Aim of assessment:This assessment aims to enable students to complete the short answer on some common health conditions using evidence-based informa
Aim of assessment:This assessment aims to enable students to complete the short answer on some common health conditions using evidence-based information from relevant literature.
Word Count:There is a word limit of 1500 words. Use your computer to total the number of words used in your assignment. However, do not include the reference list at the end of your assignment in the word count. In-text citations will be included in the additional 10%-word count. If you exceed the word limit by more than 10%, the marker will stop marking at 1500 words plus 10%
Assessment details:Case Study with three (3) Short Answer Questions
INTRODUCTION:Anne Griffith is a 35-year-old woman who was admitted to your ward (Surgical ward) two (2) days ago.
SITUATION:Anne has just been transferred back to your ward by Nurses from the Recovery room, post left radical mastectomy in the operating theatre.
BACKGROUND:Annes mother died from breast cancer at the age of 62 years. Anne began menstruating at the age of 11 years. She is currently peri-menopausal. She began taking the oral contraceptive pill when she was 19 years old. Anne lives a sedentary lifestyle. Her BMI is 34 kg/m. Anne eats a healthy diet of varied organic foods. Despite her family history, Anne does not conduct regular self-breast examinations. She has periodic mammograms, but not annually, as recommended. During a recent doctors visit, a lump was found on palpation by her GP in the upper left quadrant of Annes left breast. Urgent breast ultrasound and biopsy were ordered. The sentinel node biopsy returned a positive result. Anne was diagnosed with stage IIIA breast adenocarcinoma. After consultation with the breast surgeon and the breast care Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC), Anne elected to have a left radical mastectomy.
ASSESSMENT:Annes surgery went as planned, and she has not experienced any postoperative complications.
-GCS- 15/15
-Pain score of 6/10.
-Mild nausea but no vomiting
-Vital Observations: 105/67mmHg; HR- 99b/min; RR- 16b/min; O2 sats- 99%
RECOMMENDATION:
-Morphine 2.5 to 5mg I.V. 2.5mg every 4-6 hours for pain relief.
-IVF Normal saline 0.9% 1000mls - 500mls/hr 13
-Ondansetron 4mg I.V stat.
Annes expected hospital length of stay is five (5) days if no complications occur.
An appointment with Breast Care CNC was booked - to offer support and clinical education.
In addressing the Australian National Health Priority Area of Cancer Control, use a person-centred care approach to respond to the following three (3) Short Answer Questions:
Question 1: Applying knowledge of the pain pathway, describe how Anne became conscious of pain post-left radical mastectomy (300 words), and discuss three (3) specific nursing responsibilities (with rationales) required when looking after Anne within 30 minutes of administering Morphine. (400 words)
Question 2: Identify and discuss (giving rationales) the benefits of two (2) non-pharmacological nursing interventions that may be necessary when managing Annes post-operative pain. (300 words)
Question 3: Identify and discuss three (3) possible complications for Anne, post-mastectomy and lymph node removal and the associated nursing interventions of priority within the first 24hrs postoperatively. (500 words)
Resources:
i. A minimum of eight (8) references are to be used for this assessment.
ii. There are a number of textbooks and resources available through the Western Sydney University Library that may assist you. Please refer to the Subjects vUWS site for specific Subject resources.
iii. Assessments listed as individual assessments must be completed independently. Students are advised to refer back to their notes, textbooks or appropriate academic, peer-reviewed resources utilised during Subject delivery.
iv. Do not use non-credible internet sources for this assessment; only use textbooks and peer-reviewed resources.
