Clinical Situation Reflection: Analysis of Ms. Pandey's MS Case

This report presents a reflection on a clinical situation involving a 40-year-old woman, Ms. Pandey, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who is experiencing an exacerbation. The author utilizes Driscoll's reflection cycle to analyze the experience of providing care, focusing on symptoms like decreased muscle weakness, swallowing difficulties, and vision problems. The report highlights the importance of managing activities of daily living (ADL) for patients with MS and addresses the challenges related to bladder/bowel changes and limb sensations. The author also discusses the emotional and physical vulnerabilities of the patient, emphasizing the need for comprehensive care. The reflection covers the practical aspects of assisting the patient with daily tasks, administering medication, and providing emotional support. The author concludes by emphasizing how this clinical experience improved their skills and courage, and prepared them for future clinical situations involving similar cases. References to support the analysis are provided, including studies on MS diagnosis and management, as well as the use of hydrocortisone therapy.

Running Head: REFLECTION OF A CLINICAL SITUATION 1
Reflection of a Clinical Situation
Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Reflection of a Clinical Situation
Healthcare is a vital aspect of human health, and different clinical situations tend to be
treated differently. Clinical skills are put in place to help me prepare physically, mentally and
emotionally for the working experience that is ahead of me. Clinical situations expose me on
how we can handle various incidents and how to react or behave in different situations within my
areas of expertise (Driscoll, 2007). Ms. Pandey has diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis five years
ago and has now been admitted to the hospital with an exacerbation of Multiple Sclerosis. I am
going to use Driscoll's (2007) reflection cycle to help me explore and analyze the concepts I
learned when dealing with Ms. Pandey’s clinical situation.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition which interferes with a person’s central nerves
system. Exacerbation of Multiple Sclerosis is when the person with MS develops old or new
symptoms that worsen the condition of the person. MS Pandey is a 40-year-old woman who is
having an exacerbation of MS, her condition is worsening, her health is not good and at the
moment she cannot do most of the things like taking care of herself because of the adverse
symptoms she is experiencing as a result of an exacerbation of Multiple Sclerosis.
According to MS Pandey’s past medical history, and the condition at the moment it
seems like she is experiencing symptoms related to Exacerbation of Multiple Sclerosis. These
symptoms include; general decreased muscle weakness, decreased swallowing and hypothermia,
these conditions can cause serious problems in relation to the person’s health (Leary, Porter &
Thompson, 2005). MS Pandey has diagnosed 5 years ago with Multiple Sclerosis, but she did not
experience any symptoms at this time but it shows that she had asthma. Asthma is a prevalent
condition among patients with MS meaning by the time she was diagnosed she already had
asthma. MS Pandey did not do checkup and follow-ups to see if her condition was worsening or

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getting better. MS Pandey has been hospitalized for a high dose of hydrocortisone therapy,
clearly indicating that her conditions are not so good (Ontaneda, & Rae-Grant, 2009). I know
that MS Pandey is not in a position to do most of the things herself because she is experiencing
some of the common symptoms of MS, she indeed needs help to manage activities of daily living
(ADL).
The fact that she has a problem with her vision indicates that she can barely see clearly
means, she needs help to read the doctor written prescriptions. She has a problem in swallowing,
this requires a lot of care because if not taken seriously the patient may develop aspiration
pneumonia which is the leading causes of death in MS. MS Pandey, needs to water frequently
and or urgently because of the bladder/bowel changes, but at the same time, she is experiencing
limb sensational changes making it difficult for her to move from one point to another. This is
another reason as to why she needs my help to make sure that she does her ADL without
straining. With the pain and emotional conditions that MS Pandey is experiencing it is not
possible for her to take care of her family at this point because she is so vulnerable and weak, all
she needs is an absolute and total care (Steelman, 2015). Basically, I have been helping MS
Pandey in terms of washing her, giving her drugs, and feeding her among other things. This
experience has given me a worldview of how to take care of any clinical situation that requires
my assistance.
Taking care of people like MS Pandey requires a lot of caution and monitoring. Dealing
with patients of MS has given me a worldview on how to deal with patients with MS. helping
people with ADL is not that easy it requires more skills, dedication, and perseverance. This
practice of clinical situation helped me deal with my fear and built my courage level, which will
help me in future to deal with cases like MS Pandey's’ and related clinical situations.

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References
Driscoll, J. (2007). Practising Clinical Supervision: a reflective approach for healthcare
professionals, (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: BailliereTindall.
Leary, S. M., Porter, B., & Thompson, A. J. (2005). Multiple sclerosis: diagnosis and the
management of acute relapses. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 81(955), 302-308.
Ontaneda, D., & Rae-Grant, A. D. (2009). Management of acute exacerbations in multiple
sclerosis. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 12(4), 264.
Steelman, A. J. (2015). Infection as an environmental trigger of multiple sclerosis disease
exacerbation. Frontiers in immunology, 6.