Purpose

As you are learning this semester, the role of the nurse is to integrate and apply knowledge from your general education background, health related sciences, and evidence-based nursing science in the application of the nursing process to the nursing care of patients in the acute care setting. The nurse uses knowledge from pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and other sciences to build a plan of care according to the health assessment findings generated by the nurse. Nursing is practiced within an interdisciplinary health care system, and it is important for the nurse to understand the perspectives of other disciplines in their contribution to the patient plan of care. For this assignment, you will use the case study provided or choose a client from your clinical rotation. You will complete an in-depth analysis of the nature of their health alterations, the pathophysiological and psychosocial aspects of their health needs and how the interdisciplinary team contributes to the treatment plan while the patient is in the hospital and as plans for discharge are put into action.

Directions

1. Read the information about the case study with the chart materials provided or gather the necessary information from one of your patients.
2. Review the patient assessment information. What other assessments might you do in addition to those provided? What findings would you anticipate with this patient? Develop a care plan (use the template below) based on the highest priority problem (1 nursing diagnosis, 1 goal, 3 interventions for each goal, 1 rationale for each intervention and evaluation for each goal). Complete an in depth analysis reflecting your ability to prepare a case study based on principles derived from pharmacology, pathophysiology, psychology, nutrition, and evidence-based nursing practice guidelines. Remember to include an introduction to the patient, pathophysiology, history, nursing assessment (given and any additional), and related treatments.
3. Include selected references for your case study paper/care plan and use APA format.
4. Specific grading rubric is provided.

Criteria

Case study is specific, analytical, conceptually sound and based on scientific principles and application of knowledge, reflects evidence-based nursing care approaches and science, and is holistic in its approach to understanding the patient and his/her nursing care needs.