Study Guide for Fundamentals of Nursing The Art and Science of Nursing Care

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE USING CRITICAL

THINKING SKILLS

Use the following expanded scenario from

Chapter 35 in your textbook to answer the

questions below.

Scenario:Carla Potter is a 26-year-old white

woman. She experiences “bad cramps” and

periodic fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and mood

swings approximately 1 week before the start of

her menses. She told the nurse practitioner that

her job as a computer programmer is stressful

and these monthly symptoms are affecting her

job performance and relationships. She asks the

nurse if there is anything available to control

these symptoms.

1.What nursing interventions might the

nurse use to help minimize the effects of

premenstrual syndrome on Ms. Potter?

2.What would be a successful outcome for this

patient?

3.What intellectual, technical, interpersonal,

and/or ethical/legal competencies are most

likely to bring about the desired outcome?

4.What resources might be helpful for Ms. Potter?

PATIENT CARE STUDY

Read the following case study and use your

nursing process skills to answer the questions

below.

Scenario:Tabitha Wilson is a 24-month-old

infant with AIDS who is hospitalized with

infectious diarrhea. She is well known to the

pediatric staff, and there is real concern that

she might not pull through this admission.

She has suffered many of the complications of

AIDS and is no stranger to pain. At present,

the skin on her buttocks is raw and excoriated,

and tears stream down her face whenever she

is moved. Her blood pressure also shoots up

when she is touched. The severity of her

illness has left her extremely weak and listless,

and her foster mother reports that she no

longer recognizes her child. When alone in

her crib, she seldom moves, and she moans

softly. Several nurses have expressed great frus-

tration caring for Tabitha because they find it

hard to perform even simple nursing measures

like turning, diapering, and weighing her when

they see how much pain these procedures

cause.

1.Identify pertinent patient data by placing a

single underline beneath the objective data in

the case study and a double underline beneath

the subjective data.

2.Complete the Nursing Process Worksheet on

page 232 to develop a three-part diagnostic

statement and related plan of care for this

patient.

3.Write down the patient and personal nursing

strengths you hope to draw on as you assist

this patient to better health.

Patient strengths:

Personal strengths:

4.Pretend that you are performing a nursing

assessment of this patient after the plan of

care is implemented. Document your findings.

CHAPTER 35 COMFORT 231

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