Applying Nursing Practice

This document discusses the assessment criteria, physiological changes, and nursing interventions in applying nursing practice. It also explores the impacts of residential care and the importance of advanced care directives. The content covers topics such as age-related physiological changes, assessing clients for physiological changes, the effects of aging on metabolism and excretion of medications, aging theories, stereotypes of aging, elder abuse, and more.

Applying Nursing Practice

TAS Assessment Criteria

Questio
n 1
a. List 2 age related physiological changes to each of the following;
 Sensory function: Sensation of vibration and supervisial sensation
 Cardiac function
 Respiratory function
 Neurological function
 Musculoskeletal function
 Genitourinary function
 Endocrine function
 renal function
 skin integrity
b. Discuss how these identified changes can affect the client’s ability to perform
activities of daily living.
Sensory function: Sensation of vibration and superficial sensation like pain,
touch and others decreased. Problems in noticing details about something.
Cardiac function: Thickness of valves inside the heart and a heart murmur
Respiratory function: Cough due to decreased strength in respiratory muscle
and loss of supporting tissues.
Neurological function: Spinal code lose weight, slowing down of passing
information into brain.
Musculoskeletal function: Lack of ability to contract, weakness in bones
muscle and may break easily.
Genitourinary function: Bladder control issues, chronic kidney disease.
Endocrine function: Vascularization disease, increment in connective tissue
content.
Renal function: Loss of kidney function, decrease in renal blood flow.
skin integrity: Sagging and dry skin, lack of ability to protect body from
changing temperature and others.

TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 2
How would you assess the client for any of the identified physiological changes
listed above? List 5 assessments that could be used to identify possible age
related changes.
From above discussed changes it can be said that Mrs Fei
Hong, 70 year old facing problems in remembering
things and this problem of dementia can be associated
with changes in neurological and sensory function.
Assessments Decreased muscle strength
Memory loss
Changes in mental health
Reduction in sensory perception
Decreased cognitive awareness
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 3 Outline how age can affect the metabolism and excretion of medications. Why is
this important to know?
Response:
Due to ageing it increases blood concentration of drugs
which altered metabolism and also give adverse
reactions of all medicines.
By knowing it patients can changes its diet and can keep
itself healthy.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 4
Provide 30 – 50 words of your understanding of each of the following aging theories;
 biological theory:
 psychosocial theory:
 disengagement theory
 social exchange theory
 wear and tear theory
 activity theory
Response:
 biological theory: This theory states that
changes in thoughts, behaviours and personality
features have biological cause. For understanding
changes occurs in behaviours, there is requirement
of studying brain and nervous system.
 psychosocial theory: It believes that
human development is related to interaction
between society and individual. Motivation lead
human development and the way of interaction of
people affect their mind and development.
 disengagement theory: This theory states that
ageing is a mutual withdrawal which lead
reduced interaction between person of ageing
and other person in society. This behaviour is a
natural as well as acceptable.
 social exchange theory: This states that social
behaviour of an individual is a result of an
exchange process. As the way people talk and
give respect is directly proportional they receive
respect in that way.
 wear and tear theory: This theory states that
ageing is a natural process and happens with all
and it is all caused by cells damage, body stops
functioning effectively.
 activity theory: This theory states that people
specially older people remain happy when they
are active and when their body functions in an
effective manner and also when they are active
in social interaction.

TASK Assessment Criteria
Question 5 Discuss some common stereotypes of aging. How might this affect the way care is
provided to an older person?
Response: There are some negative stereotypes of
ageing such as: lack of ability to drive, memory loss,
sexuality inactive, loneliness and others. All these
stereotypes changed the way of providing care to people
with age of 50 and above such as: society members start
to isolate older people.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 6 How might the rights or dignity of an older person be affecting by these
stereotypes?
Response:
Due to some negative stereotypes like loss of memory,
society members start to keep away from older people
and it is violation o rights to have freedom to live in own
society and getting equal treatment. People start to
discriminate them.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 7 Identify 3 types of elder abuse and possible signs for each one.
How would you advocate for an older client if you observed elder abuse?
Response:
Negligence by family member: Social isolation is a sign.
Emotional and psychosocial abuse: changes in behaviour
of older people is a sign.
Physical abuse: Physical injuries are sign.
If there is an elder abuse then it can be treated by
providing counselling, interaction, medications and
special treatment for making them feel valued.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 8
What signs might Mrs Hong demonstrate physically, emotionally or mentally
which may indicate to you that she is feeling stressed about her current
situation. How might you respond to this?
Response:
Mental: hearing and sight impairment
Emotional: Interfere in parenting of twins
Physical: Signs of dementia like confusion, lack of
concentration etc.
By making use of communication skill and keeping her
engaged in counselling she can be made feel
respected and valued. Memory training, social
stimulation, physical activities or exercise are some
non drug therapies which can improve her health.

TASK Assessment Criteria
Question 9 What possible signs and symptoms may indicate to you that Mrs Hong is developing
dementia?
Response: memory loss, hearing problems, interferes in
parenting twins of her daughter was some signs
identified in Mrs Hong. Some behaviour changes were
also a sign.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 10
How would you approach Mrs Hong differently if she is demonstrating signs of
dementia? What nursing interventions would you consider?
How might these interventions differ for Mrs Hong’s culture and age?
Response: By taking neurophysiology tests can be used
in order to access memory, language skills, ability to
adapt things for identifying the level of mental disability.
There are some non drug interventions which can help
Mrs Hong in improving health such as: exercise, mental
stimulation, socialisation etc. These interventions can
help her out in improving health as these are differed for
her age as she is 70 year old.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 11 What are some of the possible impacts on Mrs Hong if she was admitted to short
or long term residential care?
Response:
If Mrs Hong was admitted to short term residential care
then it could have improved her health in a positive
manner as she should have made able to take active
participation in social activities. Person centre care is
being provided in China as the main purpose of them is
to focus on patients rather than thinking about
outcomes.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 12 What might be some of the possible impacts on Mrs McFarlane if she was to admit her
mother to long term residential care?
Response:
If Mrs. McFarlane was to admit her mother Mrs Hong to
long term residential care then it has motivated her to
increase socialisation as in Australia residential care
provides 24 hour nursing care and make use of family
involvement therapies which not only help patient but
also family members in making able to take care of the
patient without getting frustrated.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 13
Provide 5 services that Mrs Hong and Mrs McFarlane could consider if they
decided to stay at home rather than use long term residential care include at
least one service which would meet Mrs Hong’s cultural requirements.
(Considerations should also be made for cultural and religious beliefs and how
and what to include in an Advanced Care Directive).
Response:
There is difference between services of residential care
and home care. In Australia, the government provides
several supports, care services and personal services
such as getting physician and counsellor for suggesting
exercise, meals on wheel with nutritional values,
behavioural assessment, social interaction and
participation and home delivery pharmacy.
Behavioural assessment and taking appropriate
counselling can meet requirements of beliefs of Mrs
Hong.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 14
What information can you give to Mrs Hong and Mrs McFarlane about advanced
care directives, including where to get information about, how to complete them
and what can be included in them. Use your own state’s legislation for advanced
care planning when providing information
Response: As a enrolled nurse at ACAT and working with
registered nurse I can say that by providing instructions
which is also known as Advance care directive about
future medical treatments to the patient and Mrs
McFarlane health can be improved.
By making use of advanced care directive legal
document, both Mrs Hong and her daughter can make
their future healthcare preference in order to take better
decision as whether they require taking care from
residential or home care. There is a national dementia
helpline number which can give all informations along
with appropriate treatments and interventions to
patients.
It consists of common law advance care directives and
statutory advanced care directives which provide
different types of medical treatments.
TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 15
What education and information would Mrs Hong and Mrs McFarlane need when
making a decision about short and long term options for residential care? (This might
include implications to Mrs Hong and Mrs McFarlane if admitting to a long term
residential facility including cost, legal requirements/ documents requiring completing.
Other external services for assistance at home.)
What possible health promotion could be provided to Mrs Hong taking into
consideration the aging process, her sensory impairments and limited English?
Response:
There is requirement for Mrs Hong and Mrs McFarlane
to consider some factors while making decision about
residential care like availability of finance to them and
cost for each member at nearby residential care, legal
requirements which they need to fulfil. Documents
which they need to provide as Mrs Hong is from Chinese
origin so, she will be required to provide address proof
and proper documents.
Quality care services, counselling, supports from carer
groups for taking advice and sharing information and
services available at respite can help and be provided to
Mrs Hong.

TASK Assessment Criteria

Question 16
After examining and assessing Mrs Hong, write a care summary for Mrs Hong including;
 her ability to provide self-care and any possible limitations
 any identified physiological, emotional or mental issues which will require specific
nursing care
 Response of Mrs Hong and her daughter to possible admission to residential facility
 Information and interventions provided to Mrs Hong and her daughter
 Nursing interventions discussed relating to Mrs Hong’s culture, sensory impairment
and early dementia
(word limit 500 words)
Response:
In the context of Mrs Hong it can be said that she is
experiencing problems of memory loss and all symptoms
starts at beginning of dementia. She is 70 years old and
has no extended family. She interferes in parenting twins
of her daughter who lives in Australia. She is at initial
stage of dementia so, it can be said that she is still able
to take care of herself but there are 2 main problems
which can create problems in performing daily activities
such as: hearing and sight impairment. Due to lack of
vision and hearing problem she can face problems in
completing household chores.
There are not specific major problems of Mrs Hong but
hearing and sight impairment creating problems so it will
require some specific nursing care. Also it is also
identified that patient do not take interest in taking
participation in social activities and due to lack of social
activities it can affect its mental health. People in this
stage feel loneliness and this feeling can worsened their
health. So, in this regard it can be said that she requires
some nursing care like counselling, person centre care
approach. In this approach and counselling, care
providers try to increase patient engagement and make
them feel valued. It helps them out in increasing
socialisation. Nursing interventions and specific care plan
can help Mrs Hong in improving health as care providers
identify patients' problems and all personal details like
what they like, what they do not like, abilities, routine,
interest of social participation etc. By identifying all
these they provide appropriate services and treatments
to them.
In the context of Mrs McFarlane, daughter of Mrs Hong
it is stated that she has isolated immigrants problems
related to shelter, food, interaction with people and
others. She does not prefer to talk to society members.
She is married with 53 years old who is a haul truck
driver and often away from home for work. So, she
requires someone for raising her twin children and for
that she invited Chinese mother. So, in this context it can
be said that along with Mrs Hong, she also needs some
counselling and therapy for reducing fear of social

interaction. They both require response for possible
admission to residential facility which includes: long
term care facilities related to problems, appropriate care
homes where both can get meal and personal care. For
this they can contact to governmental policies related to
this. Aged care assessment team take proper
information in order to approve care recipient. As per
the extent of disease it can be said that there is
requirement for taking only short term residential care
for Mrs Hong.
In the context of interventions for Mrs Hong it can be
said that patient is at early stage of this problem so by
providing therapeutic interventions and appropriate
therapies' problem can be solved. Some therapies
include:
Occupational: In this therapy patient and family member
is being taught about making home safer. The main aim
of this therapy is to prevent or protect patient against
accident and managing behaviour.
Simplifying tasks: By making able to patient for
performing activities by breaking tasks into easier steps
and reducing confusion.
Cholinesterase inhibitors: There are some
medications which can also be prescribed to patient
as she is at early stage of dementia such as:
donepezil and galantamine.