Health Variations 2 Assessment 2: Case Study

401209 Health Variations 2
Assessment 2: Case study
Assessment Questions
Part A(60 marks, suggested 800 words)
1. Explain the 11 components of a valid routine subcutaneous insulin medication
order and why this is important. Support your answer with academic or clinical
guideline references. (5 marks)
Answer: A medication order is valid only when authorised prescriber enters all the
details of the 11 components of a valid routine subcutaneous insulin medication. The
11 components are
a. patient’s URN, family and given names, address, DOB, sex on the address
level
b. First prescriber ID label checked
c. National Inpatient Medication Chart (NIMC) has been marked
d. Hospital details
e. Doctor to notify
f. Printed name and signature of prescriber
g. Date
h. Name of Insulin
i. Dose
j. Meal or time
k. Doctor’s initials
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These components are important to be filled up in order to assess the patient
before proceeding towards further medication process (LeMone et al., 2014).
2. Explain why Ben has been prescribed this medication.Relate to
pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes and the mechanism of action of NovoRapid
insulin. Support your answer with academic references. (10 marks)
Answer: Ben has been prescribed for NovoRapid Insulin which is related to
pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes as his gene can interact and apart from that the
environment can also interact for viral infections. The impact of disease is the
autoimmune destruction of the beta cells which can reduce the secretion of insulin
hormone. It also breaks down the body fats and protein which in turn forms ketosis as
insulin hormone promotes the protein synthesis and fat storage. Insulin breaks down
the glycogen to form glucose in the body. The mechanism of action of NovoRapid
insulin is it stimulates amino acid intake into the blood cells, and inhibits
glycogenolysis and also gluconeogenesis in the liver to stimulate glycogenesis
(Bullock & Manias, 2013).
3. What is the onset, peak and durationof action for NovoRapid insulin according
to Bullock and Manias (2017)? Explain when NovoRapid should be
administeredin relation to food intake and why.Support your answer with
academic references. (5 marks)
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Answer: The onset for NovoRapid is 0-0.25 hours which means 15 minutes, the peak
is 1 hour and the duration is 3-5 hours. Generally, if insulin is given before the meal,
and if somehow the meal is skipped then it can cause hypoglycaemia which is very
dangerous and even can lead to death. So, the NovoRapid insulin should always be
given after meal or breakfast to prevent the risk of hypoglycaemia among the patients
(American Diabetes Association, 2015).
4. Discussthe definition, causes, symptoms and treatmentof hypoglycaemia, a
common adverse effect of NovoRapid.Support your answer with academic
references. (5 marks)
Answer: If the glucose level in blood comes less than 4mmol/L when tested via blood
glucose meter, then that is called hypoglycaemia. The symptoms are hunger,
restlessness, tremor, pallor, sweating, mild trachycardia and in some serious cases it
can lead to seizures, coma and death also. Immediate replace of glucose is the main
treatment using some quick-acting carbohydrate such as sugar, honey, fruit juice etc.
and slow-acting carbohydrates such as piece of fruit, sandwich etc (Choudhary et al.,
2015).
5. Discuss the importance ofunderstanding the medication prior to
administration.Support your answer with academic references. (5 marks)
Answer: Supporting the medication administration may not be the role of nurse, but if
it is involved then the nurse should have a clear understanding about the medication
prior to the administration. Sometimes nurses need to make a judgement about the
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