Patients with Acute Illness: Impact of Hospitalization and Discharge

This document discusses the potential impact of hospitalization on patients and families, focusing on the stress caused by acute illnesses such as brain cancer. It also explores the importance of a proper discharge plan for patients with acute illness and the role of cognitive behavioral therapists in providing patient-centered care. The case study of Wendy, a patient with brain cancer, is used as an example throughout the document.

Patients with Acute Illness
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Case Study A

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Table of Contents
Question 1: During Hospitalization.................................................................................................2
Part A:..........................................................................................................................................2
Part B:..........................................................................................................................................2
Question 2: During Discharge.........................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................5

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Question 1: During Hospitalization
Part A:
The potential impact of hospitalization on the patient and family is stress. This is due to the
disease of brain cancer that was identified after diagnosing the patient. Stress is considered a
priority because it may cause a severe problem to the patient and family (Ranard et al., 2016). It
needs to be attended in a timely manner because stress can make the patient aggressive, confused
and irritating. In the given case study, Wendy was suffering from brain cancer, and the treatment
of this disease causes severe pain as well as stress to her. Severe pain from the treatment like
chemotherapy make the patient mentally weak and depressed along with reduce nutrients in the
body (Mausbach & Irwin, 2017). Wendy has lost her independence, and she received full-time
care from her husband. There could be several changes in her personality and behavior which
includes memory loss, weakness, irritation, reduce capability in smelling or hearing and nausea
(Matziou et al., 2016). If stress is not attended in a timely manner, then the patient and her family
might have mental health issues like anxiety, depression and other disorders (You et al., 2015).
In the given case study, the brain cancer of Wendy was consistently increasing, which makes her
more forgetful. Her husband was also taking too much stress to sue to the severe disease. She
was recommended to go through respite care, but her family did not believe in respite care and
agreed to shift Wendy to her daughter's house for the rest of her time. Stress can make Wendy's
husband and daughter sick and depressed, and thus, stress needs to be attended to prevent
chronic disorders.
Part B:
One of the appropriate member of inter professional team is cognitive behavioral therapist who
would cooperate as well as collaborate with the doctors and nurses to deliver patient-centered
care. A cognitive behavioral therapists is the one who assist the patients in improving their lives
and enhance better emotional along with cognitive skills. The main role of therapists in a health
care team is to provide support, guidance, accountability and advocacy to the patients (van
Rosse, de Bruijne, Suurmond, Essink-Bot & Wagner, 2016). The therapists from different
professional background work collaborate with the other health care professionals in order to

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deliver highest quality of care to the patients. The primary responsibility of therapists is to reduce
the symptoms or effects of the acute illness.
As integral to the roles and responsibilities of the therapist, he or she could address the impact of
hospitalization in various ways. The therapists being a member of IPT play a critical role in
preventing medical outcomes that may be caused due to brain cancer and stress (Regan,
Laschinger & Wong, 2016). In the given case study, Wendy undergoes a high level of stress
when she heard about euthanasia that causes severe pain while administering. The cognitive
behavioral therapist also assists the family of Wendy in overcoming stress by properly
diagnosing the disorders and counsel them (Sims, Hewitt & Harris, 2015). The therapists also
aids the family member of Wendy to love and accept her and offer emotional along with
cognitive support to reduce the pain (Ranard et al., 2016).
Question 2: During Discharge
Discharge of the patient needs a proper plan in order to ensure safe discharge of the patient after
hospitalization (Cournoyer et al., 2018). In the given case study, Wendy was recommended to go
for respite facility and thus, discharge recommendation should commence after discharge from
the respite facility. Being the part of inter professional team, the nurse addresses the impact of
hospitalization at the time of discharge. The impact of hospitalization on patient and family
members when discharge is unsatisfied and lack of hope (Landeiro, Leal & Gray, 2016). The
impact identified is totally aligned to the chosen case scenario as it was evident from the case
study that Wendy had brain cancer, and the disease has been consistently increasing. She needs
full care and medication to spend her remaining life. Moreover, it was also evident that her brain
cancer had become widely metastatic, that indicates cancer cannot be cured. But metastatic
cancer can be treated through some medication which slows the growth of cancer in the body of
the patient. Hence, the doctor prescribes respite care for Wendy, but her family refuse the
proposal. The information about the incurable cancer cause loss of hope to the family as well as
the patient. They felt unsatisfied with the treatment and discharge plan and decided to provide
home care for the remaining lives of Wendy.
It is strongly recommended to make an effective discharge plan for the patient to address the
impact of discharge on the family members and the patient. Discharge planning refers to the

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process that evaluates the kind of care that the patient needs after leaving the hospital (Knier,
Stichler, Ferber & Catterall, 2015). The plans can help to prevent future readmission to the
hospital and make the patient move to the home facility in a safe manner. It is recommended to
the inter professional team to include various information in the discharge plans such as the place
where the patient is moved after discharge from the hospital, the person who gives care to the
patient and kinds of care required for the patient. The plan must consist of a complete list of all
medications with usage data so that the family members can give the medications properly and
hence, reduce pain caused by the disease.
Through the discharge plan, unsatisfied patient and the family member can get confidence and
raise hope. Ineffective discharge plan may impact the safety of patient care and efficiency of the
hospitals (Landeiro, Leal & Gray, 2016). In the given case, the nurse is required to set an
appropriate discharge plan to safely move Wendy to the home facility and the family can raise
hope that Wendy may live a few years more with them (Nursing and Midwifery Board of
Australia, 2019). The discharge process is an essential part that prepares for continuing care for
the patients (Cournoyer et al., 2018). The team should also provide detailed instructions of
discharge to the family of the patient so that they could not face any difficulty after leaving for
home and giving medication to the patient.

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References
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