Patient with Long Term Condition

This report analyzes a case study of a patient with COPD, exploring the pathophysiology of the disease, its impact on the patient's well-being, and the role of nurses in assessment and treatment. It also examines the impact of COPD on the patient's daily living activities and reflects on the learning experience gained from the case study.

Patient with long term
condition

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease..................................................3
Impact of COPD on patient....................................................................................................4
Assessment of nurse of patient with COPD...........................................................................5
Impact of COPD on daily living of patient............................................................................7
Reflection...............................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Healthcare refers to desired efforts made to maintain or restore physical, mental or
emotional well being which can be conducted by trained and licensed care professionals. It
consist various types of practices and procedures in order to diagnose specific disease and
provide appropriate medication to make an individual healthy (Sorino, Pedone and Scichilone,
2016). The present report is based on medical unit related with a patient named Michael Johnson
having problem of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including specifically
emphysema which can be considered as long term condition. The placement area is a medical
unit in which a patient named Michael Johnson has been taken with along term condition of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This patients has been taken because of having long term
condition which helps to understand the effective practices to be conducted for to deal with such
critical cases in order to make an individuals well being. It will focus on pathophysiology of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and impact of this condition in patient in psychological,
physical & socio economical context. The assessment of nurse and activity of daily living get

affected by COPD is given below. It is important to select this patient with COPD to analyse
complications and correct method to provide treatment for their well being.
MAIN BODY
Pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The given report will focus on case study of patient named as Michael Johnson having an
age of 75 years old suffering from COPD including emphysema. He has been admitted in
medical unit having number of symptoms like breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum)
production and wheezing. Apart from this, a registered nurse is required to follow several ethical
principles such as respect of autonomy, non maleficence, beneficence and confidentiality. It is
necessary for nursing staff to provide an effective care services by maintaining privacy of
information related to given patients while providing treatment (Gellis, Kenaley and Have,
2014).
Pathophysiology can be described as study of biological and physical manifestations of
disease as they correlate with an underlying abnormalities and physiological disturbances
(Jennings and et. al., 2015). It include to analyse the causes of health problems take place in
human body which provide support to make correct decision for better treatment to make people
healthy. In context of Michael Johnson having COPD in medical unit, it is necessary to conduct
pathophysiology to determine actual health issues to provide medication. At the other hand,
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be considered as chronic inflammatory lung disease
which cause obstructed airflow from lungs. It consist several symptoms such as breathing
difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing (Ford And et. al., 2015). However, it
has been analysed that such condition occurs due to long term exposure of irritating gases or
particulate matter and regular cigarette smoke. People with COPD consist an increased risk of
creating heart disease, lung cancer etc.
The pathophysiology of COPD include that patient have less air airflow which has certain
reasons including that the airways and air sacs have lost their stretchiness. However, it involve
the problem that walls between or sacs are damaged or have been destroyed and these walls
become inflame & thickened. Moreover, more mucus is produced in airways which is
responsible for causing clogs. The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease basically impacts of
lungs and its functions due to which several problems take place due to disturbed airflow in and

out. It will results several physiological changes that impacts on body which can be evaluated by
analysing related symptoms in proper manner. However, it include to production of chronic
cough, shortness of breathe, frequent respiratory infections, blueness of lips or fingernail beds
and fatigue. In addition to this, several other signs are also observed such as generating higher
amount of mucus than normal, wheezing and chest tightness. Furthermore, acute exacerbation is
a flare up or episodes in which breathing of patient become worse than usual and they struggle in
order to maintain oxygen levels. Meanwhile, this critical condition consist certain signs including
increased mucus that may darken in colour and thicken than normal and extreme shortness of
breathe (Hyphantis and et. al., 2015). Additionally, it involve fever, confusion or excessive
sleepiness and excess coughing or wheezing accordingly.
Impact of COPD on patient
Michael Johnson having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with emphysema is
generally caused due to physical and mental suffering of patient which results into several related
problems for an individual. It include impairs quality of life, reduces the vital activity and affects
in life of an individual in various aspects (Berkhof and et. al., 2015). Meanwhile, it has been
analysed that people working in laboratories of fumes gases & other related materials and daily
smoking. In context of Michael Johnson with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease et effected
in several aspects which are described here.
Psychological impact – This can be described as the mental status of people while they
suffering from COPD which has been evaluated at less positive about life. However, it include
that these individuals did not think completely negative but not even extremely positive about
their lives (Horita and et. al., 2015). It is determined that people having COPD have worsen
psychological status as compared to normal persons. In addition to this, psychological impacts of
COPD on Michael Johnson consist cognitive status, depressive symptoms, anxiety, generic
health condition and many more.
Physical impact – The patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease feel difficulty
to conduct any physical work as they physical performance get reduced due to this health
problem. It has been analysed that people suffering from COPD have worse physical
performance and walk very slowly. However, several issues are observed in these individuals
such as experiencing pain, sleep quality, self reported sedentary behaviour, reduced handgrip
strength and use aids for daily routine activities.

Socio-economic impact – This include two factors like social and economic impact on
life of an individual due to having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Initially, having
symptoms of COPD impacts negatively on social status of Michael Johnson due to excess
wheezing, cough and breathing problem (Gerridzen and Goossensen, 2014). If social status of an
individual get reduce then it will effects mental status of person due to which avoid social
interaction until the time of becoming properly well. Moreover, economic refers to financial
condition as COPD is a long term condition have an expensive treatment and medications which
may disturb budget of a person.
Assessment of nurse of patient with COPD
The assessment of particular disease can be considered as an important aspects because it
will facilitate known about actual symptoms and causes of the same. However, it is necessary to
determine cause of COPD including emphysema which provide support to make more effective
as well as efficient nursing care plan of action in order to provide correct treatment to patients for
their wellness (Tobiano and et. al., 2015). It involve that effective assessment of specific health
issue is important to evaluate present situation and causes in accurate way. It will provide
support to make appropriate decision regarding medication for sick person to make them capable
to overcome with condition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In addition to this, the
safe, compassionate and effective care is very important to be ensure by a registered nurse while
making decision about specific treatment of medication to particular patients for their wellness.
However, it has been analysed that compassionate, effective and safe care services are provided
to selected patient in order to gain better outcomes. Moreover, nursing staff care place patients
and use clinical instruments in order to carrying out diagnosis of actual health problems so that
appropriate treatment can be provided (Baker and Fatoye, 2017). Additionally, they have use
new syringes and dispose use ones along with maintaining proper cleanliness in surroundings of
patients and maintain confidentiality of related data. In context of Michael Johnson in selected
medical unit has been assessed by nursing through carrying out several activities which are given
below.
Lung function tests – This include pulmonary functional test with the help of measuring
amount of air during inhale and exhale to measure amount of oxygen supplying to blood in body.
It consist the most common activity known as spirometry which is much effective as it can detect
COPD even before having signs of this problem (Malerba and et. al., 2015). However, this

process basically involve measurement of bronchodilator administration whereas other lung test
prefer to determine volume of lungs, diffusing capacity and pulse oximetry.
Chest X- ray – This can be known as very common test which is used to analyse the
internal injuries to provide correct medication for patients. It include that chest – ray provide
help to properly evaluate emphysema which is main cause of occurring COPD.
CT Scan – The CT Scan is a very effective technique as it is helpful to clearly observe
internal injuries which can be used to detect emphysema which facilitate determine problem of
COPD in patient along with analysing present stage.
Arterial blood gas analysis – This consist to conduct a blood test which helps to
measure accuracy of function of lungs in respect of bringing oxygen into blood as well as
removal of carbon dioxide (Lari and et. al., 2014).
The above pathological test were carried out for Michael Johnson in medical unit which
helps nurse to make correct decision making about providing effective treatment to make them
healthy. According to diagnosis, the nursing plan has been established with appropriate
interventions which facilitate to make person well being.
Impact of COPD on daily living of patient
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition in which include lung
conditions like emphysema and bronchitis. In this case, airways become narrow because of that it
makes difficult take out air. The given patient named Michael Johnson is suffering from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease including emphysema which impact negatively on their healthy in
daily life. Emphysema is a condition in which air sacs at ends of airways in lungs (Beernaert and
et. al., 2014). They break down so lungs become baggy with full of holes and these holes trap
air.
Daily activity which can be affected by COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has negative impact on basic daily activities and
quality of life. COPD limits normal physical exertion(70%), household chores(56%),
lifestyle(58%), sleeping(50%) and social activities(53%). And it also limit the work which can
be performed by a person.
Physical activity: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease reduces persons physical
activities of daily life like walking, getting down from stairs. Airway obstruction causes
breathlessness which interrupt in daily physical activities. Michael Johnson with COPD is highly

correlate with six minutes test (Leite and et. al., 2015). Exercise can cause difficulty in breathing
in patients. Still is is not determined the relationship between inflammation and oxidative stress
in airways and daily physical activity of COPD patients. Dynamic hyperinflation, oxidative
stress, exercise capacity and airways inflammation to physical action of patients. Due to decline
of lung function physical activity reduces. It is also decreases heart function and weakens
muscles. Decrease in daily physical activity can also affect on the body strength and it can
increase mortality of disease.
Human caring theory is an effective nursing model which is helpful for nursing staff to
strengthen by providing proper structure of practices and common language to make effective
relation with patients. It will facilitate to analyse their problems in daily living which can be
solved by nurses to make their routine comfortable for theory well-being (Weldam and et. al.,
2017).
Reflection
Considering my experience in medical unit with Michael Johnson having chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, I have been analysed that symptoms of particular health issues
are required to be evaluated in accurate manner. It include to carrying out the pathophysiology of
Michael Johnson in order to determine physiological changes in body due to occurrence of
specific health issue like COPD. However, I have come know about important different types of
diagnosing activities of COPD such as lung function tests, chest X- ray, CT scan, arterial blood
gas analysis and many more which are appropriate to analyse actual situation of patient with
COPD. In addition to this, my experience in that medical nit has been enhanced through boosting
up my theoretical as well as practical knowledge which is favourable for me to improve my
performance in future. I have learn about actual symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease including chronic cough, shortness of breathe, frequent respiratory infections, blueness of
lips or fingernail beds, fatigue and many more. Meanwhile, my skills, knowledge and abilities
increased regarding clinical practices as well as procedures which are helpful for me to attain
growth in future in terms if expanding my career.
At the other hand, I have faced several issues like discomfort to deal with Michael
Johnson which can be overcome by guidance of experienced professional working in that
medical unit. However, in selected medical unit, there is a work load ta that time while I have
placed and shortage of staff members is observed which is opportunity for me to learn in respect

of performing in additional working hours and manage work in correct way. This is really
helpful for me deal with challenges and extra work load which is necessary for any professional
to be face in order to survive in an organisation by having appropriate goodwill at work place. It
include that working in medical unit on patient having COPD make my concepts clear while
conducting clinical practices and observing other professionals. It is very good experience for me
as I have learned to survive in medical profession by dealing with patients in order to sort out
their health issues.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that every health issue is required to be
diagnosed by conducting effective pathological activities in order to analyse actual cause of the
same. It is necessary to carrying out appropriate diagnosing clinical practices & procedures for
analysing actual stage of particular health problem like COPD along with evaluating symptoms
properly. However, it consist that professionals should determine real situation of an individual
in respect of making more effective as well as efficient plan of action which facilitate to provide
accurate medication to sick individual with COPD. Moreover, it has been learned from
placement medical unit about effective clinical practices and technique to deal with patients
having long term & complicated health problem like COPD. It also provide knowledge about
nursing standards and ethical principles to be maintained in future while working in case unit
like respect of autonomy, non maleficence, beneficence and confidentiality in order to provide
safe, compassionate & effective care to n individual.
REFERENCES
Books and journals
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