Assessment Of The Cardiac System Of Patientâ€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Assessment Of The Cardiac System Of Patient? Answer: Introducation The patient in the present case study analysis is Mr Paul Peters who had been admitted to the cardiac unit with the NSTEMI (Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction). From the assessment of his current condition, it is noted that he is in unstable condition and the ECG shows abnormality in heart rhythm. The correct vital statistics are T36.5, HR 88, RR 18, BP 110/70, while the oxygen saturation is 96%. His age is 50 and weighs 88 kgs. He is a factory worker and a regular smoker, with a sedentary lifestyle. His level is education is low. The present section would detail the assessments to be taken for the patient. Assessment of the cardiac system of the patient would be most crucial since the patient has abnormal heart rhythm and he is in unstable condition. The cardiac examination would follow the stages of inspection, palpation and auscultation. The Business would need to be positioned in the supine position and torso and neck would be exposed completely. The general inspection would include his status of comfort, an abnormal movement like head bobbing. The hands are to be inspected for skin turgor and temperature. It is imperative that a nurse is as objective as possible while collecting patient data. Reporting the findings is very much essential, and the charting of the results in a clear manner is also needed (Donahue 2011). The second assessment would be a central nervous system that would involve the assessment of the motor and the sensory responses of the patient. The purpose would be the determination of impairment of nervous system. The examination to be conducted is Mental Status Examination. This would involve the assessment of consciousness using the Glasgow Coma Scale. A Mini Mental State (MMSE) examination would be pivotal. Muscle strength is to be examined through the MRC (Medical Research Council) scale. The patient is to be assessed for muscle tone and rigidity. Any abnormal movement, such as seizures and fasciculations are to be assessed along with the above mentioned assessments (Watkins, Whisman and Booker 2016). The consecutive assessments would be of the abdomen, respiratory system and the renal system. Abdomen assessment would involve inspection, auscultation, palpation and percussion of the abdomen. The inspection would include an examination of the shape of the abdomen, abdominal masses, skin abnormalities, and abdomen wall movement with respiration. Auscultation would detect altered bowel sounds, vascular bruits or rubs. Atherosclerosis is the common cause of alteration of arterial blood flow. Palpation refers to the abdomen examination for crepitus of the abdominal wall, for any abdominal masses or abdominal tenderness (Lewis et al. 2016) . Assessment of the renal system, that is, kidneys and bladder are commonly performed in combination with an abdominal assessment. Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation because these activities can lead to vague abdominal vascular sounds and enhanced bowel sounds. Assessment elements would include frequent urination, difficulty in urination and hematuria. A urine specimen is to be checked for infection, and odour and colour. The bladder is to be palpated for any signs of distention of the bladder. Assessment of the respiratory system would mainly focus on the evaluation of respiratory distress. Major evidence of distress are a cough and audible wheezing. Body temperature and respiratory rate are to be checked regularly (Considine and Currey 2015). Since the patient is a regular smoker and drinker, his social background is also to be assessed before outlining the care plan. The regular nutritional diet of the patient is to be assessed. It is important to know whether the patient had suffered loss or increase in weight in the recent past. The Patient Centered Assessment Method (PCAM) can be the appropriate tool for assessing the complexity of the patient through examination of the health determinants. The tool assesses the lifestyle behaviour of the patient, the mental well being and the health literacy. The social environment is also to be assessed. The members of the family who can provide in depth information about the patient is to be ascertained. Intellectual function, depression and mental impairment are to be accurately highlighted. The rationale is that thee behavioural and mental stare of the patient plays a key role in achieving ultimate patient outcomes after the administration of medical interventions (Forbes and Wat t 2015). The prioritization of nursing needs enlists the main areas of focus to be cardiac monitoring, nutritional needs and patient education. Since the patient has abnormal heart rhythm, this would be the centre of nursing care for the patient. Cardiac monitoring refers to the continual monitoring of the patients heart condition with the help of probes placed on the skin of the patients body. The method would be noninvasive and painless. While such monitoring is done, the nurse would play a crucial role in preparing the patient and ensuring that the test is being done accurately. The monitor is to be observed correctly, and accurate results are to be reported. It has been found that the patient is obese, weighing 88 kgs. A review of the dietary intake of the patient is needed. This would include calorie intake, eating habits and type of food consumed. This step would provide the chance of focusing on the importance of balanced diet as per the body needs. An eating plan is to be formulated that would be based upon the patient specifications. A diet would include food items from all basic groups and help in maintaining optimal body functioning. A suitable environment is to be created that would foster the positive eating habit of the patient. Activity level of the patient would also be assessed simultaneously. The patient would be required to carry out physical activity in some form to maintain appropriate body weight (Butcher et al. 2013). The last nursing care aspect would be patient education. It is important that the patient is encouraged to quit smoking and drinking. The nurse to refer the patient to a counsellor who would aid in encouraging the patient to quit these two habits. The role of the nurse in this regard would be to provide emotional support and educate the patient about the adverse impact of alcohol and tobacco on healthcare. Since the literacy level of the patient is low, it is advisable that the nurse communicates in a language that is understandable to laymen. The communication between the two needs to be clear and transparent (Morton et al. 2017). References Butcher, H.K., Bulechek, G.M., Dochterman, J.M.M. and Wagner, C., 2013.Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC)-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 178-180. Considine, J. and Currey, J., 2015. Ensuring a proactive, evidence?based, patient safety approach to patient assessment.Journal of clinical nursing,24(1-2), pp.300-307. Donahue, M.P., 2011. Nursing, the finest art: An illustrated history. Mosby. pp. 258-259. Forbes, H. and Watt, E., 2015.Jarvis's Physical Examination and Health Assessment. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 327. Lewis, S.L., Bucher, L., Heitkemper, M.M., Harding, M.M., Kwong, J. and Roberts, D., 2016.Medical-Surgical Nursing-E-Book: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems, Single Volume. Elsevier Health Sciences. Morton, P.G., Fontaine, D., Hudak, C.M. and Gallo, B.M., 2017.Critical care nursing: a holistic approach. Lippincott Williams Wilkins. pp. 25-27. Watkins, T., Whisman, L. and Booker, P., 2016. Nursing assessment of continuous vital sign surveillance to improve patient safety on the medical/surgical unit.Journal of clinical nursing,25(1-2), pp.278-281.