Clinical Reasoning Cycle for Osteoporosis in an Elderly Patient

This presentation discusses the clinical reasoning cycle for an elderly patient suffering from osteoporosis, hypertension, and depression. It includes establishing goals, taking action, evaluating outcomes, and reflecting on the process.

CLINICAL
REASONING CYCLE
Name of the Student
Name of the University

Description
 The case study involves a septuagenarian, Lina Liaw, who
decides in Brisbane, in a single storey apartment at retirement
village. She had been diagnosed with hypertension during her
late 50s and osteoporosis during early 60s.
 Following the death of her partner, she became socially
isolated, anxious, lost weight, and stopped self-care. This was
followed by diagnosis of depression and she is currently under
antidepressant medications.
 She suffers from visual impairment and low back pain. Her
presenting complaints include persistent cough, low blood
pressure, and pain severity of 9/10 during moving, and 6/10
when still.
 She also faces problems in performing activities of daily living.

Establish goals
 Taking into consideration the
three client problems of
hypertension, osteoporosis, and
cough, osteoporosis has been
selected as the major issue that
requires immediate intervention.
 S- Regain physical movement
 M- Movement of extremities and
use of verbal pain scale
 A- Medication and non-
pharmaceutical interventions
 R- Verbalise a reduction in pain
 T- 48 hours
Figure 1- Range-of-motion
exercise
Source- (McArthur, Laprade &
Giangregorio, 2016)

Take action
 Place the patient at a supine
periodically in order to stablise
the fracture
 Help the patient perform range
of motion exercise
 Re-position the patient at
regular intervals
 Administer bisphosphonates
 Administer teriparatide
 Provide assistance to the
patient at the time of walking by
providing a transfer belt
Figure 2- Range-of-motion
exercise
Source- (McArthur, Laprade &
Giangregorio, 2016)

Evaluate outcomes
 Effectiveness of the treatment can be
evaluated by asking the patient to walk
without assistance for a few steps after
48 hours.
 The severity of her pain will also be
measured by using a pain rating scale.

Reflect on the process
 I learnt that elderly people are at an increased risk of
suffering from several chronic illnesses such
as, osteoporosis, hypertension, and depression.
 Osteoporosis resulted in weakening of bones in the
patient, thereby increasing her risk of suffering from
a broken bone.
 Implementation of the intervention will help in
reducing further deterioration of her health condition.
 However, I must have considered nutritional
supplements as well for management of the
condition.

References
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Thank you!