The Lewis Blackman Story

Lewis Blackman
Institution
Course Number and Name
Instructor’s Name
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Part One
1 Why does Helen Haskell start her story by talking about Lewis?
Helen Haskell starts to talk about her son to let people know what a promising son he was and the profound pain his demise caused her and her husband (QSEN, n.d.). This is especially so because he died as a result of errors committed by caregivers.
2 What is Ketorolac (indications, side effects, normal dosages for 15 year old, risks and benefits)?
Ketorolac is a drug used for short-term pain relief of moderately severe pain, usually after surgery. Its side effects include headache, dizziness, and constipation, among others (MedlinePlus, n.d.). The drug is a tablet and is taken every 4 to 6 hours on a schedule. One of the benefits is that it relieves pain after surgery. On the flip side, the drug can cause kidney failure.
3 What was the significance of lack of urine output (to underlying problem, amount of Ketorolac, and need for fluids)?
The lack of urine output indicated that the boy did not have enough fluids in his body. Since Ketorolac causes renal toxicity, the nurses should have prescribed enough fluids.
4 What are possible reasons why health care providers dismissed implications of undetectable blood pressure? Why would they think it was equipment failure?
Most probably, healthcare providers dismissed the implication of undetectable blood pressure because the boy had no health complications before the elective surgery
5 Do you agree that it was significant that Lewis’s crises developed on the weekend? Explain why or why not.
No, I do not agree because many health facilities ensure the provision adequate staffing regardless of the time of the week. This was just a case of negligence that could occur any day.
6 Lewis died from septic shock. Describe the incidence, signs/symptoms, and appropriate interventions for this problem.
Septic shock occurs when blood pressure drops to dangerous levels. Lewis went into cardiac arrest after attempts to detect his undetectable blood pressure. One appropriate intervention is resuscitation, which in Lewis’ case was delayed.
Part Two
1 Create a list of the characteristics Helen Haskell ascribes to a “good” or professional nurse/physician.
* According to Haskell, nurses need training and orientation on how to handle emergencies (QSEN, n.d.).
* They should also have the skills to identify and deal with side effects.
* Similarly, they should exhibit goal-oriented behavior.
2 When Helen Haskell says “patients need to be empowered and nurses need to embrace it”, how do you react to her suggestion?
I agree with her that patients should be allowed to question the kind of treatment nurses administer to them. In this regard, nurses must provide them with accurate and vital information.
3 What does Helen Haskell mean by “misplaced professionalism”?
She uses the term to refer to nurses, especially young and inadequately trained nurses, not knowing what to do or believing there is little they can do.
4 In her story, did you think of other examples of “misplaced professionalism”?
Th...