Each student will post their initial reply to the discussion before being able to see other students’ responses.
Before answering this case study, please read the following resources and follow the directions.
Directions to access Webcast (68 minutes long)
Go to https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/disaster-preparedness/coronavirus/education/ana-covid-19-video-education/disease-progression-interventions/ (Links to an external site.)
- Register for Webcast titled “Caring for Covid-19 Patients: Disease Progression and Nursing Interventions You Need to Know”
- Watch the 68-minute video.
- You must register in order to watch the webcast (video).
Learning Outcomes
This discussion supports the following course learning outcomes:
- Integrate patient education into the physical examination where appropriate. (EPSLO 10)
- Incorporate professional nursing values and behaviors during the collection and interpretation of health assessment data. (EPSLO 1, 11)
Discussion Topic
| Category of Data | Data |
| Patient Information | J. T. 68 y/o African American male, married, retired chef, and has three grown children |
| Setting | Emergency Room |
| Chief Complaint | Cough and shortness of breath for 1 week, now worsening. He has had low-grade fevers intermittently; cough is productive with yellow thick sputum. He also complains of loss of taste and smell. Denies chest pain/pressure, high fevers, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or rashes. |
| Past Medical History/Social History | Essential hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus type 2. Nonsmoker.
He has been married for 39 years, his wife lives in a nursing home, his three children live out of state, and he lives independently and has daily interaction with many of his neighbors and church friends who check on him. |
| Labs and Exam Data | BP: 142/86, P: 117, R: 26, T: 100.9
Nasal mucosa: not inflamed, pink, moist. Throat: erythematous, no tonsillar inflammation. Lungs: Diminished lung sounds throughout, deep and labored breathing on room air; tactile fremitus is decreased over the upper lung regions; dullness on palpation of the upper lung regions. Labs: WBC 9.1 K/uL; RBC: 16.8 g/dL; D-Dimer: 2.46 ug/ml; Lactic Acid: 1.6 mmol/L; Ferritin: 639 NG/ml; C- Reactive Protein: 6.2 mg/dL; influenza A/B screen negative. Hepatic and renal function within normal limits. Chest x-ray result pending. |
| General Survey Data | 68 y/o in respiratory distress on room air, febrile, tachycardia, no contact with persons with similar symptoms. |
| Pertinent Health History | No history of respiratory disease, with gradual worsening in cough and shortness of breath, febrile. Takes atenolol for essential hypertension and atorvastatin for hypercholesterolemia. Diabetes is diet controlled. |
Initial Post
Answer these questions related to the case study above and post them to the discussion board. Please write in your own words. Remember to use the textbook as one of your references.
- Based on the data, what do you think the medical diagnosis would be? Support your diagnosis with the signs and symptoms and a current reference.
- What information is missing and necessary to make a medical diagnosis? What additional information do you need to complete your database?
- What would you recommend the patient do with her medication regimen based on her symptoms? Provide resource information (website, article, book, etc.) for your patient regarding her medication regimen.
- What patient education topics would be appropriate for M.B.? Select one topic and provide an outline of your teaching plan (with at least one reference).