ASET Assessment: Strength-Based Nursing in Rural Emergency Care

This report analyzes an Aged Care Services in Emergency Team (ASET) nurse's interview with a patient, Max, in a rural hospital, evaluating age-related physiological changes, strength-based nursing assessment, and relevant theories. It identifies the impact of age-related changes on communication and care, highlighting how the nurse adapted her approach to accommodate Max's potential hearing and vision impairments. The assessment also critiques the nurse's approach, noting missed opportunities in falls risk assessment, medication review, alcohol consumption evaluation, and mental health assessment, suggesting tools like the FROP-Com and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) for improved care. Furthermore, the report explores strength-based nursing principles, using the ROPES model to identify Max's strengths and potential areas for support. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of small interventions and comprehensive assessments in enhancing the quality of life for older adults.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT 1
Nursing Assignment
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Introduction (150)
This paper will analyze and evaluate an Aged Care Services in Emergency Team (ASET)
nurse interviewing Max who is a patient in a rural hospital emergency department (The Division
of Student Learning, 2017). Furthermore, it also discuss the impact of age-related physiological
changes and how this effects, strength-based nursing assessment, and theories. Supporting this
assessment is the identification of four relevant assessment tools and how they could have been
utilized to provide optimal care and reduce re-admissions to the health facilities. The conclusion
of this report will investigate what strength based nursing is and how the principles during the
ASET enabled Max to solve problem and take control of his own care decisions. (Devitt, 2018)
Question: Person-centered communication with an older person (400)
Person-centered communication comprises of many facets and is a complex skill that
needs to be adaptable to any situation. Patient-centered communication defined by BMJ open
journal publication is "verbal, para-verbal and non-verbal communication” (Hafskjold et al.,
2015, p. 2). The conversation starts with first impressions, building rapport, establishing a
therapeutic relationship and showing empathy. Robyn, on entering the room introduces herself
and explains the role of the ASET followed by gaining permission to take a seat and ask a few
questions. Max initially had a solid understanding of who Robyn was, and the role and reasoning
behind her assessment with appropriate tone and language which was clear and concise.
What should have been established right from the beginning of the assessment was if
Max had any hearing or vision impairment. Conversely, Max had left glasses on the bedside
table; this was a clue to the patient potentially having vision impairment. Max's visual
impairment is likely to be contributed to age-related physiological changes. These changes cause
visual impairment through the reduction of pupil size and reaction to light, reduction in tear

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production, and loss of peripheral vision (Heiting, 2018, p. 260). Robyn overcame this challenge
immediately by sitting close to max and in an almost direct line of sight. This was not the only
aged related change that was defeated by Robyn at the beginning of the assessment.
Communication from the very beginning of the evaluation could have been obscured or
miss construed or even lost if Max was unable to hear adequately. The ability to listen
sufficiently is associated with the narrowing of the ear canal, structural changes in the pinna and
reduced hairs in the cochlea diminish sound transmission to the eardrum (Bernoth, 2017). Robyn
un-intentionally from the beginning used alternative communication methods to strength her
assessment. This can be seen as non-verbal communication, using hand gestures and providing
visual descriptions to enable Max to understand what was being said (Guest, 2016, p.36). This
was evident when explaining to max the process of sitting to standing from his armchair. This
visual aid may have enabled Max to gain further more of an understanding of what was being
explained.
It was identified that Robyn used the SOLAR model of non-verbal communication. This
is defined as “sit squarely, maintain an open position, lean slightly towards the patient, maintain
reasonable eye contact and relax” (Guest, 2016, p. 36). It was this SOLAR model from the
beginning of the assessment that enabled Max to understand Robyn and partake in the
conversation about his care. It was this model of care that enabled Robyn to understand Max as a
unique individual and “respect his values, preferences” (Delbanco & Gerteis, 2018, p. 2).
Question 2: The process of assessment of the older man in the video (400)
During the ASET assessment, Robyn disregards facets of the evaluation and or fails to
continue to question for further information. These areas include; falls risk assessments
medication reviews, alcohol consumption, and mental health assessment. Max at the start of the

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assessment express’s the knee replacement has been a “slow process, due to complications and
swelling” (The Division of Student Learning, 2017). Robyn should have reviewed this area to
decipher what the possible cause of swelling and reduced wound healing could be related to.
Max explained that he did not have any shower, toilet chair or walking aids. Evidence shows the
elevation of a postoperative limb and appropriate aids will benefit recovery rate by reducing
swelling, infection risk by increasing distal perfusion and reducing the risk of deep vein
thrombosis.(quote)
Robyn should have implemented a falls risk screening assessment to asses Max’s
mobility history and need for assistance with activities of daily living. By doing a falls risk
assessment, Robyn would have inadvertently taken an additional account that would have been
vital for this assessment.
According to Robson (2018) a falls risk assessment is a plan which is individualized,
recognizing key risk factors (P. 386). The “Falls Risk for Older People – Community Setting
(FROP-Com)” developed by the National Aging research institute would be an ideal assessment
tool (Robson, 2018, p. 387). The FROP-Com consists of 13 risk areas, developed for use in the
community setting. The FROP-Com looks at falls history, medications, sensory loss, foot wear,
cognition, continence and nutrition, environment, and functional behavior. In conclusion Robyn
would have had management and referral options for multi-disciplinary areas once completed.
If a falls risk were done, it would have led to a review of Max’s medications. Max
explained “I did not forget as I have my wife who happens to be a nurse” (The Division of
Student Learning, 2017). Postoperative medication such as pain relief is often given to ease pain
and swelling, in-turn increasing the person’s ability to mobilize. Pain management medications
such as opioid derived depress the respiratory and central nervous system by suppressing the

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neural transmitters, thus increasing the falls risk. When coupled with Max’s own medication it
will affect absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the medication (QUOTE).
Robyn, establishes that Max’s alcohol consumption as, three sometimes four alcoholic
drinks per day for most of his life. The alcohol and drug foundation guidelines state; “that
reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm over a lifetime, you should drink no more than 2
standard drinks on any given day” (Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2017., para. 6). Alcohol
withdrawal symptoms l can start approximately six to twelve hours post last drink
Early recognition coupled with clinical and critical thinking of the registered nurse would
be able to recognize withdrawals symptoms of mild to severe such as “perspiration, tremors,
anxiety, agitation, axilla temperature, hallucinations and orientation” (Canberra Hospital and
Health Services: Health Directorate, 2017, p. 8). Clear evidence between alcohol intake of more
than three standard drinks and postoperative complications such as infections and bleeding at
surgery site has been reported. Thus intervention and clinical documentation on an alcohol
withdrawal scale (AWS) should have been commenced (Oppedal, Moller, Pederson & Tonnesen,
2012).
Robyn, slightly touched on Max’s mental state asking what his mood was like. Max’s
stated he suffered from depression and explained that he is “not socially active” (The Division of
Student Learning, 2017). Robyn could have implemented The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-
15), comprising of 15 questions to establish what Max’s mood is like now and a risk of a mental
health crisis. The GDS-15 evaluates Max who lives in a rural area with potential little support
networks and three children who live a considerable distance away.
Max has a polypharmacy issue with possible antibiotics, pain medication which has the
potential to increase the risk of a mental health crisis (Macmillan & Gardner, 2018). The GDS-

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15 would also provide great clarity to areas of Max life that he may wish to seek additional social
support and networking groups. The GDS-15 can also be used as supporting documental and
evidence for further referrals and consultation.
Question 3: Strength-based assessment (400)
Strength-based nursing assessments have been developed to draw attention to the person
being able to see their abilities (Moyle, 2014, p. 41). This works on eight core based values;
“uniqueness, health & healing, self-determination, holism & embodiment, subjective reality &
created meaning, person & environment, learning & timing & readiness and collaborative
partnership” (Gottlieb, 2014, pp. 24-32). The ROPES assessment model has identified some
strengths of Max, however greater details could have been gained.
Robyn established that Max had a wife living with him and three sons who live interstate.
There was an assumption that was prompted by Robyn that support could be gained from the
sons if required. Social environment was identified as limited by Max stating “not social” (The
Division of Student Learning, 2017). Max displayed a little emphasis on choice or what services
had been tried. Robyn as a registered nurse should have been able to provide evidence-based
interventions and service for Max such as recovery and physiotherapy support services (Active
Recovery, 2014).
Max expressed is enjoyment for individual creativity through woodwork and personal
interest of the Australian Stock exchange. Robyn was very short with her answers of “yep, good,
ok” however failed to investigate if Max had any thoughts for any additional creative hobbies
and potentially provided support and guidance to foster Max’s self-determination.

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Robyn’s questioning about Max and his activities of daily living were basic but did offer a brief
list of what max is responsible for within the household. Robyn failed to establish if Max
required assistance or support while recovering from surgery as it was identified that he was
responsible for shopping, cooking, bins and mowing the lawns. If this area were discussed,
Robyn would have had a significant lead into detecting if there were areas of his life that were
providing him success or regions requiring the collaborative partnership of community service
and self-determination. By following the above suggestions Robyn could have given resource,
options, possibilities, exceptions & solutions based on the ROPES model of assessment (Moyle,
2014, p. 44).
Conclusion (150)
This paper has critiqued and investigated a comprehensive aged care assessment. It
identified age-related changes associated with the ability to communicate. Empathy, building
rapport, maintaining therapeutic relationships and verbal and non- verbal communication was
recognized to circumvent physiological changes. Accordingly, this critique showed various
assessment tools that could have been utilized to provide greater strength based nursing and
support strategies. Small interventions in an older- person’s life can offer a substantial difference
and support for a more significant life trajectory.

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