Nursing Care for Older Clients - Assignment Example

Nursing Name Institution Date Discuss and explain how you may respond to the special health requirements of Ernie Elderly people with poor health, chronic medical state need a good-balanced, nutritious diet. Ernie is suffering from IDDM and should reduce fats and cholesterol to lower the risk of heart disease. Physical activities can help decrease the risk of heart disease. Exercising will aid in bringing a feeling of health and strength to Ernie who is suffering from IDDM. Further more, sharing meals together in the nursing care acts as a means of socialization and interpersonal communication in the nursing home (John, James, and David. 2006). Elderly people need to be showered with affection and care. It is not good to ignore elderly people and let them keep to themselves due to old age. Ernie will require attention, appreciation, care and affection. It is advised to spend time talking with older people. Special consideration should be given to him in his room at the Nursing Home. Certain medical alarms that are particularly designed for the elderly people should be installed. Older people get affected by mobility issues. As Ernie may be incapable of walking, climbing stairs and to rising from a chair he will require special attention. Ernie will undergo therapy aimed at improving mobility usually focused on identifying and treating specific disabilities, such as reduced strength or poor stability. The first step involves deciding what impairments to concentrate on when trying to improve the elderly mobility. Leg strength and balance is the best sections to focus on. According to current research limb velocity and core strength may also be important aspects in mobility (Lucy. (2007). When enrolling make sure the sick individual has adequate assistance to complete their wellbeing and individual care habits and to participate in the every day life of the Nursing home. Consistent employees’ assignments help to promote the value of the relationships among staff and patients. Direct nursing staffs need training, support and administration that allow them to tailor their care to the wishes of elderly. Direct nursing involves identifying when the patient wants to wake up and how they wish to be bathed. Discuss the specific strategies that you may adopt to address the dementia that Ernie has Agitation and violent behavior are common in individuals with dementia, specifically those with moderate to acute dementia residing in nursing homes. Agitation and violent behavior is a common sign of dementia. This is normally caused by the pain the patient is experiencing. It is important to assess pain in controlling Ernie pain well (John, James, and David. 2006). Due dementia Ernie will undergo painful states, and it has been suggested that pain in patients suffering from weakened language and abstract imagination may display as agitation. Hence, treating undiagnosed pain efficiently may contribute to prevention and control of agitation. Pain affects many the people in nursing homes and most sound practice guidelines stress the value of pain control in the treatment of neuropsychiatric signs in individual suffering from dementia. Paracetamol is a very useful pain reliever for various kinds of pain. “Neck pain, back ache and headache” are mostly aided by paracetamol. The benefit is that it prevents any stomach side effects related to other treatments. It has no impacts on kidneys. Since Ernie is suffering from arthritis, NSAIDS medication will be applied. NSAIDs medications are most effective in people with inflammatory pain. This includes almost any form of arthritis and injuries such as sprains or strains. Identify significant strategies that may be adopted to minimize the impact of challenging behaviors of Ernie. An assessment of the elderly man’s abilities and past life is necessary to provide care and assistance that is customized to the sick man’s needs. Assessments should recognize that the patient’s functioning may differ across different workers shifts. If evaluation identifies problems requiring consultation with health or other types of experts, making the suitable referrals can help lessen these problems. Detailed assessment includes obtaining verbal information directly from the elderly man and from family when possible. It is essential to provide the patient chances and sufficient time to express his thoughts and feelings. This involves using easy direct language along with signs, pictures or vocal cues. These help staff communicate with Ellen in every day activities. For instance, the patient may require working with a “speech-language pathologist” to advance communication skills. The behavior and emotional condition of individual suffering for Dementia often are forms of communication since the patient might not be able to communicate using other methods. Staffs require initial and continuing training to recognize potential triggers for Ellen’s behavioral and disturbing symptoms, such as agitation and despair (Lucy. (2007). After the employees have identified these causes they use environmental and behavioral strategies to adjust the triggers’impacts. Staff actions can educe positive behavioral reactions too. Before the man is admitted, the family should provide information regarding his culture and role within the family. This provides hints about efficient methods of care. For instance, knowing the patient’s morning habits, for example if he prefers coffee or tea and time of waking up, can give insight into how to care for the Ellen. When considering new medications, consider the presence of any other potential problems, such as depression (Tessa P.1996). Explain how you can contribute to the development of a care plan for Ernie within your scope of practice When preparing an effective care plan the elderly man, family members and also the staff must be included. Staffs regularly interact with the Ellen throughout the process. It’s important to enquire from family members who have a close relationship with the patient to describe how they elicit cooperation regarding necessary care activities, those techniques can become a routine part of care. An effective care plan focuses on the patient’s abilities and integrates strategies such as task breakdown, fitness programs and physical or occupational therapy to help residents complete their daily routines and maintain their functional abilities as long as possible. All staff engaged in Ellen’s are should be aware of the care plan to be better equipped to provide suitable care to Ellen (Tessa P.1996). The initial stage in this procedure involves talking with the patient to learn their wishes and desires associated with aging. It is very crucial to identify the patient’s right to make their own decisions associated with their treatment and care. The second step is collecting useful information regarding the elder. This information may include medical history, financial information, legal papers, for instance, will. The last step is obtaining an assessment of the patient. Before the process of developing an appropriate care plan for Ellen it is important to establish his capacity to remain safely independent, along with his strengths, weaknesses, and areas of concern. Explain how you can evaluate the outcomes of a planned nursing care of an older client. Quote examples from the case discussed. Evaluation is the way by which nurses determine whether the patient has reached a goal. Although this is regarded as the last step, the entire procedure is ongoing. This will involve analyzing Ellen’s response and assist to establish the effectiveness of nursing care. When evaluating a care plan it is essential to discuss any lack of progress with the patient. This will help both the patient and nurse speculate on the activities that need to be terminated, added or modified. Other health officers who are with a particular patient or problems similar to those of the Ellen may give their expertise too. The evaluation of Ellen’s progress may be the subject of a nursing team conference. Ellen and family members are invited to participate. Pain is expected to reduce after use of paracetamol and NSAIDs medication. After reduction of pain the patient is expected to improve on agitation and depression which is normally caused by too much pain due to Dementia. After therapy focusing on leg strength and issues concerning falling down should reduce. Balanced diet intake will improve health and prevent weight problems. Explain how you are going to address the situation with the investigating officer. Also discuss how you may address the contemporary issues in aged care practice. The officer after lodging the complaint that is fraudulent, the first thing is to ask him to clarify the issue and provide more information. This will help in understanding the issue and establish the most appropriate manner of handling the issue. If the officer is not satisfied with the explanation provided he can request for a review. A request for a review can be lodged after a complaint procedure has been completed. The request should state the reasons for need of a review. Contemporary issues Funding is a major issue in caring homes for the elderly. Caring the elderly people is time consuming and needs devoted and motivated staff. Nothing impinges on dedication and motivation more than sensing that your generosity and dedication is being misused by the authorities with massive surpluses or by executives of organizations earning large bonuses by cutting costs to give investors returns. This issue is caused by the government’s approval of the illusion that numbers or expertise is not required in nursing homes and that reducing expenses without violating accreditation standards is competence. There is the issue of deregulation whereby the government cannot regulate and demand services to be provided in a particular way. It can also not control use of finances provided. The government may be willing to assist staffing financially but cannot be able to insist on how the funds will be utilized. The market main concern is to keep costs and increase profits. Nursing homes hence reduce staff salaries to increase profits. Elderly people are normally abused in nursing homes. This happens when an elder person is mistreated by a person within a relationship of trust. It may take the form of physical, psychological, financial or sexual abuse or neglect. Measures of preventing this issue include mandatory reporting amendment of acts protecting elders in nursing homes. Discuss on how an Enrolled Nurse may practice proficiently within the aged care environment Nurses working in aged Nursing home need to be proficient in a wide scale of clinical expertise. The new enrolled nurse needs to improve relationships with elderly patients and their relatives, as well as their fellow nurses. The nurse should be responsible for managing and monitoring patient’s responses to medications and ensure medication is stored safely. It’s the nurse role to ensure that medicines are managed to achieve the best results for patients in their care. The nurse is in charge of formulating and documenting a plan of care, in association with the patient, relatives, and friends, within an outline of informed consent The new nurse will support and promote freedom of individuals living in aged care home. The nurse should offer information regarding medicines so that patients can make informed decisions concerning their medication. Administer medication standards and observe reactions to medication. The nurse should make sure that medicines are kept in harmony with manufacturer’ suggestions and meet governmental requirements for safe storage. The nurse is charged with protecting personal information regarding individuals residing at the nursing home. The nurse should work in agreement with a legal and moral framework, which makes sure that patient’s interest and health are esteemed. The nurse should not favor any residents according to their beliefs and social practices. Produce and document a comprehensive, systematic, and accurate evaluation of the physical, emotional, social, and religious needs of patients. Care should be offered on the basis of the best accessible evidence. The new nurse should apply expertise based on suitable repertoire of proficiency portraying safe and competent practice. It is the nurse’s responsibility to evaluate and document the results of interventions. Display excellent clinical judgment across a variety of differing proficient and care-delivery environment (Tessa P.1996). References John C, James E, David M. (2006). Handbook of dementing illnesses: Publisher: New York : Taylor & Francis. Lucy S. (2007). Progress with dementia: moving forward: Addressing palliative care for people demetia: Publisher: London : National Council for Palliative Care. Tessa P.(1996). Problem behaviour and the care of elderly people. Publisher: Bicester : Winslow. Read More