Pathophysiology: Case Study Analysis

Type: Case Study
Subject: Pathophysiology
Subject area: Nursing
Education Level: Masters Program
Length: 2 pages
Referencing style: APA
Preferred English: US English
Spacing Option: Double
Title: Case Study Analysis
Instructions: case study analysis an understanding of cells and cell behavior is a critically important component of disease diagnosis and treatment. but some diseases can be complex in nature, with a variety of factors and circumstances impacting their emergence and severity. effective disease analysis often requires an understanding that goes beyond isolated cell behavior. genes, the environments in which cell processes operate, the impact of patient characteristics, and racial and ethnic variables all can have an important impact. photo credit: getty images/hero images an understanding of the signals and symptoms of alterations in cellular processes is a critical step in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. for aprns, this understanding can also help educate patients and guide them through their treatment plans. in this assignment, you examine a case study and analyze the symptoms presented. you identify cell, gene, and/or process elements that may be factors in the diagnosis, and you explain the implications to patient health. to prepare: by day 1 of this week, you will be assigned to a specific case study for this case study assignment. please see the “course announcements” section of the classroom for your assignment from your instructor. the assignment (1- to 2-page case study analysis) develop a 1- to 2-page case study analysis in which you: explain why you think the patient presented the symptoms described. identify the genes that may be associated with the development of the disease. explain the process of immunosuppression and the effect it has on body systems. the week 2 module 1 case study analysis assignment is based on the following scenario: a 49-year-old patient with rheumatoid arthritis comes into the clinic with a chief complaint of a fever. patient’s current medications include atorvastatin 40 mg at night, methotrexate 10 mg po every friday morning and prednisone 5 mg po qam. he states that he has had a fever up to 101 degrees f for about a week and admits to chills and sweats. he says he has had more fatigue than usual and reports some chest pain associated with coughing. he admits to having occasional episodes of hemoptysis. he works as a grain inspector at a large farm cooperative. after extensive work-up, the patient was diagnosed with invasive aspergillosis.

Case Study Sample Paper

The patient presents with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease the causes pain at the joints and damages through the body. The joint damage that RA causes occur on both sides of the body. If a joint is affected in one arm or the leg, the same joint in the other side is affected. This presents one of the ways doctors differentiate RA from other forms of arthritis. 

Subjective Data

The case is of a 49 years old patient presenting at a facility with a fever. The patient has experienced fatigue more than usual and reports some chest pains associated with coughing. The patient also admits that he has had hemoptysis episodes and is an employee at a large farm cooperative as a grain inspector. After series of extensive work-up, the patient is diagnosed with invasive aspergillosis. The subjective data can help a physician determine the illness and other possible diagnoses for accurate medical interventions. 

Objective Data

The patient's current medications include atorvastan 40 mg at night, methotrexate 10 mg po every Friday morning, and presnisone 5 mg po qam. The patient confirms that he has had a fever that went up to 101 degrees f for almost a week and visible chills and sweat. With these symptoms, it is possible to conduct more tests and make accurate diagnoses for the patient. The information also allows more room for differential diagnoses if there are any possibilities following the history noted in the subjective data and complemented by objective data. 

Nursing Diagnosis 

The fever is attributed to the high levels of degrees the patient expresses. The high temperatures are likely to be the cause of the chills and the sweat he also experiences. The chest pain is attributed to the large farm's excessive work where the coughing can be associated with possible grain dust from the farm. The episodes of hemoptysis explain the chest pains and the coughing the patient suffers. It is an issue with the airways through to the lungs. 

Plan and Interventions 

the patient's plan for care will involve interventions that reduced the chest pains and managed the coughing. The patient must be recommended to take some time off from work or reduce the workload to avoid the fatigue that might elevate the chest pains (Ittrich, Bockhorn, Klose & Simon, 2017). Antibiotics can be administered to eliminate the traces of infection along with the air ways and the lungs. The intervention also includes monitoring the patient to detect any cases of hemoptysis. 

Evaluation 

the evaluation of the intervention and the goals will take place daily. The patient will be recommended to take the recommended medication and bedrest and report to the physician of any complications or no change in the condition (Larici et al., 2014). After three days, the patient will report to the facility to have more tests to ascertain the degree of the chest pains, the fever, and possible traces of blood in the cough. 

Summary

while the patient suffers from RA, it is evident that the condition that brings him to the hospital is not arthritis. The fever, chest pains, and cough are the major points of concern for the diagnosis. The hemoptysis episodes indicate that the patient has a problem in the airways through to the lungs, which is a possible infection that needs antibiotics to manage the issue. A doctor's visit for more tests is recommended if the problem persists after engaging in the recommended interventions. 

References

Ittrich, H., Bockhorn, M., Klose, H., & Simon, M. (2017). The Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemoptysis. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 114(21), 371–381. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2017.0371

Larici, A. R., Franchi, P., Occhipinti, M., Contegiacomo, A., del Ciello, A., Calandriello, L., Storto, M. L., Marano, R., & Bonomo, L. (2014). Diagnosis and management of hemoptysis. Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey), 20(4), 299–309. https://doi.org/10.5152/dir.2014.13426

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Also Read:  Nursing Case Study Writing Service

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