QUALITY ENHANCE PAPER (QEP)

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Patient Education

YA

Miami Dade College

Andrea Crocks

NUR1025L

03/08/2021

Patient Education

Patient education entails influencing patient behaviors by producing attitudes, skills, and knowledge to improve or maintain health (Finset, 2018). The education is significant because it gives information concerning unhealthy lifestyles that result in death (Potter & Perry, 2020). Hence, patient counseling offers them current and complete information to take part in their health care. Patients acquire sufficient understanding to help in making care decisions. Family physicians help build trusting relationships with patients that create opportunities to reinforce and encourage healthy behavior changes. Effective patient education requires various practical skills such as brief counseling, identifying learning barriers, ascertaining patient’s education requirements, and utilizing audiovisual, computer-based, or written patient education materials.

Patient Description

Robert Jones is a male patient of doctor Smiley, who suffers from chronic osteoarthritis at his right knee. He claims to have new constant pain in his calf. He feels an-off-and-on pain from deep inside but not superficial. However, there is no numbness or tingling in the calves. Robert is an oriented, cooperative, and alert individual. He has competed for his immunization as per the CDC guideline requirements. Robert carries out minimal exercises and has recently quit tobacco smoking, a habit Jones has been undertaking for 32 years. He used to take three coffee cups in the morning, normal fluids like water during the day, and little beers on the weekends. However, his conditions hinder him from getting around as usual.

Robert experienced cold, usual coughs, and tummy aches as his childhood illnesses. Jones’s mother, who had HLD and HTN history, died from CVA. On the other hand, his father, who had HTN and CAD, died from AMI. However, his grandparent died from natural causes. Robert has a 29-year old child who is alive and well. Robert was taking medications such as calcium carbonate and meloxicam to enhance healthy muscles and bones. Despite taking drugs, the pain from the illness has been worse for several months. The pain affects his daily activities by forcing him to sit in a recliner for many hours daily. Again, the pain results in him waking up from sleep. He visited the orthopedic unit for surgery, and the doctor diagnosed an elective full right knee arthroplasty.

Patient Care

Initially, nurses were offering full and limited ROM exercises and muscle strength 5/5 to various extremities (Potter & Perry, 2020). Additionally, they were offering RLE and 3/5 power because of pain 4/10. ROM would help the patient to move and stretch his muscles and joints. The exercises contributed to health by improving and maintaining strength (Hunter et al., 2016). Though there was a delay in surgery, Robert received the total knee arthroplasty. He took NPO until after surgery. Robert also received SCDs to fit around his leg to prevent clots and help blood flow. The devices would help him until he can walk. Nurses are offering occupational and physical therapy consultations to evaluate Robert’s blood type, CBC, BMP, and cross for his treatment. There was also a social work plan to discharge him. Total knee arthroplasty is a cost-effective, low-risk, and successful therapy that improves function and provides pain relief for patients that are not responding to non-surgical treatment. Offering surgery services will also help prevent the illness from affecting other joints.

Analysis

A patient’s pain assessment is the first step towards pain management (Hunter et al., 2016). A skilled review through the patient’s report helps to indicate pain. Potter & Perry (2020) argued that assessing patients’ pain and its influence on their activities allows nurses to develop a managing pain plan. Nurses should implement non-pharmacological means of pain management such as massage, cold application, muscle relaxation, and music therapy. Robert described the pain he was experiencing before the nurses took further actions in his treatment. Nurses should monitor the patient’s temperature, skin, and inflammation level to gain information concerning the patient’s status and healing process. Robert’s weight is 84.0 kg and has SPO2 at 98%. His skin is warm and dry. His blood pressure read 122/76, while the temperature read 98.6 F. He also had a 27.2-BMI, a 70-pulse rate, and a 25-respiration rate. Additionally, nurses assist and perform various motion exercises to the patient’s unaffected joints. Robert is receiving ROM exercises aimed at improving his health.

Summary

Generally, patient education encourages new lifestyles to help the patient adopt behaviors that prevent disabilities and disease. Informal and formal education is a significant additive intervention for orthopedic patient care. The patients gain empowerment on how to take their illness’s daily responsibilities. Effective education enables patients to identify helpful and harmful activities towards their illness management.

Reflection

I have learned various signs and symptoms of chronic osteoarthritis, such as constant pain in the calf. I had prior knowledge that the disease mainly affects joints in the hips, hand, spine, and knees. I am glad that I have exposure to class-acquired expertise in real-life situations. The knowledge I gained will make it easy for me to identify osteoarthritis patients. As a nurse, I can apply ROM, RLE, and therapy to osteoarthritis patients. I will handle osteoarthritis patients with care in the future. During the exercise, I had an a-ha moment by discovering an effective treatment for osteoarthritis patients. From my research, books, classwork, and experience, I have made connections that lifestyle means may result in illnesses.

References

Finset, A. (2018). Family involvement, patient engagement, and benefits of patient education interventions. Patient Education And Counseling, 101(6), 969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2018.04.008

Hunter, D., Nelson, A., & Roos, E. (2016). Osteoarthritis chronic disease management programs: implementing best practice. Osteoarthritis And Cartilage, 24, S1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2016.01.016

Potter, P. and Perry, A. (2020). Fundamentals of Nursing. Elsevier. 10th Edition. USA

Patricia A. Potter, RN, MSN, PhD, FAAN, Anne Griffin Perry, RN, EdD, FAAN, Patricia A. Stockert, RN, BSN, MS, PhD and Amy Hall,