NURS5098 CHRONIC ILLNESS MANAGEMENT - CRITICAL REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT HELP

Description of the Experience

Paul (no his real name) was brought at Goodhope Nursing Home on Friday. An hour earlier, a family member had called the hospital emergency number to seek ambulance services to take a patient to the hospital. The patient (Paul) had a history of high blood pressure for five years. When the ambulance arrived at the hospital, the patient was received by the emergency nurse on night duty and sped to rescue another patient on a reported road accident. Paul, 62 years male was brought by his 34 years old daughter (Emily) who had visited after the news of the deteriorating health of her father. According to the information provided by the family, Paul had difficulties walking, experienced speech difficulties, and a dropping face. The nurse took the patient into the emergency room and called a physician.

Paul’s case was treated with the urgency it deserved. The physician and the nurses cooperated effectively to provide the necessary medical treatment. The patient received some anti-blood clotting agents. The doctor described the health concern as an ischemic stroke and injected the patient with a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or alteplase through a vein in the arm. The patient’s condition did not improve and the doctor called for an emergency carotid endarterectomy. The necessary preparations were made and the surgery commences an hour later. However, the patient passed on during the surgery.

Feelings and Thoughts about the Experience

I was present in the treatment of Paul as an assistant nurse on night duty. From the time of his receivership into the emergency room, I had a positive feeling that the patient will respond positively to the treatment. The ambulance unit had provided enough patient data on the situation which helped the emergency unit to commence medication. After the situation ended in the operation room, I was devastated and frustrated that the team failed to rescue the patient. The feeling of hopelessness was evident in every person’s face. I could not stop thinking about Emily and her family. I also felt sorry that the efforts of the healthcare team failed to yield the expected results. I reflected on the process from the time the emergency call was made, the preparation to receive the patient, the urgency of the team in administering the anti-clotting drugs and the eventually failed surgery. It was a disheartening experience for the team. Although it was hard letting go of the situation, I can positively reflect on the best practices that could have saved the life of Paul. Nonetheless, I uphold the teamwork and professionalism showed by my colleagues. Although Emily showed a negative attitude towards the ambulance unit and lamented her frustration by calling our doctors unprofessional, the situation offered an insight on the importance of collaboration and honesty from patients or their families/caregivers.