Per review of her medical record, Ana has not attended the last two Primary Care appointments, is not returning calls, and has not been reporting blood glucose readings. Ana reports last week “I had to go to the hospital, the doctor needs to change my insulin, it’s not right.” Ana reports her husband called 911 last week because “I couldn’t answer him, he got scared and called 911.” Hospital records indicate Ana was found by EMS with confusion and low blood sugar. She was treated for hypoglycemia by EMS and taken to the hospital.
She was released the same day with instructions to see her primary care doctor. The records also indicate Ana had arrived by EMS two months ago for a similar episode. Ana states “I don’t have time for all this medicine, but my family is worried about me.” She reports after the last 911 call and ER visit that her she, husband, and 3 kids got very scared, stating “I know I need to be more careful and do better, I know that now.” Ana is here with her husband and one of their daughters.
Patient Needs Analysis
The most important nursing diagnosis for this patient is Risk for unstable blood glucose level (Ladwig et al., 2019). The patient has reported several factors that put her at risk for this diagnosis. She has had episodes of hypoglycemia where her family has called 911 and has continued to have difficulty with blood glucose monitoring and reports not eating well. She is reporting declining interest in overall diabetes management over the past few years. The second most important nursing diagnosis is Ineffective health management (Ladwig et al., 2019).
The patient has reported feeling an overall loss of interest and hopelessness in meeting glycemic goals over the past few years. Additionally, she has reported feeling overwhelmed with taking care of her grandchildren which has been intermittent and unexpected due to school closures related to COVID 19. The third diagnosis that is appropriate for Ana is Readiness for enhanced health management (Ladwig et al., 2019). Ana is seeking care and help now because she recognized her choices are not healthy for her and she is concerned as well as her family.
NURS FPX 6011 Assessment 1 Evidence-Based Patient-Centered Concept Map
According to the American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee (ADAPPC) standards of care “Significant changes in life circumstances, often called social determinants of health, are known to considerably affect a person’s ability to self-manage their condition” (ADAPPC, 2022b). COVID has had a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities. This patient and her family have been impacted and it is contributing to the patient’s ability to effectively manage her diabetic diagnosis.
According to the ADAPPC, “There are four critical times to evaluate the need for diabetes self-management education to promote skills acquisition in support of regimen implementation, medical nutrition therapy, and well-being: at diagnosis, annually and/or when not meeting treatment targets, when complicating factors develop (medical, physical, psychosocial), and when transitions in life and care occur” (2022b). This patient and family are experiencing at least two out of four of these critical times. The intervention to refer for Depression screening and Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) will begin to address some of these barriers.
Communication Strategies
The patient has expressed the desire to implement changes to improve diabetic goals. What providers and healthcare staff feels the patient can and should do may not be in line with what is realistic and desired for the patient. It is critical that encounters with this patient promote empowerment and reduce unintentional discouragement. According to the ADAPPC standards of care “A patient-centered communication style that uses person-centered and strength-based language and active listening; elicits patient preferences and beliefs; and assesses literacy, numeracy, and potential barriers to care should be used to optimize patient health outcomes and health-related quality of life” (2022a).
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