Nursing Theories for Clinical Decision Making: A Case Study on Multiple Sclerosis

Running head: NURSING THEORIES
NURSING THEORIES
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NURSING THEORIES
Miller’s theory of functional consequences as well as clinical reasoning cycle are
important theories that aid nurses in clinical decision making and thereby provide effective care
to the patent ensuring patient satisfaction (Hacolaski et al., 2016). This assignment would show
how these two theories can guide nurses in provide safe and quality care. A patient with Multiple
sclerosis (MS) would be treated, where nurses would be helping him to develop his gait and
mobility to live quality life.
Mr Dinh Nguyen is an 83-year-old widower. He has a history of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
that affected him six years ago. Again, four years ago, he was diagnosed with osteoarthritis but
the situation is under control due to medication. He lives alone in his house and his financial
condition is such that it only covers his expenses not allowing him to maintain a better quality
life. Presently he is suffering from ill health mainly due to the ongoing worsening exacerbations
of his Multiple sclerosis (MS).
The patient had been suffering from ongoing exacerbation of Multiple sclerosis (MS). It
had accompanied with blurred vision, numbness in the face as well as electric shock when he
tries to move his head or neck. The electric shock is seen to travel through his legs and back that
is affecting his gait and movement. These are affecting his daily activities like showering,
cooking as well as dressing difficult for him. He is quite concerned about the loss of his abilities
as he stays alone and is no one to help him in such situations.
The disorder of Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be explained as the potentially disabling
disorder of the brain as well as the spinal cord. In this disorder, the immune system of the
patients are seen are seen to attack the protective sheath called the myelin and this causes

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NURSING THEORIES
communication issues between the different parts of the body and the brain. This results in the
deterioration of the condition of the nerves or might also be permanently damaged. Signs and
symptoms of the disorder mainly depend on the intensity and the extent of the damage that had
taken place in the nervous systems (Rahn et al., 2018). The symptoms that the patient named
Dinh is experiencing totally correlates with the symptoms of the multiple sclerosis as is found
from the different evidences based studies. Patients suffering from Multiple sclerosis (MS) is
seen to experience numbness as well as weakness in one or more limbs that are mainly seen to
occur at one side of the body at a time or also in the legs and the trunk. The patient in the case
study has stated of his issues he faces in his legs that had resulted him in suffering from mobility
issues. Loss of vision also takes place in the disorder and the patient also experiences blurry
vision showing that Multiple sclerosis (MS) in affecting him intensely. The patient feels electric
sensations during neck movements especially during the time of bending and Dinh complains of
similar issues. The patient is seen to live alone and suffers from grief and loneliness after the
death of his wife. He is facing isolation from the rest of the society due to the conditions of
impaired mobility and blurred visions (Moss-Marris et al., 2016). As a result, there is a high
chance that long periods of grief and isolation might make him depressed. Financial constraints
are also seen to occur as he downs not have enough money required for quality living. Poor
mental health condition would contribute to further worsening of not only his physical health but
also affect the quality of his life. Third, he is not being able to conduct the daily activities of his
life in a smooth fashion. Restricted ability of his movements has created a barrier in cooking,
showering as well as dressing difficult. He is facing difficulty in bending and tying his shoe
knots as well. This might affect his regular diet and timing of the diet, as he might not be able to
cook food and eat them in correct amount and right time (Reen, Silber & Langdon, 2017). As he