a nursing case study

[nannanbear]

Hello guys, I am doing a case study, but I am in trouble because I am not quiet sure what's nursing priorities for my patient, hopefully you guys can help me, thanks:

Kate Williams is a 36 year old lady admitted to the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident. In the accident she sustained multiple lacerations and a fractured right femur which required surgical repair. She also had extensive suturing to her lacerations.

Kate was transferred after surgery to an orthopaedic ward and since admission has presented with low mood, poor appetite and early morning wakening. She is tearful a lot of the time and has revealed to the nurse that she recently lost her job because she was having difficulty concentrating. Her relationship has broken down and she is experiencing financial difficulties. She tells the nurse that: "my family would be better off without me" and "I am a failure and there is nothing in my life that gives me a sense of enjoyment".

She reports a three month history of low mood, worsening anxiety that is particularly bad early in the morning. "I wake at three in the morning and I can't get back to sleep. My thoughts torment me." She reports having a decreased level of energy and tells the nurse "I feel so hopeless that it is no longer worth living". She reports increased alcohol use (up to 2 bottles of wine per day) but denies illicit drug use. She is a smoker (up to 30 cigarettes a day). She has no physical problems apart from those resulting from the motor vehicle accident.

Kate's medical file indicates two admissions to the emergency department with an overdose over the past 2 years. The family history is positive for depression in her paternal grandfather and great grandfather and her uncle committed suicide about 10 years ago.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

You posted this in two places. Please don't do that. The mods will combine the two, though.