Nursing Management Plan | Case Study

Running head: TRANSITIONING TO PRACTICE
TRANSITIONING TO PRACTICE
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

TRANSITIONING TO PRACTICE1
Introduction
This report is related to a patient named Alex who had been admitted to the acute care
ward at the mental health facility. He had been admitted in to the locked ward due to hos acute
symptoms of psychosis. Alex had been diagnosed with the acute symptoms of Schizophrenia,
which is caused by the multiple uses of Marijuana.
The paper will give a detailed assessment of the patient, including the signs of
deterioration. A nursing management plan will be provided as per the assessment data and the
multidisciplinary team that might be necessary for Alex will also be discussed. The paper will
also provide a sample of ISBAR handover for Alex.
Assessment
The diagnosis and the assessment of the Schizophrenia includes a thorough Physical
examination, screenings and evaluation of the cognitive health. Additionally there are other
diagnostic criteria that can be used. The physical examination of ales will show that Ales is
unable to walk in a straight line. Alex is disoriented to both time and place. It has been stated by
Þórisdóttir, (2014), that disorientation is common in patients with drug induced schizophrenia.
This indicates to a more stable form of brain disorder, than just neurotransmitter dysfunction.
The heart rate and the blood pressure is found to be much higher in Alex than that of the
normal levels. A high resting heart rate and blood pressure in the youth predicts an increased
susceptibility of the anxiety disorder, schizophrenia. The increased heart rate in the
Schizophrenia patients might be due to the uptake of anti-psychotic drugs (Bär, 2015). Higher

TRANSITIONING TO PRACTICE2
pulse pressure has been found in patients with schizophrenia. Various types of medications used
in psychotic control increases the risk of developing high blood pressure.
On assessment, the blood glucose level of Alex has been much higher to the standard blood
glucose value. Patients with Schizophrenia have more chance of getting high blood glucose
level. This can be due to the fact, that patients with Schizophrenia might not follow the proper
diet and exercise (Suvisaari et al., 2016). Again, antipsychotic medicines on the other hand
increases the chance of contracting diabetes. Again, Schizophrenia has been associated with pre-
mature birth, stress and increased cortisol level increasing the chance of diabetes (Vancampfort
et al., 2013).
Two of the most alarming condition for Alex, is that he had suddenly increased the
consumption of food and drinks and his behavior has deteriorated and he had become more
aggressive. Eating disorders have been associated with the symptoms of Schizophrenia. An
eating disorder is Bulimia Nervosa that is featured by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed
by repeated unsuitable compensatory behaviors to prevent the gaining of weight like self –
induced vomiting or fasting (Kouidrat et al., 2014). Binge eating disorder has been recognized as
an eating disorder that has been related to Schizophrenia (Kouidrat et al., 2014). Although, no
such evidences have been found about the association of eating disorder with Schizophrenia.
Alex should be kept in “Between the flags” which can be termed as a safety nets for the
patients who had been displaying deteriorating conditions. It is to ensure that the deteriorating
patient gets appropriate care. This is clearly evident from the case study that Alex’s condition is
deteriorating. It can be guessed that some of the visitors might have been providing with drugs to
Alex and if he is left untreated, then it can lead to mortality in the patient. Substance induced