Are you a nursing student preparing to enter the frontline? Then, understanding real-life nursing case studies is essential.

Nursing plays a vital role in healthcare, providing better patient care. Furthermore, nurses are the only person who spends most time with the patients, fulfilling their health needs and providing them with care.

Being a student you must know how to tackle these problems with ease. That’s where real-life nursing case studies can help you.

They show the healthcare challenges and teach you how to tackle them. They even help you develop critical thinking.

That’s why we have compiled four case studies from frontline healthcare experts. Come on! Let’s have a look at them.

Case Study 1: Managing Chronic Illness: MR Alec’s Type 2 Diabetes 

The first nursing case study we will dive into is Mr Alec’s Type 2 diabetes. It is because of not complying with patient treatment.

Here is what we know of this:

Patient Profile:

Mr Alec is a 60-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes for the past 10 years.

Case:

He was recently admitted to the hospital because of an ulcer in his left arm which hasn’t healed for the past 2 weeks.

Mr Alec says he fell from the ladder and scratched his arm with a nail. Now it doesn’t seem to heal properly. Firstly it was a small blister. However now it has developed into a foul ulcer.

Assessment

Upon a nurse assessment, MR Alec’s vital signs were quite normal and showed:

• BP of 132/89 MPH
• Heart rate 76 per minute
• Respiratory rate with 18 breaths per minute
• Temperature of 97.2°F

However he appears to be in distress due to mild pain in his hand. Furthermore the hand itself is quite swollen and looks yellowish. Upon further inspection, a nurse found out that Alec has been neglecting his injury and not taking proper care of this. He is also clueless about his condition.

Nursing Interventions

• Nurses had one-on-one consultations with the patient to understand the level of pain.
• They also provided them with detailed instructions on how to take care of the arm properly. It included daily inspection, cleaning regularly and applying medicine.
• A dietician was involved to help control glycemia through supplements and proper diet.
• The nurse also reassured him about the wound, providing emotional support.

Outcomes

The outcomes were better. By following through nurse instructions, Mr Alec could heal their wound while controlling their diabetes better.

This real life nursing case studies shows how to manage minor accidental injuries and provide emotional support to the patient. If you are working on a similar case, you can seek nursing case study assignment help. They will help you create a well-written case and understand the complex problems. Let’s discover another one of the cases you can usually encounter.

Case Study 2: Emergency Response – Mrs Thompson, A Heart Stroke Patient

The second case we are exploring is about Mrs Thompson’s heart stroke. She complained about having chest pains.

Patient Profile:

Mrs Thompson is a 75-year-old woman who recently suffered a heart stroke. She was brought to the hospital by her children. Furthermore she showed slurred speech and pain in the right side.

Case

The patient arrived in the emergency room, where nurses quickly recognised her condition and started the treatment. She had a history of high blood pressure and cholesterol for the past 10+ years and was showing signs of discomfort for the past three days. Upon arrival, she was found to have a rapid heartbeat.

Assessment

Using the face, arms, speech and time protocol the nurse found out that she had an ischemic attack. Furthermore, she appeared anxious and in alot of pain. Upon further inspection, here is what they found out:

• Her airway was clear with no obstruction.
• Furthermore, she had a slight problem breathing. However her oxygen levels were 92 % in the room air.
• She also has a spiked blood pressure which was 180/95 mmHg. It was more likely because of the stroke.
• Her speech was slurred. Additionally, her right arm movements were also weak.

Nursing Interventions

Here are the nursing interventions of the case study number 2:

• The nurse acted quickly and took the patient for a CT scan.
• Furthermore, Mrs Thomspon was connected with a neurologist who could help her with the condition.
• The nurse communicated with the family and provided them with all the necessary information.

Outcomes

Following were the outcomes of the perfect patient care:

• Thrombolytic therapy helped prevent brain damage.
• Furthermore, the patient was able to recover from the heart stroke with minimal effects.

This case shows how quickly the emergency nurses have to act in this situation. It helps prevent further damage and saves patient’s lives.

Case 3: Pediatric Nursing – Asthma Case of Mitch

Another case study example we will look into is the asthma case of Mitch, a small boy. If you are studying pediatric nursing, it will help you gain insight on this.

Patient Profile

The asthma case is for a 9-year-old boy, Mitch, who showed signs of severe chest pain.

Case

Mitch has been diagnosed with asthma for the past 2 years. Recently he was brought to the hospital by his parents as he complained about having chest pains. Furthermore he was wheezing and short of breath.

Assessment

Upon arrival it was found out that Mitch’s asthma attack was because of a respiratory infection. Here is what they found out:

• His airway was clear but partially closed because of constant wheezing.
• Furthermore, he was short of breath and had a nasal flaring.
• Also his respiratory rate was 32 breaths per min.
• The pulse rate was 120 beats/min.

Nursing Interventions

Here are the nursing interventions

• Provided acute care and oxygen therapy.
• Keep the parents updated about the condition
• Worked with the patient to identify the potential triggers.
• Provided a complete action plan.

Outcomes

Here are the outcomes:

• The child’s condition improved.
• Furthermore, the parents learned how to take care of asthma and prevent it in the future.

This case shows the need for immediate pediatric nursing while providing long-term healthcare tips.

Wrapping Up!

That’s a wrap! Here are some real-life nursing case studies from the frontline healthcare workers. Understanding them can boost your critical thinking and develop proper care. Furthermore they allow you to look at the nursing challenges and how to overcome them. By reflecting on these stories, we honour the vital contributions and gain insights.