Essentials of Care: Activities of Living, Strategies, and Nursing Care Plan

This essay discusses the activities of living, strategies, and nursing care plan for a patient suffering from gastroenteritis and dehydration. It utilizes the Roper, Logan, and Tierney model of nursing and AoLs to address three disrupted AoLs in the patient. The essay also includes a nursing care plan for the patient.

Running head: ESSENTIALS OF CARE
Essentials of care
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Discussion of the Activities of Living:............................................................................................2
Eating and drinking:....................................................................................................................3
Maintaining safe environment:....................................................................................................4
Personal cleansing and dressing:.................................................................................................5
Strategies for care to be provided:...............................................................................................5
Nursing Care Plan:...........................................................................................................................6
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................11
References:....................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction:
Nurses have to provide an array of support services to the patients while they are availing
the care services. Especially for the aged care sector, the nursing professionals often have to
indulge in supportive assistance that even encompasses the activities of living for the patients as
well (Ahmed et al., 2018). On a more elaborative note, it has to be mentioned that for the nurses
that are practicing in the aged care facility, they have to address to the aged, frail and elderly
patients that are suffering with chronic illnesses which often renders them incapable of
completing their own activities of living and personal care needs.
Hence, the care providers, the nurses in most cases are associated with providing
assessment and care interventions to support and assist the patient in completing the activities of
living. The Roper, Logan and Tierney model of nursing that was coined in the year of 1980
which focuses entirely on the activities of living and providing systematic and comprehensive
supportive assistance to the patients in achieving the AOLs (Holland, 2008). There are 10
different activities of living that had been listed in the model which each provides guidance for
the nursing professionals to be able to provide adequate care. This assignment will utilize the
Roper, Logan, and Tierney model of nursing and AoLs to address three disrupted AoLs in the
patient from the case study chosen. The essay will discuss the activities of living associated with
the case study, how the AoLs were affected, how it will be assessed and what care intervention
can be provided to the patient followed by an extensive care of plan for the patient as well.
Discussion of the Activities of Living:
The case study chosen for the assignment focuses on the patient named Mr. Keith Manor,
who is an 86 year old admitted to the medical ward with complaints of gastroenteritis and

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dehydration. Elaborating more, it has to be mentioned that Keith had also been suffering with
two day history of diarrhea and abdominal cramping. His current symptoms are pertaining of
watery diarrhea, a mild temperature of 37.7degrees Celsius, abdominal pain, headache and mild
dehydration. Along with that, the patient is also suffering with extreme fatigue or lethargy as
well. Hence, from the key information that is provided regarding the patient and his present
medical condition, it can be stated that a variety of different AoLs of the patient is affected. With
the symptoms that Keith is exhibiting the first and foremost AoL, that seems to be affected
drastically is eating and drinking.
Eating and drinking:
First and foremost it has to be mentioned that eating and drinking is one of the most
fundamental activities of living which everyone has to carry out in order to sustain the Metabolic
functions of body (Roper, 2000). In this case Keith had been suffering from extreme watery
diarrhea abdominal cramp and pain headache mild dehydration and extreme fatigue. activities of
Living outlines both the norms of the patient as well as any changes that can have occurred due
to the current changes in his body function in and condition which are also accessed when the
patient has been admitted into the ward. Abdominal cramps can have a profound impact on the
activities of daily living of a patient. It does not only affects the ability of the patient to continue
eating and drinking as an activity of living on is on but it also affects the appetite of the patient
which can also lead to the activity of living of eating and drinking to be impacted. according to
the authors for aging patients exhaustive health conditions such as diarrhea coupled with
abdominal cramps can obliterate appetite and then also affect the ability of the patient to move
around on his own or complete activities of living including even eating and drinking which can
have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the patient (Amjad et al., 2016).

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It has to be mentioned in this context that the case study information also reveals the
patient has also been suffering from dehydration, the activity of living of eating and drinking is
affected for the patient in this case can also deteriorate his hydration and can exercise with the
condition for the patient concession his age and immunity status. On the other hand as discussed
by authors extreme dehydration can even lead to fitting consequences for children and extremely
aged individuals due to their compromised immunity and innate defense. Hence, the care
providers providing assistance support to the patient will have to take into consideration
addressing the activity review of eating and drinking too ensure optimal health and wellbeing of
the patient and avoid the risk of any severe consequences (Huynh, Nguyen, Liem & Tran, 2015).
Maintaining safe environment:
Another very important activity of living which can be potentially affected by the
condition that the patient is suffering from is maintaining a safe environment. According to the
Roper Logan theory model of nursing care, maintaining a safe environment is the first and most
important activity of living which is listed in the model. As discussed by the authors of this
model maintaining a safe environment is one of the most important activities that is the only
totally independent activity of living, that the patient can often take for granted. It has been
argued that the impact of illness or a disability on a patient can have a deliberating impact on his
or her ability to ensures safety and protect themselves from harm (Yoshimura, Uchida, Jeong &
Yamaga, 2016). In this case, the patient named Keith Manor had been suffering from extreme
diarrhea which had led to severe dehydration for the patient as well. Now dehydration is a very
common concern which inversely can lead to fatigue and can enhance the risk of fall as well.
Hence, maintaining safe Hence, maintaining safe environment is one of the most important

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concerns associated with the patient and is a plausible activity of living which is affected of the
patient as well.
Personal cleansing and dressing:
Lastly, the third activity of living which is pertaining to be affected completely by the
presenting health adversities which the patient in the case study, Mr. Keith Manor had been
exhibiting is the personal cleansing. It has to be mentioned or acknowledged in this context that
the personal cleansing and dressing is an activity of living which is intricately associated with
self-care. As illustrated by the Roper, Logan and Tierney model of nursing care, the self-care
activities including dressing and washing themselves which is a very important self-care activity
to carry on with the daily living for an adult (McClelland, 2004). In this case, due to the extreme
diarrhea and dehydration that the patient had been going through also requires multiple visits to
the toilet and will require him to wash and dress himself considerable amount of times. Due to
the fatigue and dehydration, the inability of the patient not being able to wash and dress himself
on his own will also affect the emotional and psychological health of the patient due to the
dependency and struggle. Hence, this is a very important activity of living which needs to be
addressed adequately for the patient in this case study as well.
Strategies for care to be provided:
Considering the care that will be provided to the patient in the case study, the aid of fluid
therapy, fall risk management and self-care assistance can be considered. On a more elaborative
note, it has to be taken into account that the first and most basic or important activity of living
which had been identified for Mr. Keith had been eating and drinking which had been
jeopardized in the case of the patent in the case study as well. This particular jeopardized activity
of living can also be considered as the contributing factor leading to the sequence of events

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facilitating the dehydration in the patient and the resultant lethargy and fatigue. Considering the
present condition of the patient, the most plausible care approach for him will involve fluid
therapy, a balanced solution of necessary electrolytes to the help the restore the electrolyte
balance in his body and retrieve the state of homeostasis so that Keith can regain his strength and
start recovering fast. However, in this case, Keith is a very elderly man and the impact of his age
and physically frail condition has to be minded while deciding on the electrolyte solution for the
patient as well. On the other hand oral repletion of the fluids is also needed to be considered in
this context as well. As mentioned by the Picetti et al. (2017), oral repletion of the fluids is
preferred under all circumstances, although this type of intervention strategy is only effective in
case of absence of severe symptoms. In case the patient is acutely dehydrated and is exhibiting
extremely low concentration of mandatory nutrients, the only plausible rehydration strategy that
can be employed is the intravenous fluid therapy. For the maintaining safe environment for Keith
will require the addition of fall risk assessment. On a more elaborative note, the patient is
fatigued and dehydrated along with being frail due to his age and his diarrhea. Hence, the risk of
fall for him is crucial and hence the risk assessment is a very important intervention for him.
Along with that, the care interventions in this case will also include modifying the physical
environment of the patient taking into consideration the safety requirements that the patient will
require (Oates & Price, 2017). Lastly, for cleansing and dressing, the care strategy that I will be
incorporating will be supportive assistance by either myself or a community care nurse.
Nursing Care Plan:
Assess Plan Implement Evaluate
Factual data:
For the patient a few
Based on the
assessment data
The implementation
section of the APIE
Considering the
evaluation of care,

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assessment data that
will be needed to be
gathered for Keith
includes his medical
history, medicine list,
and known allergen
or hypersensitivity.
For the first activity
of living, the
assessment will
include vital signs,
total blood count test
and hydration
assessment so that the
exact nutritional state
of the patient can be
taken into
consideration (Bail &
Grealish, 2016).
The patient will also
need a thorough pain
assessment as well as
including the
hydration data and
nutritional status
assessment, the
patient will be either
provided oral
repletion or
intravenous mode of
fluid therapy (Forbat,
Kunicki, Chapman &
Lovell, 2017).
The patient will also
be given the aid of
hydration bundle
considering his age
and clinical
condition.
care plan method
emphasizes on the
documentation that
will be carried out by
the nursing
professional during
implementing the
care plan made for
the patient (Johnson,
Waldreus, Hahn,
Stenström &
Sjöstrand, 2015).
For the first activity
of living, the nurse
will need to
document the bolus
and infusion rates in
case of intravenous
fluid repletion
(Forbat, Kunicki,
Chapman & Lovell,
2017).
the care outcome
indicators will need
to be assessed and
evaluated.
The patient in this
case after the fluid
repletion therapy
exhibited
improvement in the
vital signs (Forbat,
Kunicki, Chapman &
Lovell, 2017).
He seemed visibly
better with much
lesser abdominal
pain, fatigue or
lethargy.
He appeared capable
of moving on his own
with slight supportive

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he had been
complaining of
abdominal cramps
when he had been
admitted to the
facility.
In case the patient is
able to take oral fluid
repletion method, the
exact status of
administration will
need to be adequately
documented as per
the standard protocol.
Lastly, the vital signs
of the patient will
also be monitored
frequently and
periodically.
assistance (Johnson,
Waldreus, Hahn,
Stenström &
Sjöstrand, 2015).
For the maintaining
safe environment, the
first and foremost
assessment that nurse
will carry out if the
fall risk assessment
using a fall
prevention check list.
In this case the care
plan will focus
entirely on improving
the safety
environment of the
patient (Phelan,
Mahoney, Voit &
Stevens, 2015).
In this case, the
documentation will
involve the data
collected by the fall
risk assessment
which also will need
to be carried out
periodically to assure
The patient avoided
any risk of fall and
safety and security
appeared unaffected
throughout his stay in
the facility.
The patient

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The patient Mr Keith
Manor will also be
enquired regarding
his exact care needs
with respect to
maintaining safety
environment
(DuPree, Fritz-
Campiz & Musheno,
2014)
His bed rails will be
raised and the call
light will be placed
within his reach to
reduce risk of fall.
The physical
environment of the
room will be de-
cluttered and
brightened to reduce
the risk of falls
(Sherrington et al.,
2017).
Lastly he will be
provided with non-
skid footwear and
walking support if
required to reduce the
risk of falling further.
minimal risk of
falling (Phelan,
Mahoney, Voit &
Stevens, 2015).
The patient
preferences and needs
will also need to be
documented for
future preferences.
A thorough handover
note preparation will
need to be carried out
for the patient
effectively as well
(Bergen, 2016).
verbalized being
comfortable and
content during his
stay.
For the last activity of Lastly, the care In this case, the need The patient was

10ESSENTIALS OF CARE
living, which is the
personal cleansing
and dressing which is
a very crucial AoL.
The inability to
perform this
particular activity of
living can have a
significant imp[act on
the behaviour and
emotional stability of
the patient. Hence in
this case, the
assessment carried
out by the nurse will
need to be
psychosocial, where
the nurse will need to
take a compassionate
and empathetic
approach enquiring
the patient the nature
of supportive
planning for personal
cleansing and
dressing will be
focussed on
communicating and
partnering with the
patient in care.
The patient
preferences will be
prioritized
considering the extent
of supportive
assistance that will be
provided to him
(Kogan, Wilber &
Mosqueda, 2016).
He will be provided
with the option of
being cared by his
family or take the
assistance of the care
for documentation is
minimal.
Although, a self-care
needs assessment
documentation can be
carried out for the
patient in the case
study as well to
enhance the patient
centeredness of the
care (Mlinac & Feng,
2016).
provided supportive
assistance while
maintaining his
dignity and
prioritizing his
preferences.
He verbalized
contentment with the
supportive assistance
and collaborated with
the care provider.

11ESSENTIALS OF CARE
assistance he will be
requiring all the
while providing a
sense of respect and
empowerment to his
dignity (Rodríguez‐
Martín, Stolt,
Katajisto & Suhonen,
2016).
staff.
Care will be taken to
ensure encouraging
and safeguarding the
dignity and
enhancing his sense
of empowerment
while providing care.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, the impact of the aging process and the exhaustion from illness can
also contribute to the inability of completing the activities of living. Either ways, the inability has
a deliberating impact on the health and wellbeing of the patients as well. This assignment
illustrated how the activities of living are affected by the disease process and the aging of the
patient taking the assistance of the Roper Logan and Tierney model of care. This assignment
gave me the opportunity to understand how to employ this model of nursing care while planning
care for an elderly patient suffering from a disease condition which can affect the ability of the
patient to carry out the activities of living. It also helped me employ the APIE care plan model to
plan a model of care that addressed each of the three affected activity of living for the patient. It
can be hoped that the knowledge and expertise gained from this experience will help me
immensely in addressing the individual care needs of the patients and develop care plans myself
in my future practice.

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