Purpose: To integrate and build on basic concepts in support of critical thinking.
Course outcomes: This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes.
CO 1: Correlate lifestyle, environmental, and other influences with changes in levels of wellness. (POs 1 and 7)
CO 2: Explain the pathophysiologic processes of select health conditions. (PO 1)
CO 3: Predict clinical manifestations and complications for select disease processes. (POs 1 and 8)
Due date: Your faculty member will inform you when this assignment is due. The Late Assignment Policy applies to this assignment.
Total points possible: 50 points
Preparing the assignment
• Select a pathophysiology concept (i.e., infection, mobility, perfusion, tissue integrity, cognition, intracranial regulation, hormonal regulation, glucose regulation, fluid and electrolytes, acid-base balance, cellular regulation, nutrition, gas exchange, pain, immunity, inflammation, elimination, and thermoregulation) for which you have not previously completed an active learning template (ALT). Some examples include but are not limited to
o Complete the three areas of the template to describe the pathophysiologic changes that occur within the body and what care the nurse may provide for clients experiencing the changes.
• Select a disease process (i.e., myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, seizure, small bowel obstruction) from the current organ system you are studying, for which you have not previously completed an ALT.
o Complete the top three boxes, the Assessment and Safety Concerns area of the form.
o Be prepared to submit, present and/or teach this concept to others, as directed by your instructor.
In addition, complete as much of the Patient Centered Care area as you are able based on your own research and/or collaboration with your peers or faculty.
• Create a 1-page analysis describing how the selected Basic Concept ALT relates to the selected Systems Disorder ALT.
o Be prepared to present and/or submit your paper, as directed by your instructor.
For writing Helpance, visit the Writing Center.
Please note that your instructor may provide you with additional assessments in any form to determine that you fully understand the concepts learned in the review module.
The following provides an example of the Basic Concept ALT to help clarify the assignment guidelines.
NOT FOR STUDENT SUBMISSION
The following provides an example of the System Disorder ALT to help clarify the assignment guidelines.
NOT FOR STUDENT SUBMISSION
The following provides an example of the 1-page Analysis to help clarify the assignment guidelines.
NOT FOR STUDENT SUBMISSION
Since the largest group to experience hip fractures are older adults, the normal changes that occur with aging place them at higher risk for complications of immobility and surgical repair of the fracture (for example: decreased muscle mass, decreased bone density, suppressed immune response, and loss of muscle strength and flexibility).
Immobility after a hip fracture (and surgical repair of the break) contributes to the following undesirable changes within the body.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood pools in the lower extremity veins, which increases the risk of pulmonary embolism and compromised circulation and oxygenation.
• Muscle atrophy contributes to orthostatic hypotension when the smooth muscles of the venous system fail to contract when the client changes from a supine to an upright position.
• Loss of appetite due to inactivity, depression, boredom, or pain can contribute to weight loss and malnutrition impacting muscle mass and delaying healing.
• Use of an indwelling urinary catheter increases the risk for urinary tract infection.
• Calcium loss from long bones may lead to renal calculi and osteoporosis.
• Pressure and moisture to the skin increases the risk of pressure ulcers.
• If client unable to reposition themselves in bed, skin can break down increasing the chance for infection.
• Social isolation increases the risk of delirium and disorientation.
• When supine, the weight of the chest wall limits lung expansion and contributes to atelectasis.
• Blood redistribution and fluid shifts increase the risk for pulmonary edema.
• Pooling of secretions increases the risk for pneumonia and decreased gas exchange.
• Decreased weight bearing contributes to hormone imbalances.
Considering the concept of mobility with the systems disorder of a hip fracture, it is evident that the older adult is most at risk for not only experiencing a hip fracture but having one or more complications of immobility due to the injury, as well.
Patient-focused care should address pain management (pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic), promoting optimal respiratory status, and early movement with the help of physical therapy. As always, client safety should be incorporated into all care.
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The goal is to integrate and build on fundamental principles in order to facilitate critical thinking.
Course objectives: The student will be able to complete this assignment in order to satisfy the course objectives listed below.
CO 1: Establish a relationship between changes in degrees of wellbeing and changes in lifestyle, environmental, and other factors. (Positions 1 and 7)
CO 2: Describe the pathophysiologic processes that underlie a variety of health problems. (Police Officer No. 1)
CO 3: Predict the clinical symptoms and consequences of specific disease processes using statistical methods. (Positions 1 and 8)
The due date for this project will be communicated to you by your faculty member. To the extent that this assignment is late, the Late Assignment Policy will apply.
The maximum number of points that can be earned is 50.
Getting the assignment ready
You must choose a pathophysiology concept (for example, infection, mobility, perfusion, tissue integrity, cognition, intracranial regulation, hormonal regulation, glucose regulation, fluid and electrolytes, acid-base balance, cellular regulation, nutrition, gas exchange, pain, immunity, inflammation, elimination, and thermoregulation) for which you have not yet completed an active learning template (ALT). Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Complete the three sections of the template to describe the pathophysiologic changes that occur within the body, as well as the type of treatment that the nurse can provide to clients who are experiencing the changes.
The illness process (e.g., myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, seizures, small intestinal obstruction) must be from the current organ system you are examining and have not been studied previously in an ALT.
o Fill out the first three boxes of the form, which are the Assessment and Safety Concerns sections.
In accordance with your instructor’s instructions, prepare to submit, present, and/or teach this subject to other students.
Complete as much of the Patient Centered Care section as you are able, using your own research and/or collaboration with your peers or faculty members.
Provide an overview of the relationship between the specified Basic Concept ALT and the selected Systems Disorder ALT in a one-page analysis.
o Be prepared to present and/or submit your paper in accordance with the instructions provided by your instructor.
Visit the Writing Center if you need help with your writing.
Please keep in mind that your instructor may offer you with additional exams in any form in order to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the concepts covered in this review module.
A sample of the Basic Concept Alternate Language Translation (ALT) is provided below to help clarify the assignment instructions.
NOT FOR SUBMISSION BY STUDENTS
The following example of the System Disorder ALT is provided to Help in clarifying the assignment guidelines.
NOT FOR SUBMISSION BY STUDENTS
Example of a 1-page Analysis is provided in the next section to Help in clarifying the assignment guidelines.
NOT FOR SUBMISSION BY STUDENTS
Because older persons account for the majority of hip fracture cases, the physiologic changes that occur with aging put them at greater risk for complications such as immobility and surgical repair of the fracture (for example: decreased muscle mass, decreased bone density, suppressed immune response, and loss of muscle strength and flexibility).
Immobility following a hip fracture (and subsequent surgical treatment of the fracture) contributes to the development of the following unfavorable alterations in the body.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood pools in the veins of the lower extremities, increasing the risk of pulmonary embolism as well as the likelihood of reduced circulation and oxygenation.
If the smooth muscles of the venous system are unable to contract when the client shifts from a supine to an upright position, this can result in orthostatic hypotension in the patient.
• Loss of appetite due to inactivity, melancholy, boredom, or pain can result in weight loss and malnutrition, which can have a negative influence on muscle mass and cause healing to be delayed.
Using an indwelling urinary catheter increases the likelihood of developing a urinary tract infection.
• Renal calculi and osteoporosis are two conditions that can result from calcium loss from lengthy bones.
• Applying pressure and moisture to the skin increases the likelihood of developing a pressure ulcer.
• If a client is unable to adjust oneself in bed, their skin may begin to break down, increasing the likelihood of contracting an infection.
• Delirium and disorientation are more likely to occur in those who are socially isolated.
• When lying supine, the weight of the chest wall restricts lung expansion, which contributes to atelectasis (shortness of breath).
• Redistribution of blood and fluid shifts enhance the likelihood of developing pulmonary edema.
• The pooling of secretions raises the risk of pneumonia and decreases gas exchange. • The reduction in weight bearing contributes to hormonal imbalances in the body.
It is clear that when the idea of mobility is combined with the systems disorder of a hip fracture, it is the older adult who is most at risk for not only getting a hip fracture but also for experiencing one or more sequelae of immobility as a result of the injury.
With the support of physical therapy, patient-centered care should address pain management (both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacologic), promoting ideal respiratory status, and allowing for early activity after surgery. Client safety should be considered in all aspects of care, as it should be at all times.
