Question

Please help answer question

Case study

Mr. Hastings is a 60-year-old retired architect who is financially comfortable. His medical history includes a heart attack 5 years ago and a second heart attack just 4 weeks ago. Mr. Hastings lives with his wife in their two-story home, which they own. The bedrooms and bathroom are upstairs.

During the intake interview at his first clinic visit, Mr. Hastings states that his wife “hovers” over him, taking care of him physically and seeing that he does not overexert himself. He denies any chest pain but mentions that he occasionally experiences slight shortness of breath when climbing the stairs. Mr. Hastings looks downcast and somewhat depressed, despite being given permission by the cardiologist to begin driving again. He states, “I am going to die from this heart condition, so why treat it?” He states that he has difficulty falling asleep and remaining asleep because he feels anxious and jittery.

The nurse takes Mrs. Hastings aside and asks how she is feeling. Mrs. Hastings states that she is afraid her husband will have another heart attack if he exerts himself doing routine daily tasks and feels that she must take on his responsibilities. She knows that he is frustrated and stressed, and she does not know what to do to help him

Question:

1. List a minimum of three factors that are contributing to Mr. Hastings's stress level.

2. Identify five general resistance resources that Mr. Hastings has as sources of support.

3. Name three stress management therapies that could benefit Mr. Hastings. Discuss the best way to incorporate these therapies into Mr. Hastings's plan of care.

4. What suggestions should the nurse make to Mr. Hastings's wife regarding her husband's care?

Answer 1

1------some of the three factors contributing to Mr. Hastings stress level are 1) thinking that his wife is taking the burden of looking after him probably when he was independent all these while. 2) he presumes that the diagnosis of his heart condition has no realistic treatment that ultimately leading to his death. 3) disturbed sleep pattern as he is pretty anxious and jittery.

2-------his wife, his own house, his physical power to do his routine works.

3-------(1) making him to do intermittently his house works instead of doing them continuously. ( 2) making and giving positive reassurance of encouraging him to do his own daily activities of living. (3) diversional therapies of talking to his wife more about this and deciding about the proper plan of care and more detailed version of his disease condition and his myths of the treatment and thinking of his bright side of life.

4-------The nurse can explain to the wife that she can encourage him to do his basic activities of living himself and giving a positive assurance and observing him for any symptomatic changes in developing shortness of breath and that actions can be taken then by escalating to the medics. Good sleeping schedules could be developed by reducing his pain level, anxiousness and the factors contributing to his anxious level thus making him be prepraed to face a new day with positive look. Also good education about Mr.Hastings condition and its prognosis can be given to her such that she understands well about the medical condition and thus not worrying too much by hovering onto Mr.Hastings well being.