Health Care: The Problem with the Highest Priority

Case Scenario
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Case Scenario
Question 1: The Problem with the Highest Priority when Planning for Mr. Brown’s Care
Of the listed problems, the highest priority would be given to the decreased levels of consciousness. The major reason for this is that the other problems such as altered serum potassium, dehydration, altered blood glucose level and paresthesia and paralysis can be managed once the patient is fully conscious and aware of the things that are going on around him. From the objective data, it is seen that the patient had been drowsy, implying that the operation procedure must have made the situation worse, leading to decreased levels of consciousness.
According to Puggina et al (2012), nursing care of patients with problems of decreased levels of consciousnessshould be particular and specific for various reasons such as the difficulties in diagnosis and the lack of demonstration of consciousness.It is important to keep the patient conscious for the purposes of communication. The altered states of consciousness may be inclusive of conditions that are normal and paranormal in nature.In most cases, the decreased levels of consciousness is as a result of decreased blood flow. In Mr. Brown’s case, the severe leg pain in his anterior right lower part of the leg, as a presumed result of claudication, is the most likely cause of the temporary loss of consciousness. The decreased serum potassium level may be taken care of thereafter since it was reported in the objective data. Includingthe management of the decreased levels of serum potassium, as a subsequent priority in the patient report sheet, will line it up for attention from the doctor.
The other reason for prioritizing the decreased levels of consciousness is based on the patient’s past medical history. As reported, Mr. Brown had previously suffered from Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome. This is a medical emergency, resulting as a complication of type 2 diabetes that is most frequently seen in adults of Mr. Brown’s age who have diabetes. As reported after the operation procedure, Mr. Brown became dehydrated. This is as a result of extremely high blood glucose levels and increased viscosity of the blood. The patient is therefore at risk of intravascular clotting, clots in the blood vessels and strokes because of the Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome. Additionally, the patient has shown some of the vital symptoms of the disease, most importantly decreased consciousness. Should he continue being in this state, he is at risk of falling into a coma.
The reason that the problem of altered serum potassium level was not prioritized over the decreased level of consciousness is that electrolyte imbalances are a common problem in elderly people. In its nature, the immediate cause of the altered serum potassium level is usually clinically apparent...