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Details of task:
- Only choose ONE of the following three question sets for the essay (question set A OR B OR C).
Due date: XXXXXXXXXXCohort B 14/5/2021 2359PM
via turnitin submission link on course Canvas site
- Length: 1,500 words ± 10%
- Weighting: 30%
Case
Kate is a 52-year-old female patient who lives with her husband in Whittlesea, Victoria. She has three teenage
children at home. Her Height is 167 cm, and she weighs 98 kg. She works as a receptionist. She was diagnosed
with type 2 diabetes 4 years ago. On most evenings, she drinks two large glasses of red wine.
Kate was started on metformin 500 mg oral twice daily. The dose was increased to 1000 mg twice daily one year
ago and an additional small dose of insulin glargine. Her latest HbA1c level is 8.4% and morning fasting glucose
in the past three months has ranged between 7 and 10 mmol/L. Her last review of physical systems was
unremarkable, but reported there was pitting oedema in both lower legs. She is on no other medications.
Kare and the family just returned from a 5-day trip to Sydney. She reportedly had a couple of days history of
vomiting and loss of appetite after an accidental penetration injury from a fishing hook on her left lower leg.
Kate also lost her supply of metformin and glucose testing kit in Sydney. She presented to the emergency
department after returning from Sydney.
On examination at the ED, Kate was fe
ile and had signs of dehydration with dry tongue, slow capillary refill,
i
egular deep laboured
eathing rate of 40
eaths/min, pulse 130/min. The review of systems showed clear
lung and heart sounds. Left shin open ulcers were noted. Her blood glucose was 28mmol/L, arterial blood gases
evealed pH 7.06, and increased blood ketones.
Question set A
Analyse the case and respond to below two questions in the essay
• Discuss the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes as it relates to the acute symptoms Kate is
experiencing.
• Analyse the potential management approaches (medical and nursing) for Kate.
Kate was discharged 3 weeks after ED visit. One week after discharge, Kate presented to the emergency
department again with 24-hour history of nausea, vomiting, and severe right lower quadrant abdominal pain
with radiation over her periumbilical area. She stated to the doctor that she had had similar pain over the last
week but not as bad as it was now. Following assessment and investigation, Kate was diagnosed as having acute
appendicitis and was scheduled for laparoscopic appendectomy in theatre in 4 hours.
On examination, her temperature was 37.5 ; 25
eaths/min, pulse 115/min. BP 140/95mmHg. The review of
systems showed clear lung and heart sounds. Her blood glucose was 5.5 mmol/L. Kate was conscious but
anxious.
Question set B
Analyse the case and respond to below one question in the essay
• Explore the nursing considerations and strategies involved in the management of Kate, prior, during
and after the acute surgical operation.
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Kate returned home after a five day stay in the hospital for the acute appendectomy procedure. Although she
has slowly recovered from the two ED visits, she has been feeling fatigued for the past few days, and has become
increasingly depressed about her health status. She started drinking more wine at night.
One Saturday, Kate was having a nap when she experienced a sudden onset of epigastric pain at 2 pm. Initially,
Kate thought it was the takeaway the family had eaten for lunch, so didn’t not think much of it at the time. Late
that afternoon, the pain had not subsided and started to intensify and radiate into her jaw and left shoulder.
She explained to her husband that the discomfort now felt like a crushing pain in her chest, so her husband took
her to the hospital at 5pm that afternoon.
On a
ival at the ED, Kate reported 9/10 crushing pain in her chest, nausea, and diaphoresis. A 12- lead ECG was
taken (see below ECG strip). Blood work revealed increased level of Cardiac Troponin T (cTnT) and Creatine
Kinase – MB (CK - MB).
Question set C
Analyse the case and respond to all below two questions in the essay
• Discuss the pathophysiology of the acute cardiac event Kate is experiencing.
• Analyse the immediate management approaches (medical and nursing) for Kate with an acute cardiac
condition.