Life Stage Consideration Essay 2022

Running head: LIFE STAGE CONSIDERATION 1
Life Stage Consideration
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation

LIFE STAGE CONSIDERATION 2
Life Stage Consideration
Introduction
Life stage consideration is very significant in the healthcare sector. Most importantly, the
aged generation phase diversity of healthcare complications. Such complications come along
with plenty of pain and even loss of personal identity (Inouye, Westendorp, & Saczynski, 2014).
Some of the complications that are prominent in the aged generation include dementia, delirium,
cancer, blindness, asthma, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and chronic bronchitis. Such
conditions call upon different nursing interventions to promote wellbeing among aged people
(Siddiqi et al., 2016). This essay is set to explore different aspects relating to delirium while
utilizing a conversation between a community nurse and Max (an older adult) as a case study.
Part A
Delirium is a health condition experienced among the older generation whereby mental
abilities experience serious disturbances leading to reduced awareness of the environment and
confused thinking. There are three primary types of delirium. These include hyperactive,
hypoactive, and mixed delirium. Hyperactive delirium includes symptoms like hallucinations,
agitation, restlessness, and refusals to cooperate with care. Hypoactive delirium includes
symptoms like reduced motor activity, abnormal drowsiness, and sluggishness. Mixed delirium
entails both hypoactive and hyperactive signs and symptoms.
The first assessment tool in the diagnosis of delirium is to observe the respective signs
and symptoms of the disease. The doctor examines if a patient can move, speak, and think
normally. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) can also be utilized. The method enables one
to tell if the patient is rambling, has a hard time paying attention while others speak, or personal

LIFE STAGE CONSIDERATION 3
behaviors camouflage throughout the day. Based on the symptoms presented, the practitioner can
proceed to conduct laboratory tests like blood chemistry test, head scan, alcohol, and drug test,
liver test, chest X-ray and thyroid test to identify for imbalances that might have caused delirium.
Following the case study, Max presents plenty of delirium signs and symptoms. For
instance, he feels not relaxed during hospitalization. In fact, he has a negative attitude towards
care and thinks he will ultimately die. Furthermore, he is agitated and thinks everyone is against
him following the fact that no one responds to his request for water. Finally, the fact that Max
becomes depressed and thinks of suicide is an indication of changes in brain chemistry.
Nursing strategies for a patient who is experiencing delirium depends on the ultimate
cause of the condition. For instance, the nursing practitioner may initiate a counseling program
on a patient whose delirium is caused by drug and substance abuse. Counseling can also be used
to anchor the thoughts of patients who feel disoriented like Max, who feels an injection will lead
to death (Barr et al., 2013). Nursing practitioners should also promote family-centered care. Max
believes that the presence of family members would assure him of safety. However, he was left
alone, which made him restless. Nursing practitioners may also help in providing medications to
the patients depending on the cause of their condition. For instance, a nursing practitioner may
help in providing inhalers to patients whose delirium is caused by severe asthma. Additionally,
the practitioner may provide antibiotics in circumstances where delirium is caused by a bacterial
infection (Schuckit, 2014). The nursing practitioners may also provide sedatives to ease
withdrawal from alcohol. In cases whereby the patient is either depressed or agitated, smaller
doses of different drugs may be recommended (Fong et al., 2015). For instance, the nursing
practitioner may help in providing antidepressants to relieve depression, thiamine to prevent
confusion, and dopamine blockers to aid in drug poisoning (Brummel, & Girard, 2013). Failure

LIFE STAGE CONSIDERATION 4
to diagnose delirium in Max would lead to the destruction of the brain. Since the brain controls
all the body functions, primary body functions will stop, thus leading to death (Salluh et al.,
2015).
Part B
Pain presents serious impacts on older adults. Such implications include decreased
socialization, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, impaired ambulation, and frequent
healthcare utilization and costs (Ryan et al., 2013). Pain is the primary reason why patients
frequently visit the hospital. Pain should be considered a fundamental problem when it impacts
either the quality of life or physical function.
Pain assessment starts when a physician believes the patient and takes her/his complaints
regarding pain seriously. With respect to pain assessment, several recommendations have been
placed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Firstly, healthcare practitioners have
a fundamental role to inquire about pain and believe in the words presented by the patients. The
practitioner should also obtain a thorough pain history, which includes a description of pain
intensity and characteristics from the patient. The pain rating scales can be utilized to assess the
severity of pain. The figure below illustrates a facial example of pain-rating scale.