Case Study: George Jones is a 63-year-old male who went to the emergency department with chest pain.
He had experienced this chest pain for 30 minutes and it was not relieved after taking four nitroglycerin tablets 5 minutes apart. He reports the pain feels “like an elephant is sitting on my chest.” He is diaphoretic and appears anxious. His vital signs are temperature 99° F, blood pressure 100/68 mm Hg, heart rate 110
beats/ min, and respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min. Mr. Jones is obese and has type 2 diabetes mellitus,
hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. He quit smoking last year after a 40-year history of one pack of cigarettes a day.
As a result of these tests and the patient’s condition, you report to the cardiologist who orders the cardiac catheterization. You inform Mr. Jones that he will have a cardiac catheterization to locate any blockage,
determine its severity, and evaluate left ventricular function. The cardiac catheterization revealed a 90%
blockage in one coronary artery. The cardiologist performed a balloon angioplasty and placed a stent in Mr.
Jones’ blocked coronary artery to reestablish perfusion.
Mr. Jones was admitted to the cardiovascular surgery unit. The Nurse Practitioner and the Nursing staff set goals and restrictions of this patient’s stay in this unit. Mr. Jones is referred for cardiac rehabilitation after discharge.
Analyze this case and respond to the following questions in a formal, APA paper. Your paper must be 4-6
pages in length (not including the cover and reference page). Use the questions (or condensed versions of the questions) as headings in your paper and reference your answers whenever possible.
1. What are 3 additional assessment questions you would ask this client or his caregiver?
2. Given the condition of the patient, what immediate patient actions should be taken as this patient arrives in the ED based on his signs and symptoms?
3. What lab tests will the clinician order on admission for this patient?
4. What do you expect the patient’s lab tests to reveal?
As a result of these tests and the patient’s condition, you report to the cardiologist who in turn orders the
cardiac catheterization.
5. What orders will the clinician give when the patient arrives at the cardiovascular surgery unit?
6. How soon can this patient ambulate?
7. What will be the goals for this patient’s plan of care?
8. What are the teaching needs of this patient and his family?
9.Conclude with a summary of your thoughts and reflections on the issues relating to this case study
Sample Solution