Question

Assignment Requirements
For this assignment, you are being asked to use critical thinking skills to ensure the patient is well cared for and all issues are discussed with the patient so that treatment will be successful. I know you are not the physician, nor are you at the level yet that you are caring for patients. This assignment asks you to think about the patient’s life and discover barriers to successful treatment.

After reading the scenario, you will write 2- 3 questions you would ask the patient prior to treatment. You need to think critically, using common sense, to ask questions of the patient prior to the treatment, in order to problem solve issues and enable the patient to comply with the treatment instructions given.

Scenario: Hairline Fracture of the Calcaneus
An 83 year old women is in the clinic with pain and swelling of the right foot that began after a fall two weeks prior. An x-ray shows a hairline fracture of the calcaneus bone. She has been a patient at your clinic for several years. Her social history states that she lives alone, is very independent, drives, and completes all activities of daily living for herself, which includes cooking, cleaning and gardening. She has no signs of any of mental disability such as dementia or Alzheimer disease. She is cheerful and has always complied with the physician’s treatment plans in the past.

Treatment Plan:
• The physician plans to place a boot on her right foot while she is in the office today, to stabilize the fracture to allow it to heal. The boot will be in place for 8 weeks after which the x-rays will be repeated to see if the fracture has healed.
• The patient is to be non-weight bearing, which means she won’t be able to walk on the right foot, for at least 8 weeks.
• The patient can remove the boot at night while she is in bed only.
• When she removes the boot at bedtime, she is to ice the right foot for twenty minutes, while it is elevated.
• She will be scheduled for a return visit in 8 weeks for a repeat x-ray and reassessment.

What do you need to know from the patient prior to the treatment beginning so you can help her problem solve in order to comply with the treatment plan? Think common sense, not necessarily medical care. Post 2-3 questions to the Critical Thinking

Answer 1

Since according to the history it reveals that the patient stays alone and does most of her work independently.we will have to explain the entire procedure to the patient as her activities will be restricted for about 8 weeks .2-3 question that can be asked to the patient are

1)Does the patient want to be admitted in a hospital or geriatric nursing home for a period of 8 weeks so that all the aspects of treatment are taken care for which will ensure that all the measures of treatment is taken care by nurses.

2)If the answer to the above question is no then we can ask the question who will be helping her at home with her activities her children or Grand children or any relatives who can spend 8 weeks time with her till she resumes activities.

3)If the answer to the above question is no there are nobody to come and stay with her .we can give her an option of referring her to a physician nearby to her children or relatives residence.which will help them to take care of her and all her treatment modalities will be taken care

These few questions will help us to understand her support system during the course of treatment.