Assignment On Critical Care Unit

Running head: CASE STUDY 1
Case Study
Student Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Case Study
Introduction
Critical care unit is a section where patients whose normal survival functions have been
compromised hence require intensive care, close monitoring, and supportive management to
attain healthy body function. In this setting, the provision of individualized patient-centered care
is integral in nursing practice. In the provision of patient-centered care, the caregiver focuses on
evidence-based care and a holistic patient approach in establishing the priority care plan for the
patient (Farrell, Smeltzer, & Bare, 2017). Since the unit is a sensitive area, the nurse has a
responsibility to provide care based on the legal-ethical issues in the ICU. This leads to the
improved patient outcome as well as satisfaction.
The clinical reasoning cycle is one of the frameworks that are primarily applied in the
clinical areas in ensuring patient-centered care. The framework is systematic in guiding medical
practitioners to collect essential information concerning the patient, process the data as well as
understand the condition the patient is suffering from. Evaluation of the patient outcome for the
planning of further management is an essential part of the cycle. It ensures continuity of care as
time elapses. Therefore, the use of the clinical reasoning cycle boosts the clinical reasoning of
the care providers as well. The objective of this article is to analyze a case study utilizing the
clinical reasoning cycle in managing the condition presented.
Consider the person's situation
Mr. Brad Taylor was admitted to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) through the
emergency department with chief complains of polydipsia, general body weakness, and
vomiting. He was recovering from the mild cold with a temperature of 37.3° Celsius on

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admission. He also complained of abdominal pains rating the pain 3 out of a scale of 10 on
admission.
Health information
The patient is reported to have developed the above complaints two days ago. There is no
alleviating or aggravating factors identified. He is a known Type 1 diabetic patient for ten years
now. He has once been admitted to ICU 5 years ago due to Diabetes Ketoacidosis, after which he
recovered well. He is reported to have undergone an appendectomy five years ago.
The patient is a nonsmoker; takes alcohol on social occasions. He lives with his girlfriend
and works at a full-time job. The patient has been on medication; Humalog 8 -16 u/s and Lantis
28u/s. On admission, the patient portrayed Kussmaul breathing with acetone breathe odor. Vital
signs recorded were: SpO2 and Blood pressure were within normal ranges, Heart Rate- 125bpm,
Respiratory Rate was 35breathes/minute. Generally, the patient was restless, complained of being
thirsty with a feeling of nausea. Episodes of intermittent vomiting were observed.
Upon investigations, the Blood Glucose Level was high, 26.1 mmol/l. The blood ketone
levels were high on finger prick. Micro hematuria, presence of glucose, and ketones in urine
were realized during a urinalysis. Full blood examination indicated a slight elevation of
leukocytes and hematocrit. Sodium was slightly high, 150mmol/l, while potassium levels were
somewhat low, 3.3mmol/l. C - reactive protein was mildly elevated. Arterial Blood Gas indicated
slight acidity with a Ph of 7.1, HCO3 levels of 14, PaO2 levels of 105, and PaCO2 levels of 35.
Processing of gathered Information
From the presentations, it is evident that the patient is suffering from Diabetes
Ketoacidosis, which is a complication that commonly occurs in diabetes type 1 patients. DKA is