Anatomy & Physiology: Care Planning for COPD Patients

This report focuses on care planning for patients diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It begins with an introduction to care planning and defines COPD, highlighting its progressive and irreversible nature. The report then delves into interpreting normal and abnormal physiological measurements, using a case study of a 60-year-old patient with breathing difficulties. It examines symptoms, diagnostic findings (including vital signs and oxygen saturation), and the importance of early intervention. The report also includes a risk assessment to minimize harm, discussing factors such as tobacco smoke, air pollution, occupational hazards, and infections. Furthermore, the report details a nursing care plan, outlining interventions such as patient positioning, fluid intake, airway management, and respiratory support. Each intervention is accompanied by a rationale. Finally, the report assesses the effectiveness of the nursing care plan in improving the patient's breathing patterns and overall health. This report is a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of COPD care and implementing effective patient management strategies.

Care Planning
and
Evaluation
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................1
P4 Interpret normal and abnormal physiological measurements for an individual with ill-
health in own workplace setting..................................................................................................1
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................3
P5 Risk assessment to minimise harm for health........................................................................3
P6 Nursing care plan...................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
A care planning is defined as a process where a care plan for a patients has to be prepared
by nursing care individuals. This is the procedure of formal decision making about future care
that of patients. Chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease is considered as a progressive lung
disease which includes emphysema, chronic Bronchitis and refractory asthma which cannot be
reversed (Baron, Hodgson and Walshe, 2015). This report is based on Anatomy and physiology
for health and ill health. While working on this report, it will cover and investigate how
physiological measurement in the body is affected by ill health. Also this report will help in
preparing plan care for individual through which they will be able to reduce the risk of ill health.
LO 3
P4 Interpret normal and abnormal physiological measurements for an individual with ill-health in
own workplace setting.
Health is defined as a state where the complete physical, mental and social well being in
a person is considered. Also where there is merely the absence of disease in the body. Being
healthy is considered as one of the most vital part for human beings. This is defines as the ability
of human being to adapt and manage physical mental and social challenges throughout the life.
This has been seen that the meaning of health has been changed over time as in the early years
being healthy meant that if body is able to function properly or not. But now a days it is
considered as well being of physical, mental and social health care (Blumenthal, Abrams and
Nuzum, 2015). As in the today's world it is seen that there are various disease which are
occurring in human body and are making it vary critical to be cured so one should take various
precautionary measures to avoid these diseases. One such disease that arise in a patient who is 60
years old and is having a problem of breathing. While diagnosing it was found that she was
suffering from Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). This disease is the third most
leading cause of death in people of UK. This is defined as the disease which is progressive,
irreversible and inflammatory disease to the lungs of human body which makes it very hard to
breathe.
There are some common symptoms that occurs in the people who may be suffered by
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which includes some chronic cough, wheezing,
production of phlegm, shortening of breath and feeling certain tightness in chest. These are the
1

symptoms that are seen in the later stages of the patients. As it is seen that this disease is not
curable but it can be prevented from being occurring and can also be treated. So it is important to
start the treatment as early as possible so that it can be treated in better manner and patients can
be live their life for more years.
In the given case of patient that is being examined for the purpose was affected by this
disease. The symptoms of this disease in her was examined around 1 year ago and it got
progressively worsened with associated and aggravating and relieving factors that were noted. It
was noticed that she has been in the BiPAP ventilator system in the nights which helped her to
breath. As further investigated it was seen that she was having bad difficulty in breathing,
forgetfulness, she was feeling chilled and was having swelling in her bilateral lower extremities
which was worsening day by day. On physically examining it was seen that the temperature of
her human body was 97.3F , heart rate was 74bpm, respiratory rate at 24, BP was at 103/53, BMI
40.2 and oxygen saturation in body was around 90% on room. From this it was seen that there
was no respiratory distress which is shown from the report but certain tachypnea present there,
also some wheezing noted in this, there was decreased also a decreased air movement that was
founded from her report (Gazarian And et. al., 2018).
It has been seen that the diagnosis of this disease should start at the earlier stage. There
are various actions that are to be taken so as to improve breathing and cure treatment with
COPD. There are various ways to cure it which includes pursed lip breathing, drinking of plenty
water and exercising the exercise which increases the oxygen portion in the body. These steps
will help in curing the disease well. Also various medicines and inhalers are given which helps
them to open the airways in the pipe of lungs which helps in increasing the air flow to lungs.
Various antibiotics are given to treat respiratory infections. When the disease increases and it
goes to chronic stage then it is recommended to take a surgery or lung transplant so that it would
help in improving the lung function (Doenges, Moorhouse and Murr, 2016).
Though it has been seen that COPD is chronic disease which cannot be treated to its
fullest but by using certain treatment procedures its impact on body can be lowered. So as in the
case of patient which was considered above it is seen that she was able to get treated successfully
and was able to live her life for longer time spam.
2

LO 4
P5 Risk assessment to minimise harm for health
The chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) can be considered as group of lung
diseases which are responsible for causing airflow blockage and make it difficult to breathe for
an individual. As per case study, the given female patient indicates symptoms of COPD and
related risk factors which are required to be prevented by determining them appropriately.
However, there are several risk factors that are associated with COPD in which some of them are
explained further –
Tobacco smoke – The major risk of COPD is smoking which is responsible for causing
around 90% of deaths in case of patients having problem of COPD. It consist the fact that if an
individual smoke are 13 times more likely to die from COPD as compared to those who never
smoked respectively. However, the habit of smoking may cause further complications in diseases
as the pipe and cigar smokers are at risk (Grundy And et. al., 2017). Additionally, the second
hand smokers which include smoke from burning tobacco and exhaled by person smoking
because exposure to such smokes are also increase risk of COPD.
Air pollution – This include the different types of pollutants that cause problem of
COPD which can be divided into indoor and outdoor factors. However, indoor pollutants
consists smoke of solid fuel use for cooking & heating, poorly ventilated wood stoves, burning
biomass or coal and coking with fire (White, Dudley-Brown and Terhaar, 2016). Moreover,
outdoor elements involve environmental pollution generated by vehicles, chimneys of factories
and dust particles in air. Furthermore, both indoor and outdoor factors contribute to occurrence
of COPD.
Occupational dust and chemicals – The people working in laboratories and mines for
extracting of various metals and chemicals which facilitate regular exposure which may cause
problem of COPD. However, the employees working in manufacturing areas of fumes and gases
will also get daily exposure which may create problem of breathing (Issel and Wells, 2017). In
addition to this, people exposed to dust & chemical vapours such as grain handlers, metal
moulders and coal miners contains higher likelihood for developing problem of COPD.
Infections – The severe childhood infections related to respiratory system may put at risk
as they are responsible for occurrence of COPD. However, the problem of tuberculosis may take
3

place in addition to COPD and people suffering from HIV virus are also at risk in context of
gaining speed to develop the problem of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder accordingly.
P6 Nursing care plan
As per case study, the old lady of age 60 years suffering from chronic obstructive
pulmonary disorder (COPD) as per symptoms shown by her. It consist shortness of breathe along
with several other signs which reflects about problem of COPD which is required to be
diagnosed and provide proper treatment to make patient healthy. However, the major symptoms
faced by her consist cough, wheezing, production of phlegm, shortening of breath and feeling
certain tightness in chest (Kezirian And et. al., 2019). It is necessary to establish an effective
nursing care plan with COPD including the treatment of regimen in order to provide relief to an
individual from present symptoms along with preventing related complications respectively. The
effective nursing care plan applicable for given case scenario is given below.
Nursing plan
Nursing Interventions Rationale
Initially, it is essential to place sick individual
in a position of semi- fowlers.
It will facilitate to have a maximum expansion
of lungs.
Secondly, it is necessary to boost up intake of
fluids as applicable.
It is helpful to liquefy the secretions.
Thirdly, it is significant to keep back of patient
dry.
It will provide support to avoid stasis of
secretions as well as further complicated
situations.
However, it is required to change position of
sick individual within period of every two
hours.
It will facilitate the secretion drainage as well
as movement.
Moreover, conduct CPT. It will results into loosen of secretion.
Meanwhile, it is need to place a pillow at the
time of sleeping of patient (Rabow And et. al.,
2019).
It is helpful to render an adequate expansion of
lungs at the time of sleeping.
Additionally, it is necessary to provide It will render help to promote physiological
4

instructions regarding to splint the chest wall
along with a pillow for comfort of patient at
the time of coughing and elevation of head
over body in proper manner.
ease of maximal inspiration.
Furthermore, it is required to maintain pathway
and suctioning of secretions can be done as per
needs.
It is significant to remove secretions which are
responsible for obstructing the air pathway.
It is important provide respiratory support
through providing oxygen according to
prescription go physician (Thomas, Lobo and
Detering, 2017).
It will helpful to aid for patient to fain relief
from dyspnoea.
Finally, it is essential to administer the
prescribed cough suppressants, analgesics
along with remain cautious as the opioids may
depress respirations more than desired
accordingly.
It will provide support for promoting deeper
respirations as well as cough.
Effectiveness of care plan
The above nursing care plan is beneficial for given patient suffering from COPD because
it will facilitate to solve problem of ineffective breathing pattern RT retained secretions. It
consist the given nursing interventions with their rationale in order to gain desired benefits
respectively. However, these interventions are required to be carried out step-by-step in terms of
improving health condition of sick female patient and make her relief from the present symptoms
in proper manner. Moreover, these interventions with their significance are much efficient for
achieving set outcomes such as improving breathing patterns and maintain respiratory rate within
normal limits (Uberoi, Finegol dand Gee, 2016). Nursing plan is much effective as it is helpful
for nursing staff to conduct treatment process in correct direction with appropriate sequence of
steps which provide support to attain set outcomes of nursing plan. In addition to this, it is
beneficial to to improve ventilation and gain sufficient amount of oxygen for tissue of body.
5

There are several priorities of nurse i.e. to maintain patency of airway and facilitate proper
gaseous exchange by improving intake of nutritional food supplements in correct manner.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been summarised that COPD is one of the main disease that
occurs in the human body and due to which humans are not able to sufficiently breath. Being
healthy is the main key term form humans so as to live for long long years. Also for caring the
patients and it is important for health care providers to take sufficient actions through which they
would be able to reduce the risk of being unhealthy. A risk assessment plan is important which
helps in minimising the risk that is associated with the disease. It consist several risk factor
related to COPD such as tobacco smoke air, pollution, occupational dust & chemicals. Also a
person centred care plan would help in achieving the result of curing and improving an
individuals ill health.
6

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baron, K., Hodgson, A. and Walshe, C., 2015. Evaluation of an advance care planning education
programme for nursing homes: a longitudinal study. Nurse education today. 35(5).
pp.689-695.
Blumenthal, D., Abrams, M. and Nuzum, R., 2015. The affordable care act at 5 years.
Doenges, M. E., Moorhouse, M. F. and Murr, A. C., 2016. Nursing diagnosis manual: planning,
individualizing, and documenting client care. FA Davis.
Gazarian, P. K. And et. al., 2018. A systematic evaluation of advance care planning patient
educational resources. Geriatric Nursing.
Grundy, A. C. And et. al., 2017. Evaluation of a co‐delivered training package for community
mental health professionals on service user‐and carer‐involved care planning. Journal of
psychiatric and mental health nursing. 24(6). pp. 358-366.
Issel, L. M. and Wells, R., 2017. Health program planning and evaluation. Jones & Bartlett
Learning.
Kezirian, A. C. And et. al., 2019. Advance Care Planning in the Nursing Home Setting: A
Practice Improvement Evaluation. Journal of social work in end-of-life & palliative
care.
Rabow, M. W. And et. al., 2019. Advance care planning in community: an evaluation of a pilot
2-Session, nurse-led workshop. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative
Medicine®. 36(2). pp. 143-146.
Thomas, K., Lobo, B. and Detering, K. eds., 2017. Advance care planning in end of life care.
Oxford University Press.
Uberoi, N., Finegold, K. and Gee, E., 2016. Health insurance coverage and the Affordable Care
Act, 2010-2016. Washington (DC): Department of Health and Human Services, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
White, K. M., Dudley-Brown, S. and Terhaar, M. F. Eds., 2016. Translation of evidence into
nursing and health care. Springer Publishing Company.
Online
Risk for COPD. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.healthline.com/health/copd/risk-factors>
7