For years, the general public has perceived the nursing profession as an occupation explicitly tailored to assist physicians. However, the modern healthcare context has modified this tendency by introducing nursing as a separate profession that allows the practitioners to communicate with the public. When speaking of the public perception of the nursing profession, it is difficult to outline a unanimous opinion on the subject. According to the research, some people respond negatively to the nursing image because they are driven by the prejudice that the profession itself is rather insignificant when compared to physicians (Nageshwar, 2018). Such a faulty image is frequently created by media and popular culture, as doctors are more likely to be discussed in the news and TV shows. Another factor that contributes a lot to nurses image in society is the notion of education, as people tend to assume that both RNs and BSNs receive a degree insufficient to become professionals.
Thus, there are various ways to reclaim nurses position in society. The most influential ones may be outlined as follows:
Isolating the nursing profession from physicians. Many people tend to miscomprehend the value of nursing because nurses frequently remain in the shadow of doctors. As a result, they become inseparable from the physicians and lose their value. Hence, it is necessary to present to the broad public information that distinctly divides the responsibility zones of the two occupations.
The need to reclaim the nurses image in media and popular culture. There exist dozens of shows dedicated to the daily routine of physicians, whereas nurses often play episodic or supporting roles. Ironically, the same role distribution is then noticed in real life. Hence, it is of crucial importance to represent nurses as individuals who have their own responsibilities in order for the general public to reconsider their attitude.
Providing nurses with more opportunities in terms of public health promotion. Over the past years, nurses have been given the role of community health advocates. However, the extent to which they may employ this opportunity is limited by a lack of proper agenda and financial support.
Reference
Nageshwar, V. (2018). Public perception of nursing as a profession. International Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology (IJRASB), 5(5), 15-19. Web.
The role of a clinician professional in dentistry can hardly be overestimated. The usual idea of the activity of a dentist as a performer of strictly defined medical manipulations is outdated. Currently, it is essential to talk about the formation of a new professional role, which comprises a set of professional qualities. First of all, clinician professional works with patients, and that fact presupposes not only a deep knowledge of the medical side of the work but the ability to sympathize and alleviate the stress the patient may experience. Having worked as a dental assistant for almost two years, I know that many people still feel discomfort about visiting a dentist, the fact unchanged by the modern technique of anesthesia used in dentistry. As a clinician professional, I am going to contribute to dentistry by helping patients overcome fears of a dentists office, being positive about the outcome, and being supportive at all stages of treatment.
Secondly, the profession of clinician presupposes deep knowledge of the medical side of the issue. The main function of a clinician is to determine the cause of the disease and work toward the eradication of teeth pathology. As a clinician professional, I am going to implement modern methods of treatment to eradicate the pathology and ensure the patient has healthy teeth ever after. Thirdly, in modern conditions of providing dental care and services, doctors should include a legal component in the scope of their professional duties to be able to prevent conflict situations and resolve them constructively. A significant level of medical occupational risks implies a high probability of a conflict situation in the legal field, which is currently observed in dental practice and, especially, during dental implantology. Therefore, as a clinician professional, I am going to strictly adhere to all legal norms to prevent any possible conflicts and misunderstandings.
Finally, the clinical professional is obliged to provide information about the patients state of health, so his or her role is also determined by effective communication with the patient to achieve the result of diagnosis and treatment. A clinician professional must provide full and truthful information to the patient about the choice of prevention and treatment technologies, the likely outcomes of treatment, and methods of evaluating the patients state. In the process of communicating with the patient, the clinician professional shows his or her empathy and desire for complicity in solving the problem through non-verbal behavior. As a clinician professional, I am going to fully inform the patient of the manipulations needed, of the time and the probable number of visits it will take to eradicate the pathology as well as of the cost of the proposed treatment.
The role of a clinician professional comprises a set of professional qualities necessary for the effective treatment of the patient. These qualities comprise the ability to sympathize, the adherence to legal norms in dentistry services, a thorough knowledge of the medical side of the treatment, and the ability to build effective communication with the patient. As a clinician professional, I am going to contribute to the profession by adopting a caring attitude towards the patients and providing them with all the necessary information on the proposed treatment. Moreover, I am going to strictly adhere to legal norms and clinical recommendations to avoid conflict situations and eradicate the pathology effectively.
Both healthcare providers and families in rural areas face a number of challenges associated with childcare services. A report by the Bipartisan Policy Center identifies that there is a significant shortage of childcare slots in most US states (Smith et al. 31). On average, demand exceeds supply by 31%, but in many states, this gap reaches 50-60% (Smith et al. 32). Notably, in 17 of the 25 states surveyed, rural areas had a greater shortage of childcare slots than urban ones (Smith et al. 35). On average, the gap in supply and demand in small towns reaches 35% percent (Smith et al. 35). Thus, the tendency for a shortage of childcare services is observed in all regions but is more pronounced directly in rural areas.
Providers and families in rural areas and remote areas face challenges that prevent childcare services from working effectively. The main difficulties are associated with the financial sustainability of such institutions, as well as with the provision of convenient opening hours, which is especially important for small towns (Paschall et al. 1). The lack of economic resources is also affected by the smaller number of families and children in rural areas who use the services (Paschall et al. 1). An additional challenge faced by childcare providers is the need to transport children and the infrastructure associated with it (Paschall et al. 1). Thus, it is critical for childcare services in rural areas to develop special programs and seek funding sources.
The research proposal related to the current issue is to research the options available to healthcare providers. It is necessary to consider which programs and models can have a positive effect on childcare activities in small towns. Additionally, special attention should be paid to considering possible sources of funding for providers. An important factor is the preservation of the availability of childcare, which is especially relevant for rural regions. The research should be based on the characteristics of childcare in rural areas and patterns of use of these services by families.
Analyzing the history of previous diseases, as well as the current health condition is crucial for positive treatment outcomes. The assessment of the subjective and objective data regarding a clients health is paramount for the correct diagnosis made. Thus, the purpose of the paper is to evaluate the fullness of the documentation given, assess the patients condition, and elaborate on the diagnosis concerning the case study provided.
The additional information that should be added to the documentation includes the last time the patient participated in sexual activity, whether or not she used protection when having sex and the nature of her partners symptoms. Establishing the existence of pain during intercourse and the presence of similar swellings in the past, as well as any weight loss or myalgia, is critical. Additionally, the patients history of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis testing facilitates the determination of the most likely diagnosis.
The information that should be added in the objective section includes the dimensions of the ulcer in millimeters, the presence or absence of inguinal adenopathy, and whether the regional lymphadenopathy is bilateral or unilateral. It is also essential to determine whether the inguinal adenitis is firm, mobile, painless, or discrete. It is necessary to highlight the presence of any associated skin changes, the consistency of the edge and base of the ulcer, and the lesions texture. Finally, the nature and color of the tissue surrounding the ulcer and the presence or absence of any induration, redness, or suprainfection must be noted.
The assessment is supported by the information presented in the case study. The subjective data provided includes the assertion that the swellings in the genital area are painless and rough. Chancres in primary syphilis are often described as painless papules that gradually become eroded and indurated (OByrne & Macpherson, 2019). There is a history of sexual activity with multiple partners, which increases the chances of infection. Syphilis is transmitted in the first 1-2 years after exposure (Peeling et al., 2018). The objective data demonstrates that the patient is afebrile and has a small, round and painless ulcer on her external labia. This is consistent with chancres in primary syphilis, which are round with a cartilaginous consistency on the edges and the base (OByrne & Macpherson, 2019). In addition, the lesions are often associated with inguinal lymphadenopathy.
To evaluate the condition of a patient with a chancre, diagnostics are vital. Treponemal tests such as the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay and the IgG/IgM enzyme immunoassay are useful in determining whether the patient is infected (Goza et al., 2017). In addition, anti-cardiolipin tests such as the rapid plasma reagin or venereal disease research laboratory test (VDRL) are used in the diagnosis of primary syphilis (Goza et al., 2017). However, the latter is rarely used to test an individual who has a chance. It is vital to note that treponemal analyses often turn positive in the first two weeks of infection. Non-treponemal tests are often used to assess response to treatment and evaluate the stage of infection. Higher titers are associated with an early infection while lower antibody levels are linked to the diseases latent phase.
Concerning the case study, the current diagnosis is acceptable because the patient has the key symptoms which are associated with it. For instance, the patient is afebrile, presents with a painless ulcer, and has a history of sexual contact with multiple partners in the past year. Additionally, the differential diagnoses for this case study may include the following: genital herpes, chancroid, and lymphogranuloma vender um.
First, herpes is more common than syphilis in the American population. Herpetic ulcers often present as multiple painful superficial swellings in the anogenital region (Liu et al., 2017). In addition, the lesions are blister-like and only ulcerate after disease progression. It is vital to note that, unlike syphilitic ulcers, these lesions test positive for herpes after scrapings from the base which are cultured. Herpes is a differential diagnosis because its clinical features are remarkably similar to chancre. For instance, lesions are located in the anogenital region, infected patients develop ulcers, and the disease is sexually transmitted.
Second, chancroid lesions have specific features that distinguish them from those associated with primary syphilis. These swellings are often numerous, painful, and lack induration (Liu et al., 2017). The genital papules evolve into pustules, which rupture to develop into superficial ulcers with uneven and undermined edges (Lautenschlager et al., 2017). Additionally, the ulcers bases are granulomatous and filled with purulent exudates. If left untreated, the lesions persist for months, unlike chancre, which resolves after a few weeks (Lautenschlager et al., 2017). In addition, many of the patients may present with kissing ulcers caused by autoinoculation from primary lesions. It is vital to note that some infected individuals develop buboes that may rupture spontaneously (Lautenschlager et al., 2017). There are some similarities between chancroid and the current diagnosis that make it a differential diagnosis. For instance, the lesions form in the anogenital area, both are sexually transmitted, and the ulcers in both cases are superficial.
Finally, it is considered that lymphogranuloma vender um lesions are painless and self-limiting and are often located in the genital mucosa or rectum. However, Weiss and Sano (2018) note that the patients may have painful inguinal lymphadenopathy, fever, chills, and malaise. This is significantly different from patients diagnosed with chancre because fever, malaise, and painful genital lesions are often absent. However, the disease qualifies as a differential diagnosis because the lesions are self-limiting and painless. In addition, the illness is transmitted when individuals have sexual intercourse without protection.
References
Goza, M., Kulwicki, B., Akers, J. M., & Klepser, M. E. (2017). Syphilis screening: A review of the syphilis health check rapid immunochromatographic test. Journal of Pharmacy Technology, 33(2), 5359. Web.
Lautenschlager, S., Kemp, M., Christensen, J. J., Mayans, M. V., & Moi, H. (2017). 2017 European guideline for the management of chancroid. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 28(4), 324329. Web.
OByrne, P., & Macpherson, P. (2019). Syphilis.British Medical Journal, 365(14159). Web.
Peeling, R. W., Mabey, D., Kamb, M. L., Chen, X., David, J., Benzaken, A. S., Street, K., Hepatitis, V., Union, P., & Hepatitis, V. (2018). Syphilis.Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 3(17073), 49. Web.
The transition from Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (RN) is the crucial part for every nurses career. LPNs usually ensure more basic nursing care and are responsible for the well-being of the patient, while RNs, in contrasts, can prescribe medication, plan treatments, and provide educational advice to patients and the public. Such significant switch of responsibilities influences nursing, person, health, and environment.
In nursing, the transition from LPN to RN implies more patient-related tasks to do. Being a registered nurse is providing full support for the patients in their health journey. Along with administering medications and treatment, a nurse should also know how to perform Basic Life Support. Moreover, the status of a nurse is changed to the higher positions, suggesting about the qualifications of the medical worker. A new position provides networking as nurses will communicate with other registered nurses and also improve their nursing experience.
At the personal level, the role of a transition from LPN to RN means boosting self-esteem as a nurse is now in a higher position. It also represents a change in the social status, ensuring some benefits to the nurses. Moreover, for some people such shift implies development of both career and personal skills. Others may dream for a being registered nurse and do valuable work related to health. However, for other nurses a new role as a RN can be stressful as it offers more jobs. As such, at the personal level nurses can feel differently due to various reasons.
The role of transition from LPN to RN in health is different for the nurses and patients. The transition can influence the health of nurses by increasing the amount of work they should do. The increase in responsibilities suggests about more stress and extra time at workplace. Such attitude may cause mental and physical issues for nurses, so relaxing or reducing the amount of work are key to nurses. Additionally, nurses may feel so called imposter syndrome that is a fear of changing the responsibilities. Due to the syndrome, they may feel that they do not deserve to transform from LPN to RN. So their mental health stability may be disrupted by the transition. In terms of patients, registered nurses monitor treatment of patients, thus providing more care for the patients.
With regards to the environment, the shift to the registered nurse creates the community of people with common objectives on work. The nurses who experienced the transition from LPN to RN are motivated to work at their new position. This motivation influences the whole environment preserving such attitude to the new position and supporting each other. Highly motivated registered nurses will inspire other nurses to effectively provide tasks and treatment for the patients. Such new flow of nurses ensures a friendly environment that positively impacts the whole nursing experience.
In conclusion, the role of transition from LPN to RN is an essential part for nurses, showing their qualifications and interest in the field. The new role of RN means having more responsibilities in front of patients and peers. Many positive changes occur in nursing, person, health, and environment during the shift between LPN to RN. Nurses who are transited from LPN to RN position should concern about their mental health and the way how they respond to the changes.
As put by the American Nurses Association, nurses are vital to the health of the nation. To me, this thought is far from being an overstatement. Today, counting four million, nurses are the largest part of the US healthcare workforce. Even though no other country in the world has as many nurses as the US, there is an impending shortage. As per the US Bureau of Labor estimations, in the next few years, the demand for nurses will be growing at a 16% rate each year (Haddad, Annamaraju & Toney-Butler, 2020). To fill the gap, the US healthcare system might need eleven more million nurses. If the expansion of the workforce does not happen, the workload on remaining nurses is readily imaginable.
However, having worked for six years in various clinical settings, I can confidently say that it is not always about quantity but rather quality. The changing demands of the healthcare system require nurses to achieve higher levels of education. It is said that nursing is a profession of both mind and heart. Therefore, it is crucial to develop the intuition for patient needs and fundamental respect for human life. Yet, nurses need to lead with the mind and backup their actions with rigorous learning and evidence-based knowledge in their decisions. Indeed, being a nurse in the US healthcare system today means continuing education and reaching new frontiers in ones field of expertise.
The main reason for pursuing this degree is the opportunity to pursue a specialty field that has been of interest to me for many years. Today, public mental health in the US is finally gaining the recognition that it deserves, and I aspire to contribute to its improvement and maintenance through training and specialized studies. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has especially exposed the human psyches frailty and the need for more accessible mental health services. Pursuing an MSN appears to be the best way to transition into a new role, all while enjoying peer support, academic opportunities, and continued employment. Acting on my passion will be a gratifying experience and a further step in my career.
After obtaining this degree, I envision myself to be more autonomous I will be given more credit and trusted with more serious decisions. An MSN degree would diversify my ways of caring for others, thus maximizing my impact on vulnerable populations. Higher educations levels would open the door to a variety of roles mentoring, educating, and managing. Besides, as a holder of a Masters degree, I will make myself eligible for Ph.D. programs, which I may as well consider later in life. Last but not least are the change of surroundings and networking with fellow professionals that I appreciate about pursuing an MSN degree. As an experienced nurse, I am well aware of the benefits of finding a professionals learning community for which an academic setting may be the best medium imaginable.
I consider the professional activity of a highly qualified PMHNP as a special career goal as an NP, which this degree will allow me to achieve. I have had two years of experience working in a behavioral health care setting and over four years working in a medical-surgical environment, which allowed me to shape my needs as a specialist nurse. Moreover, due to professional practice, I acquired the knowledge necessary for the development of relevant skills. Thus, I hope to work with patients affected by mental illness and manage their medical conditions. My firm conviction is that taking a proactive approach to mental health care is superior to only treating symptoms. For this reason, I hope to gain the expertise to assess populations and identify groups at risk, such as racial and ethnic minorities, and provide them with resources and referrals that could improve their quality of life. At that, I plan to make a difference as an educator a person who empowers patients with the knowledge and helps them gain more self-agency in confronting their diseases.
The MSN program provides an opportunity for students to obtain the degree either full or part-time. In my case, part-time education would be preferable since I am currently a practicing nurse. Thus, I plan that the duration of my studies will be from 24 to 48 months. However, I will devote as much time as possible to training to complete it in the shortest possible time. Therefore, the estimated timeline until graduation is approximately 24 to 36 months.
The balance of work, study, and personal life are especially relevant for nurses since the profession involves constant care for others. Based on past success in combining all aspects of modern life, I can conclude that I expect to have no problem with such issues. As already mentioned, I have quite extensive medical practice experience as a nurse, which did not prevent me from combining study and work. In particular, in my professional activity, I was quite comfortable pursuing a bachelors degree. Moreover, I manage to devote enough time to my personal life for many years, which is an essential aspect for any person. Every health specialist needs rest to maintain high levels of performance. In my case, my family, hobbies, and social life, in general, contribute to my well-being. As a professional interested in dealing with mental illness, I realize the importance of creating a balance between all aspects of life, especially clearly.
The American Nurses Association states that nursing has a unifying ethos that revolves around values, such as integrity, honesty, dependability, empathy, and altruism. It is working in a behavioral health care setting that taught me to look beyond test results and see the person behind the morbidity. I am committed to practicing ethics in everything I do as I see the ethical aspect of medicine as a philosophy that should transcend and inform all actions and decisions. When I just joined the workforce, I lacked the experience to avoid some common mistakes. However, it is my personal integrity that enabled me to admit my wrongdoings to colleagues and patients. Indeed, the difficulties that I encountered transformed me into a better, more accountable person.
Seeing human suffering is an unsettling experience, but in the six years of my professional practice, I have not let myself become desensitized. If anything, helping patients overcome behavioral problems or preparing them for surgery has taught me empathy. I realize the vulnerability of the patient in therapeutic relationships, which makes being honest even more important. Hence, I do my best to inform patients about what has happened or is going to happen to them to create space for informed choices. At that, I see myself as a trusted person and a confidant who builds rapport through demonstrating dependability.
For all the gratification that the nursing profession brings, working in the field can also be frustrating and exhausting. Luckily, I can attest that throughout the years of my professional experience, I have devised my own strategies for combating fatigue and preventing burnout. For myself, I single out several domains that are critical to maintaining mental health. The mental domain includes changing the scenery outside of work hours as often as I can, be it going for a walk or visiting a museum. I also set aside time for self-reflection, for which I prefer journaling. As for the physical aspect of well-being, I utilize my ability to find credible scientific sources to inform myself on healthy nutrition and sleeping. Humans are social creatures, which is why no matter how busy I am, I never neglect quality time with the loved ones.
As a public health nurse, I receive extensive support from my employer. The government encourages the development of professional NPs, in particular PMHNPs, as they are able to deal with current health problems and be cost-effective. I am happy to say that my employer shares these goals and does not create hurdles for nurses who would like to achieve a higher education level. It is quite the opposite: an advanced degree is seen as an asset in a clinical setting. By now, my employer had been notified that I will pursue studies at a Masters level. While studying, I will be able to enjoy flexible she
Reference
Haddad L.M., Annamaraju P., & Toney-Butler T.J. (2020). Nursing shortage. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm or AAA, as it is commonly known, is the irreversible swelling of the aortas in the abdomen that is beyond 50% which is the normal diameter in radius. The majority of the AAA is located around the aortic branching within the inferential aorta. An AAA rupture risk is even higher as the diameter of the aorta increases, after the AAA raptures, the death rate is substantial. 80% of the patients who manage to get to the hospital, and approximately 50% of the patients that undergo surgery due to a ruptured AAA, most certainly die (Golledge, 2019). The rapture of an AAA is known all over for its substantial death rate, preventing its development, swelling and rapture has become the primary goal and objective in the treatment methods.
Pathophysiology, Signs and Symptoms, and Predispositions of AAA
Pathophysiology
Instead of being a fixed chronic condition, aortic dissection illness is a complicated and evolving pathophysiological process. Three major processes largely contribute to the AAA observable characteristics; nameley swelling, smooth muscle cell death, and proteolysis. Understanding the causes of aortic dissection degeneration and the elements that cause the shift from a mildly inflated abdominal aorta to a significant clinical AAA is crucial, but it is also complex. The vasculatures swelling and tissue breakdown are critical for AAA development. Reactive nitrogen and oxygen species may be responsible for the gradual tissue and cellular damage associated with oxidative stress, which is a key component of AAA development.
Signs and Symptoms
The aortic aneurysm that occurs in the abdomen has a slow growth rate with no signs and symptoms, which makes it a little hard to identify. Aneurysms do not always rapture, most of them begin small and remain small throughout, while others expand over time, sometimes rapidly. The majority of persons with AAA are asymptomatic, however, if the aneurysm swells and exerts pressure on adjacent organs, symptoms start to develop. The most clinical manifestation is general stomachaches, which can be intermittent or continuous. Other symptoms include sharp pain in the stomach or back, increased heartbeat, sweaty skin, loss of consciousness, and pain around the pelvic region, legs, or the posterior that spreads from the abdomen.
Predispositions of AAA
Predispositions refers the likelihood of an individual to suffer from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. AAA is assumed to be a multifactorial disease, which means that either one or even more genes combine with environmental variables to create it. It can also happen as an inherited condition in some situations. Having a family member with a history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, one is more likely to suffer from it. Since AAA is inherited in such a complicated way, it is hard to anticipate whether or not a given person will get the disease (Golledge, 2019). Age is also a predisposition of AAA, there is a low mortality rate that results from AAA in individuals below the age of sixty-five as compared to those above that age. The risk is said to increase every five years for those beyond the age of sixty-five. Other predispositions of AAA include smoking, lipid levels, hypertension, obesity, and gender.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Angiography Diagnostic Tests for AAA Patients
CTA scanning of the abdomen is a medical diagnostic test used to diagnose disorders of the colon, small intestines, and other vital body organs. It is frequently used to help figure out the cause of unexplained plains in the abdomen, the test is a noninvasive, painless, quick, and precise procedure. CTA scanning can help identify bleeding and injuries that are internal soon enough to save patients lives in real emergencies. MRI on the other hand is aims at obtaining images that assist doctors in determining whether or not there are any unusual tissues internally. The images produced by an MRI are more detailed since it uses radio waves and magnets which map out the image of the abdomen. This allows the doctors and nurses to check for organ and tissue abnormalities without cutting the patient open. Laboratory tests to be used to diagnose AAA in a patient would include, ultrasound, angiography, and plain radiography.
Pre-Srgical Medications and the Surgical Intervention for AAA
As the swelling of the aorta increases in diameter, the lining grows increasingly weak, necessitating surgical treatment. The objective of any therapeutic approach is to avoid the rupturing of the aorta by regulating the aneurysms progression. Before the surgery, the patient might be asked to quit drinking and smoking, and attend pre-surgery tests like x-rays and blood work. An AAA that is over 2 inches wide warrants surgery for it to be repaired. The surgeon will make a big cut in the belly to expose the swollen aorta during the procedure. After opening the abdomen, the ruptured aorta can be repaired with a graft. In most cases, an AAA is asymptomatic; it is a disorder that goes unnoticed. It can burst if it remains unattended and becomes big enough, resulting in a rather unlikely abrupt death.
Patient Education on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Implications for Family Members
Patients might avoid an aortic aneurysm by lowering the risk variables that are within their control. This can be achieved through maintaining their heart and arteries health, avoiding alcohol and smoking, eating well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and keeping their blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol levels in check. Patients asking their doctors about scanning or ultrasound if they have concerns for an aortic aneurysm can come in handy too. The patients need to be informed of the risk factors that are likely to increase their chances of suffering from AAA. These risk variables include High blood pressure, obesity, age (over 65 years), smoking, and alcoholism (Golledge, 2019). Being educated on such variables offers the patient a chance to do everything in their power to avoid getting the disease.
The emotional implication, residing and caregiving for someone sick, has a huge psychological effect on the family, with the costs of some sicknesses often felt by everybody in the household. An AAA is not easily detected, some may live with it without ever realizing, and when the aorta ruptures, it may result in sudden death since no one was ever prepared on how to deal with it. This sudden death of a loved one takes a toll on the entire family as it was unexpected. To undergo an open incision or the Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR), which is a minimally invasive procedure, requires a lot of funds. This puts a financial strain on other family members, leading to a lot of stress and worrying, especially if the patient and the family members were not aware of that condition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the growth rate and the risk od an AAA rapturing increases exponentially with the aneurysms diameter, with the serious risk of rapture being when the diameter of the aneurysm is at 5cm. AAA is asymptomatic , therefore making it hard to detect when it starts to develop. Most of the patients who experience AAA have never been previously diagonised, and when the rupturing happens, there are low chances of survival. AAA is hereditary, however other factors like smoking, hypertension, obesity, age and gender can also make one susceptible to AAA.
Reference
Golledge, J. (2019). Abdominal aortic aneurysm: update on pathogenesis and medical treatments. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 16(4), 225-242.
Negligence in medicine is a phenomenon that highly affects the quality of medical care and the relationship between the doctor and the patient. Different approaches qualify as the violation of the Tort law clause. One of the aspects of consideration engulfs the interaction between a client and a practitioner as a contractual agreement, and the transgression of the conditions renders punishment to the offender. An excellent example is the failure of a nurse to seek consent from the sick person regarding a particular diagnosis and prescription. It is essential to attain permission from the convalescent regarding the abound procedures and educating the personnel regarding the significance and consequences. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 establishes that the physician has the right to offer services to an individual professionally with the approval of the counterpart. Further, the casualty upholds the right of grievance redressal from the Consumer courts. The rules and regulations addressing the consequences for laxness within the constitution enhance the standard service delivery system within the healthcare sector.
Discussion
One prominent factor in medicine is patient confidentiality, and a breach leads to profound consequences. However, in ABC v. St. Georges Healthcare NHS Trust and others in 2017, the issue featured a dynamic twist of events (Gilbar & Foster, 2018). It is the duty of the doctor to uphold the privacy of a client despite the presented circumstances. Previously, ABCs father was convicted of manslaughter for killing her mother, but later, the sentence was changed to hospitalization due to the diagnosis of Huntingtons disease. The father requested that the diagnosis remains confidential from his two children, that is, ABC and the sister. After ABC got pregnant, she requested the medical history, mainly her fathers diagnosis, after the sentencing, but he denied her consent to access the information (Wade, 2020). The main reason engulfed the fear of ABC preferring an abortion over the lifetime scare of the condition.
During the medical checkups, a clinician accidentally revealed the details of her fathers diagnosis to ABC after she had given birth. ABC proceeded to the courts, filing the case against NHS Trust for clinical negligence. According to the complainant, it was the responsibility of the practitioners to offer adequate healthcare information regarding her pregnancy to position her for the choice to do an abortion or keep the pregnancy (McMillan, 2020). In this case, the turf involved the necessity of breaching the patients confidentiality to save the life of another client in addition to the moral code of conduct for the dynamic relationship.
Rule
In the first ruling, the court ruled for NHS Trust, arguing that it is the mandate of the health practitioners to uphold patient confidentiality. However, the appeal posed a different overview in the ruling. In this case, the panel ruled for ABC due to the duty of care that supersedes the clients privacy. According to the ruling, ABCs condition was a special circumstance that justified the alteration of the regulation since it led to the alteration of the consequential medical conditions (Wade, 2020). Therefore, withholding crucial information overwhelmed the familys well-being over the necessity to value the principle of professional conduct.
Type of Action
The action encompassed determining the form of compensation offered to the aggrieved family due to the negligence in the duty of care from NHS Trust. In this case, the institution took charge of paying the bills regarding the childs medical condition.
Facts
There are distinct facts derived from the case analysis due to the interdependent variables that render proficiency in medicine. One of the facts from the case encompassed the significance of patient confidentiality. It is the duty of the healthcare personnel to uphold the privacy of a client upon request, and a breach of the contract features profound consequences (Del Olmo, 2021). Another fact enshrined ABCs right to access prominent information regarding her pregnancy and the repercussions from her medical history. In this case, it is the duty of care for the doctors to ensure the patronage makes informed decisions, such as retaining pregnancy despite the inherent condition.
Decision/Holding
The decision from the appellate court fosters a profound insight regarding the negligence clause within the field of medicine. The holding was a considerate feature and an integration of both moral and virtue overview during the ruling process. On the one hand, the professional code articulates the necessity of doctors and physicians to uphold the ethical practice of withholding a patients information, and the magistrate appreciates the condition (Goel, 2020). On the other hand, the ruling judge focuses on the flexibility of the regulations to enhance the well-being of people. The law complements the welfare of individuals affected to determine better action (Lupton, 2018). However, in the case of ABCs father, he was using the clause for exploitation and personal gain regardless of the medical risk. Although ABC gave birth to a child, she was denied the right of choice from the stipulations of duty of care from the doctor due to the limitation regarding details concealment.
My Analysis
The ruling from the court of appeal provides a justifiable insight regarding the attribute of the law. Negligence in the medical field threatens the quality of care among patients under different spectrum (Grosso, 2018). In this case, I believe it is essential that the relevant stakeholders adopt an approach that appreciates both ethical and moral practices. Although ABCs father holds the right to patient confidentiality, it is an aspect that becomes a liability to another aggrieved party due to the lack of informed consent. In my opinion, laxness offers insight regarding the interdependent relationship across dynamic stakeholders and professional responsibilities. The rules and regulations aimed at enhancing the quality of living among people based on promoting liberal access to information.
Conclusion
Negligence in the field of medicine is a multidimensional phenomenon, as evident in the case analysis. The ruling in ABC v. NHS Trust is a framework that provides a complex and integral value of the law, moral, and ethical constructs. In this case, the judge considers ABCs right to choose over the essence of the patients confidentiality. Although ABCs father upholds the concealment, he lacks a reasonable ground against ABCs intention to make an informed decision regarding her pregnancy. There are different variables that enhance the magistrates ideology. One of the concepts engulfs the moral conduct that supersedes the ethical code. A virtue that exceeds the importance of law takes preference and renders the ideal decision. As a result, the ABCS father and NHS Trust lost the case based on the importance of considering the principled construct of the frameworks. The relationship between a doctor and a patient is contractual, and the violation of the conditions, mainly the duty of care, leads to imminent consequences.
References
Del Olmo, J. C. B. (2021). Medical Act and Negligence: Ethical Concerns. In Bioethics in Medicine and Society. IntechOpen.
Gilbar, R., & Foster, C. (2018). Its arrived! relational autonomy comes to court: ABC v ST Georges Healthcare NHS Trust [2017] EWCA 336. Medical Law Review, 26(1), 125-133.
Goel, A. (2020). Liability in Medical Negligence Cases: A Comparative Study of Indian and American Laws & Policies. In Proceedings of the 18th International RAIS Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (pp. 76-81). Scientia Moralitas Research Institute.
Grosso, S. (2018). What is reasonable and what can be proved as reasonable: reflections on the role of evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines in medical negligence claims. Annals Health L., 27, 74.
Lupton, M. (2018). Some ethical and legal consequences of the application of artificial intelligence in the field of medicine. Trends Med, 18(4), 100147.
McMillan, C. (2020). ABC v St Georges Healthcare Trust and Ors: A new duty of care?.
According to the study conducted by Ganz et al. (2018), from 700,000 to 1 million patients suffer from falls annually. Halter (2013) distinguishes four types of falls: accidental, unanticipated physiological, anticipated physiological, and intentional ones. Indeed, some falls do not lead to any severe consequences, and patients only get a bruise. However, in some cases, a fallen patient receives a concussion or suffers a broken bone. The older generation is particularly in danger of falling due to age. The probability that a patient could fall rises if he has weak muscles, cognitive, mobility or visual impairments, obesity, or could understand instructions properly (Halter, 2013). Besides, even if a person is in good health, he could become a victim of a slippery floor, an imperceptible doorstep, a poorly designed staircase, or his inattention.
Hospitals undertake various strategies and policies to prevent patients from a threat of falling. The Hahnemann falls policy is a peculiar example of what a hospital might do to protect its patients well-being and minimize falls risk. The author of the Hahnemann falls approach, Halter (2013), developed a falls risk assessment that enables nurses to estimate the probability that a person will fall. If a patients score is lower than 25, he is at low risk of a fall (Halter, 2013). If a patient gained 25 to 44 points in the assessment, he is at moderate risk (Halter, 2013). A score of more than 45 points implies that a patient is highly likely to fall (Halter, 2013). In addition to that, nurses should consider medications prescribed to the patients. Patients taking blood thinners, diuretics, sedating antihistamine, skeletal muscle relaxants, narcotic analgesics, laxatives, anti-seizure medications, and benzodiazepines are at elevated risk for falls (Halter, 2013). Therefore, the Hahnemann falls policys critical message is that nurses are obliged to carefully and objectively assess the health conditions of a patient to determine whether he is at risk for falls.
The Hahnemann falls policy also describes measures directed at the prevention of falls for patients at low, medium, and high risks. For example, Halter (2013) recommends offering patients toileting facilities close to patient offering assistance with toileting every hour while awake (p. 4). Nurses should also assign patients to beds that permit exiting on patients stronger side when possible and engage them in diversional activity (p. 4). Patients at high risk for falls should wear yellow identification marks and no-slip socks and employ a bed check device (Halter, 2013). Nurses should regularly check the hydration status of such patients and check if their beds are secured and locked in low position (Halter, 2013, p. 4). The brief outline of critical ideas reveals that the Hahnemann falls policy is comprehensive and covers all aspects of the issue of falls risks mitigation, and provides a clear set of rules that protect patients from a fall.
In spite of the fact that the policy is well-designed, there are several suggestions on how it could be updated. First of all, in the policy, it is stated that patients with visual, mobile, and cognitive impairments are highly likely to suffer from falls. However, it seems that such people require even more attention than described in the section dedicated to the mitigation of high risks for falls. For example, it might be suggested that whenever such a person decides to go for a walk, go to the toilet, or leave the bed for whatever reasons, he should be accompanied by a nurse. However, the critical problem of this suggestion is that the workload of nurses prevents them from being able to control the movements of every patient. At the same time, there is no other choice to protect a person who cannot take care of himself.
Another significant reason for revision could be derived from the previously mentioned study conducted by Ganz et al. (2018). The scholars conclude that effective practice of fall prevention is impossible if the staff members do not possess profound theoretical and practical knowledge on how to prevent falls (Ganz et al., 2018). Furthermore, the medical personnel should bear responsibility for fall prevention (Ganz et al., 2018). In other words, this recommendation emphasizes the importance of continuously and adequately educating nurses and developing their skills. Besides, in the modern times of technological development, it is vitally important not to miss new inventions and new strategies that could increase safety of the patients.
From the previously mentioned recommendation, it could be inferred that the Hahnemann University Hospital should conduct the assessment of nurses knowledge on how to prevent falls regularly. In addition to that, the hospitals administration should measure the progress and check if the number of injuries caused by falls increases, decreases, or remains the same. These measurements will allow the administration to understand if the nurses move in the right direction. At this point, it should be mentioned that the administration should estimate the number of injuries provoked by falls every month. Nurses might be tested less often every three or four months. However, it is necessary not to forget that the decrease in the number of falls might be insufficient at the very beginning of implementing new recommendations. In such a case, it is necessary to be patient and not abolish new policies.
The necessity to review the existing policy aimed at preventing falls is driven by the fact that science develops continuously. The hospital should regularly monitor the existing practices and experiences of other hospitals and or recommendations proposed by the government and medical associations. Even though the current policy undertaken by the Hahnemann university hospital is sound, it does not mean that there is no space for improvement. The fact that the number of injuries caused by falls is still significant signalizes that a hospital should pay more attention to the issue.
To sum up, the current paper examined the Hahnemann falls policy. The conducted analysis reveals that the measures suggested by the Hahnemann hospital are comprehensive and well-thought. The policy describes a detailed strategy on how to assess the risk of every patient suffering from falls. The policy also contains recommendations on what nurses should do to help patients at the high, medium, and low risks for falls and how to behave if an accident had happened. Despite these strong sides, one could notice that the hospital does not give significant attention to the nurses education and regular measuring of the number of falls. The policy suggested by the Hahnemann university hospital will become even more effective if it makes nurses responsible for the incidents and motivates them to gain new knowledge in this field.
References
Ganz, A., Huang, C., Saliba, D., Shier, V., Berlowitz, D., Lukas, C.V., Pelczarski, K., Schoelles, K., Wallace, L.C., Neumann., P. (2018). Preventing falls in hospitals.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Web.
After reading chapters five and six, two major points stood out to me. The first one is the cost of value tendency in medicine. All the actions, treatments, and manipulations with the patient have to be beneficial and cost-saving. These aspects are especially essential for financing sources of healthcare (Shi & Singh, 2019). However, a special focus on efficiency can deteriorate the outcomes of patient care as medicine is not a business initially. The major goal of healthcare is to provide help to the one in need without any self-benefit. It turns out that in realizing cost-efficient procedures according to the protocols of treatment, every patient is considered as a template that has to be spent the least resources. From my perspective, healthcare professionals should try their best to balance the benefit, cost-saving, and aid to people. At the same time, careless prescription of expensive medicine and a wide spectrum of diagnostics could be redundant and take the time of the doctor and the patient. If the balance between these aspects is found, healthcare specialists can reach the highest point of professionalism and outstanding treatment results.
Another memorable point was the patients attitude or so-called moral risk, whilst patients use comprehensive health insurance. The rational approach toward using medical aid should be maintained in every society. When the citizen that has wider access to healthcare misuses the system, the other patients having diverse insurances suffer from limited services and lack of attention from care professionals. To avoid excessive use of the services, the state should develop value-based payment models (Shi & Singh, 2019). Patients major orientation for requesting medical aid should be the impact of their condition on their quality of life. Then the uncontrolled usage of healthcare will be limited to a minimum. Even though countries with free medicine tend to suffer from this issue more, the United States has similar issues with comprehensive health insurance users.
Reference
Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2019). Essentials of the US health care system. Jones & Bartlett Learning.