CASE STUDY
If, after reading through these guidelines, you still have questions please post on the relevant forum. If you are still unsure then please contact your campus specific lecturer to arrange to discuss your assignment. Please bring these guidelines to any meeting and highlight the areas about which you are still unsure.
In this case study you do not need an introduction or conclusion for this case study of 1600 WORDS 10% due by midnight 2nd September Turnitin. Just answer the questions. Turnitin is located in your campus specific block & will be open 3 weeks before so you can submit & check for plagiarism and you have time to over- write if plagiarism is evident. Please try and keep this below 10% by reading widely and paraphrasing the research/evidence
Although we suggest you do your background reading in the current textbooks for basic information, the case study also requires you to find current literature/research/articles to support your discussion throughout the case study.
Do NOT use Better Health Channel, WedMed, dictionaries, encyclopaedias etc. These are NOT suitable academic sources. If you use these you will not meet the criteria for this question and you will lose marks.
You must follow the APA referencing format as directed by ACU in your case study and in your reference list. The Library website has examples of how to do this referencing and you can find the correct format at the end of your lectures and tutorials as well as in the free Student Study Guide. If you do not follow the APA format for referencing you will lose marks.
This essay should have approximately 10 relevant sources. Textbooks, if cited, should be a range of medical-surgical, pathophysiology, anatomy & physiology and pharmacology for specific information e.g. organ function or drugs.
Do not put references in your reference list that are either not in your case study (we do check) or are irrelevant e.g. from veterinary journals. Try to find evidence (human) from countries with health care systems to Australia.
Do not copy information from books or articles or information from previous students' assignments. This is plagiarism and you will be heavily penalised. Turnitin will highlight copied information to markers.
- You do not need a cover sheet for this case study
- Please give a title to your essay e.g. Case Study - Susan, Ajay or Gianna and ensure your name and student number are on each page as a footer. Although you do not need a conclusion or introduction, and are answering each question, you must write in sentences not point form as this does not show critical thinking.
- Do not use abbreviations e.g. i.e. etc. in your essay. Write e.g. in full if you need to explain something further. Do not use etc. in an essay. This suggests to the marker that you do not know what else should go into your case study.
- You must explain any terms you use not just copy them out of a book/article/research. The markers need to know that you understand your chosen patient's condition and management for safe care.
ASSIGNMENT WRITING TIPS
Question 1
In relation to your chosen patient, discuss the pathophysiology of their presenting condition and using evidence based literature explore current surgical treatment options for your patient.
(Suggested length for your answer approximately 380 words).
- First, give a very brief overview of the anatomy and physiology i.e. what and where is it and how does it function. E.g. Susan - function of the adrenal gland, Ajay - function of the appendix, Gianna - function of the hip joint (see current A and P textbooks e.g. Martini/Marieb and/or research/articles). You could write pages on the structure and function but you must do this in a 3-4 sentences due to the word limit. You need to show that you understand the basic function of an organ in order to understand the pathophysiology.
- Next discuss briefly the pathophysiology and how the condition is currently treated surgically E.g. Susan - what is Cushing's Syndrome & current surgical treatment for an adrenal tumour; Gianna what is osteoporosis & current surgical treatment for a fractured hip; Ajay what is appendicitis & current surgical treatment for appendicitis (you can find this information in current pathophysiology textbooks for a description of the condition e.g. Bullock and Hales 2013 etc. and current research for current surgical treatments) (remember the suggested word limit).
Question 2
Critically discuss the assessment of ventilation, circulation and consciousness prior to the patient's discharge from PARU. Discussion must relate to the effects of anaesthesia and surgery on these three physiological functions and be directly related to your chosen patient.
(Suggested length for your answer approximately 740 words).
- Note this says ‘critically discuss'. You need to support your discussion with evidence. An example of critical discussion might be: whereas Jones (2010) suggested capillary refill should be <2 secs, others (Brown 2012, Green 2013) suggested OR a number of studies (Jones, 2010, Brown 2012, Green 2013) found that capillary refill varies depending on age and sex.
- The markers want to know you understand the effects of anaesthetics/opioids/surgery on consciousness, ventilation, circulation, body temperature; potential changes in fluid volume/blood loss. Your discussion will demonstrate that you can provide safe patient care after surgery. NB: As this is a case study - all your discussion should be linked and specific to your chosen patient. Do not discuss the Aldrete Scale.
- The effects of anaesthetics and opioid analgesia is covered in your lectures and in pharmacology books e.g. Bryant & Knights 2015 Ch14 (anaesthetics); Ch15 (opioids); Brown et al 2014 Ch15 & research. Up-To-Date is an online site, which reviews the current literature on various topics (search for this resource online) has information about general anaesthesia). Search Google Scholar. You may need to go older than 5-10yrs for effects of anaesthetics etc. on consciousness, circulation & ventilation. Look for review articles as these will give you an overview of the effects.
- An example for ventilation:
You need to discuss the effects of anaesthetics opioids and surgery on the respiratory system. Link your patient's vital signs in PARU to the effects of anaesthetics, opioids and surgery
E.g. Patient's respiratory rate is 10 and is below normal 12-16. This is due to....
- Do the same for circulation & consciousness (NOT the GCS).
Question 3
Develop a discharge plan to support your chosen patient on discharge home. Include any education you deem relevant, any referrals to allied health professional/s required, and discuss your rationale.
(Suggested limit for your answer approximately 380 words).
This answer should be supported by current textbooks, literature/research.
Brown et al (2014) has sections on discharge needs.
In order to understand the discharge needs of the patient you must understand their condition and their presenting symptoms. Review your chosen case study to determine the possible discharge needs of your patient.
- If you just copy out a patient discharge advice sheet you will not meet the criteria for this question and you may fail this section.
- If you write a list of requirements you will this section
- If you do not provide a reference you will lose marks in this section
- The discharge plan must be linked & specific to your patient e.g. think about the patient's condition, surgery and situation and decide what referrals are appropriate to your chosen case and their surgery and the rationale for suggesting a specific referral. You might need to include members of the multidisciplinary team e.g. pharmacist as well as allied health professionals e.g. dietician.
- You need to provide education. This is not ‘take your medications' but thinking about some advice you would give e.g. do not drink or drive after taking this medication.
- Inappropriate referrals show you do not understand the patient's condition and therefore cannot give safe care and you will lose marks and may not meet the criteria for this question.