Contemporary Nursing Issues
GNT 1 – 724.2.4-01-07
Contemporary Nursing Issues
Mary Purvis
Healthcare Issues
In order to determine the safest and most appropriate discharge plan for this patient the case manager will work closely with the interdisciplinary team who is directly caring for the patient; together they will come up with the most effective, appropriate, and safest discharge plan. In this case study, there are several important healthcare issues the case manager needs to address with the team prior to Mr. Trosack’s discharge from the hospital. The first issue that needs to be addressed is the issue of the patient’s safety. There are many concerns regarding Mr. Trosack’s living environment. The case manager would want to inform the team, that the patient lives alone in a two-story apartment, and the only access to the apartment is up two flights of stairs. It should be discussed that it would be unsafe to send him back home under these conditions, and take the risk that he might fall down again, especially now that his functional ability is compromised.
Secondly, there is the issue of the family, and their inability and lack of understanding to adequately care for the patient at this time. The team would discuss the concerns regarding the patient’s family support, and their understanding of what Mr. Trosack’s discharge needs would be. As the patient and his son have been distant and unable to really unite, a social worker referral may be needed to help bring the family together.
And the third issue the team needs to discuss is whether the patient has the ability to manage and care himself. The patient has just had a major surgery on his hip one month ago, and has just been newly diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. This raises the concern that the patient may not have the physical or cognitive ability at this time to care for his newly diagnosed illnesses when he gets home. Sending Mr. Trosack home may cause a major decline in his health and
Contemporary Nursing Issues
Mary Purvis
Healthcare Issues
In order to determine the safest and most appropriate discharge plan for this patient the case manager will work closely with the interdisciplinary team who is directly caring for the patient; together they will come up with the most effective, appropriate, and safest discharge plan. In this case study, there are several important healthcare issues the case manager needs to address with the team prior to Mr. Trosack’s discharge from the hospital. The first issue that needs to be addressed is the issue of the patient’s safety. There are many concerns regarding Mr. Trosack’s living environment. The case manager would want to inform the team, that the patient lives alone in a two-story apartment, and the only access to the apartment is up two flights of stairs. It should be discussed that it would be unsafe to send him back home under these conditions, and take the risk that he might fall down again, especially now that his functional ability is compromised.
Secondly, there is the issue of the family, and their inability and lack of understanding to adequately care for the patient at this time. The team would discuss the concerns regarding the patient’s family support, and their understanding of what Mr. Trosack’s discharge needs would be. As the patient and his son have been distant and unable to really unite, a social worker referral may be needed to help bring the family together.
And the third issue the team needs to discuss is whether the patient has the ability to manage and care himself. The patient has just had a major surgery on his hip one month ago, and has just been newly diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. This raises the concern that the patient may not have the physical or cognitive ability at this time to care for his newly diagnosed illnesses when he gets home. Sending Mr. Trosack home may cause a major decline in his health and
References: "Getting Ready to Go Home". (2011, Nov). Retrieved from Hospitalmedicine.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov 2011. Mauk, K. L. (2009). Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for Care. Jones & Bartlett. ISBN 13:9780763755805.