GCU NRS410 Complete
Week 1 Debate
The provided case scenario will be utilized to answer the discussion questions.
Case Study
Ms. G., a 23-year-old diabetic, has cellulitis in her left lower leg. Her leg has become more painful and she has developed chills after applying heating pads for 48 hours.
Mood Data
Her leg hurts and feels heavy.
It’s been 3 days and she can’t bear weight on her leg.
She lives alone and hasn’t received help with meals.
Observables
Open wound 2 cm in diameter, 1 cm depth, above medial malleolus, with moderate thick yellow drainage
Left leg, knee-to-ankle red
Left calf 3 in larger than right
38.9°C
160 cm; 83.7 kg
Test Results
80/12% neutrophils, 18.3 x 1012 WBC
Wound culture: S. aureus
Q&A: Critical Thinking
What clinical signs do you see in Ms. G and how should she be treated? Justify your recommendations.
Refer to “ARC: Anatomy Resource Center” to identify Ms. G’s afflicted muscle groups.
What does the presented subjective and objective data mean in terms of future diagnostic/laboratory testing, education, and preventative care? Justify your answer.
What elements exist in this condition that could slow wound healing, and what steps should be taken to prevent it? Explain.
NRS410 Path Physiology and Client Health Management
Week 2 Debate
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating cancer as a serious health issue. Together with its supporters, ACS is dedicated to developing cures and fighting back for people’s health.
Questions to Ponder:
Assume a family member or colleague has just been diagnosed. Describe how the American Cancer Society can educate and support. Your favorite ACS service, and why?
The American Cancer Society estimates that 1.5 million additional cancer cases will be diagnosed annually over the next decade. What factors affect the annual incidence and death of cancer among Americans? What policy and practice changes are most likely to alter these figures?
Choose an American Cancer Society-funded research project. Describe the program and its influence on cancer prevention and treatment.
NRS410 Path Physiology and Client Health Management
Week 3 Debate
Then answer the Critical Thinking Questions based on the Case Scenario and Objective Data.
Case Study
Mrs. J., age 63, has hypertension, chronic heart failure, and sleep apnea. She’s been smoking two packs a day for 40 years and won’t stop. She got sick with flu, pharyngitis, and malaise three days ago. Her antihypertensive and heart failure meds had been missing for 4 days. She is now in the ICU with acute decompensated heart failure.
Mood Data
Is worried and wonders if she will die.
Denies pain but says she’s out of breath.
Her heart is “running away.”
She is so weary she cannot eat or drink alone.
Observables
175 cm; 95.5 kg
T 37.6 C, HR 118, RR 34, BP 90/58
The sixth ICS has a weak PMI, and all peripheral pulses are 1+. jugular vein distention
first cardiac monitoring shows 132 ventricular rate and AF
Coughing frothy blood-tinged sputum; pulmonary crackles; reduced breath sounds right lower lobe 82 % SpO2
Hepatomegaly 4 cm below costal margin
Q&A: Critical Thinking
What nursing interventions is Mrs. J. eligible for upon admission? Mrs. J. begins drug therapy to control her symptoms. Why are the following drugs prescribed?
Fumarate IV (Lasix)
April (Vasotec)
Metoprolol (Lopressor)
IV morphine (Morphine)
Describe four cardiovascular diseases that might cause heart failure and what medical/nursing therapies can be used to avoid heart failure.
Discuss four nursing measures that can help reduce difficulties caused by many drug interactions in older patients. Justify each intervention you suggest.
GCU NRS410 Full Course
Week 1
Discussion
The case scenario provided will be used to answer the
discussion questions that follow.
Case Scenario
Ms. G., a 23-year-old diabetic, is admitted to the hospital
with a cellulitis of her left lower leg. She has been applying heating pads to
the leg for the last 48 hours, but the leg has become more painful and she has
developed chilling.
Subjective Data
Complains of pain and heaviness in her leg.
States she cannot bear weight on her leg and has been in bed
for 3 days.
Lives alone and has not had anyone to help her with meals.
Objective Data
Round, yellow-red, 2 cm diameter, 1 cm deep, open wound
above medial malleolus with moderate amount of thick yellow drainage
Left leg red from knee to ankle
Calf measurement on left 3 in > than right
Temperature: 38.9 degrees C
Height: 160 cm; Weight: 83.7 kg
Laboratory Results
WBC 18.3 x 10¹² / L; 80% neutrophils, 12% bands
Wound culture: Staphylococcus aureus
Critical Thinking Questions
What clinical manifestations are present in Ms. G and what
recommendations would you make for continued treatment? Provide rationale for
your recommendations.
Identify the muscle groups likely to be affected by Ms. G’s
condition by referring to “ARC: Anatomy Resource Center.”
What is the significance of the subjective and objective
data provided with regard to follow-up diagnostic/laboratory testing,
education, and future preventative care? Provide rationale for your answer.
What factors are present in this situation that could delay
wound healing, and what precautions are required to prevent delayed wound
healing? Explain.
NRS410 Path
Physiology and Nursing Management of Client’s Health
Week 2
Discussion
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide,
community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer
as a major health problem. Together with its supporters, ACS is committed to
helping people stay well and get well by finding cures and by fighting back.
Critical Thinking Questions:
Imagine that a family friend or colleague has just been
diagnosed with cancer. Explain how the American Cancer Society might provide
education and support. What ACS services would you recommend and why?
According to statistics published by the American Cancer
Society, there will be an estimated 1.5 million new cancer cases diagnosed each
year over the next decade. What factors contribute to the yearly incidence and
mortality rates of various cancers in Americans? What changes in policy and
practice are most likely to affect these figures over time
Select a research program from among those funded by the
American Cancer Society. Describe the program and discuss what impact the
research will have on the prevention or treatment of cancer.
NRS410 Path
Physiology and Nursing Management of Client’s Health
Week 3
Discussion
Use the following Case Scenario, Subjective Data, and
Objective Data to answer the Critical Thinking Questions.
Case Scenario
Mrs. J. is a 63-year-old woman who has a history of hypertension,
chronic heart failure, and sleep apnea. She has been smoking two packs of
cigarettes a day for 40 years and has refused to quit. Three days ago, she had
an onset of flu with fever, pharyngitis, and malaise. She has not taken her
antihypertensive medications or her medications to control her heart failure
for 4 days. Today, she has been admitted to the hospital ICU with acute
decompensated heart failure.
Subjective Data
Is very anxious and asks whether she is going to die.
Denies pain but says she feels like she cannot get enough
air.
Says her heart feels like it is “running away.”
Reports that she is so exhausted she cannot eat or drink by
herself.
Objective Data
Height 175 cm; Weight 95.5 kg
Vital signs: T 37.6 C, HR 118 and irregular, RR 34, BP 90/58
Cardiovascular: Distant S1, S2, S3 present; PMI at sixth ICS
and faint; all peripheral pulses are 1+; bilateral jugular vein distention;
initial cardiac monitoring indicates a ventricular rate of 132 and atrial
fibrillation
Respiratory: Pulmonary crackles; decreased breath sounds
right lower lobe; coughing frothy blood-tinged sputum; SpO2 82%
Gastrointestinal: BS present: hepatomegaly 4 cm below costal
margin
Critical Thinking Questions
What nursing interventions are appropriate for Mrs. J. at
the time of her admission? Drug therapy is started for Mrs. J. to control her
symptoms. What is the rationale for the administration of each of the following
medications?
IV furosemide (Lasix)
Enalapril (Vasotec)
Metoprolol (Lopressor)
IV morphine sulphate (Morphine)
Describe four cardiovascular conditions that may lead to
heart failure and what can be done in the form of medical/nursing interventions
to prevent the development of heart failure in each condition.
Taking into consideration the fact that most mature adults
take at least six prescription medications, discuss four nursing interventions
that can help prevent problems caused by multiple drug interactions in older
patients. Provide rationale for each of the interventions you recommend.
