A new case study in which a 77 yo white female arrives to the emergency room by taxi with a suspected skull fracture. This topic was suggested by a reader – thank you so much for your ideas – keep them coming! Nurses General Nursing Case Study
Updated:
"I was working in the garden, and I tripped and fell and hit my head. It was so stupid of me to leave my rake lying on the grass. I'm sorry to bother you, but I couldn't get it to stop bleeding. I hope it's not too bad.”
Patient is thin and appears her stated age. She is wearing clothing with frayed edges and there is a stain on her shirt. Her socks are mismatched. She moves slowly and carefully. She holds a bloodstained washcloth to her right temple. She doesn't make eye contact and is restless – she fidgets and keeps folding and unfolding the sheet on the gurney.
Co-tromoxazole = rash
Skin is pale and dry with senile lentigines, poor skin turgor
Dentures present, small abrasion to right upper lip, patient states, "I can't find my glasses.”
Mildly increased chest AP diameter with mild kyphosis
Healing bruise noted on left upper arm
Pain is rated at 7/10 in right temple and 5/10 in her hands and knees. "My arthritis is paining me today.” Upon examination, there appears to be a laceration to the right frontal lobe above the right eye, with a hairline fracture and a small amount of continuous bleeding.
What is going on with this patient besides a fracture?
What labs do you want?
What other diagnostic tests should we run?
Ask me some questions!