, termed hyperglycemia. Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision (American Diabetes Association, 2019). The disease occurs due to various factors including genetic predisposition, obesity, and inactivity, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020). Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for effective nursing interventions.

Patient History

Mrs. Smith has a history of hypertension managed by medication. She has previously been treated for hyperlipidemia and is currently taking atorvastatin. Despite her treatment, her diabetes management has been inadequate, as reflected in her hemoglobin A1c levels, which remain above the recommended target (Sydney Diabetes, 2021).

Nursing Physical Assessment

A comprehensive physical assessment was performed on Mrs. Smith. Her vital signs showed a blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg, heart rate of 76 beats per minute, and a weight of 200 pounds, indicating obesity with a BMI of 32.5. A thorough evaluation of her feet revealed no signs of neuropathy, while her blood glucose levels were recorded at 180 mg/dL prior to meals, confirming poor glycemic control (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2021).

Related Treatments

Mrs. Smith is currently receiving metformin to help manage her blood glucose levels and is enrolled in a diabetes self-management education program to enhance her understanding of the disease and self-care practices. Furthermore, lifestyle modifications, including a low-carbohydrate diet and increased physical activity, are recommended.

Nursing Diagnosis & Patient Goal

The nursing diagnosis for Mrs. Smith is ineffective health management related to insufficient knowledge of diabetes management and poor adherence to dietary recommendations. The main goal is to stabilize her blood glucose levels to below 130 mg/dL pre-meal through education and lifestyle adjustments (NANDA International, 2021).

Nursing Interventions

To accomplish these nursing goals, I will implement several interventions. First, patient education sessions will be held to inform Mrs. Smith about the importance of carbohydrate counting and glycemic index in her diet (Franz et al., 2020). Literature supports the integration of nutritional counseling with a registered dietitian as a key intervention in managing diabetes. Regular follow-ups will be scheduled to monitor her blood glucose and blood pressure, ensuring accountability and support as she modifies her lifestyle (American Association of Diabetes Educators, 2018).

Evaluation of Nursing Interventions

After four weeks of implementing these interventions, a follow-up assessment revealed that Mrs. Smith's hemoglobin A1c had decreased from 8.5% to 7.1%. She reported feeling more energetic and engaged with her dietary changes. Patient feedback indicated greater awareness and confidence in managing her diabetes (Cha et al., 2019).

Recommendations

To continue her recovery and improvement, it is recommended that Mrs. Smith continues her education regarding diabetes. Regular follow-ups and possible continuation of community support groups would further enhance her management skills further. Engaging with peers in similar situations can foster motivation and facilitate healthy behavioral changes (Inzucchi et al., 2020).

Conclusion

In summary, the nursing approach to Mrs. Smith's diabetes management encompasses a focus on education, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications. This case study highlights the significant impact of comprehensive nursing care on patient outcomes in chronic disease management.

References

  • American Diabetes Association. (2019). Standards of medical care in diabetes—2019. Diabetes Care, 42(Supplement 1), S1-S2.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). National diabetes statistics report, 2020.
  • Franz, M. J., Boucher, J. L., Rutledge, S. H., & VanWormer, J. J. (2020). Lifestyle weight loss intervention in patients with diabetes and obesity: a systematic review. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120(9), 1355-1370.
  • Inzucchi, S. E., Bergenstal, R. M., Buse, J. B., Diamant, M., Ferrannini, E., Nauck, M., ... & Matthews, D. R. (2020). Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: standards of medical care in diabetes—2020. Diabetes Care, 43(Supplement 1), S14-S31.
  • NANDA International. (2021). Nursing diagnoses definitions and classification.
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2021). Symptoms & causes of diabetes.
  • Cha, S., Lee, K., Oh, H. K., & Park, S. (2019). The effects of self-management education on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 155, 107823.
  • Sydney Diabetes. (2021). Guidelines for management of diabetes in primary care.
  • American Association of Diabetes Educators. (2018). AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors.
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2019). Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) and the Medicare Benefit.

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