It Is Your Knowledge Judgment And Prioritization Which Is Being Assessed: Nursing Assignment, UOL, Ireland

It is your knowledge, judgment, and prioritization which is being assessed.  Content and quality are key.

Suggestions for the ordering of your work

Step 1 – Thinking about your case

Complete the ‘essential case description’ document on word first to help guide your thoughts.  The case needs to be interesting and applicable to making your learning on the module (and in relation to assessing and managing physical problems) visible.  Some of your choices have been limited to ensure you create an appropriate case.  You need to refer to a cancer diagnosis either present or past also.  Only include the relevant parts in your case description.  This takes time to complete.  When you are happy with your case description…you can copy the parts and paste them into your ‘reflect’ portfolio section

Step 2 Applying your learning on the module to the case

Here, you need to show how you would assess and manage this patient in 1500 words.  You have learned a lot from this module…the idea is to ensure you can make your learning evident in your essay.  You can start it on a word document and transfer it to loop reflect, or enter it directly into reflecting…whatever suits you.

Firstly – state what the presenting complaint is…i.e. what is the patient admitted with.  Then include your learning as you write.  My key tip for you is to verbalize what you would do if you were to meet this patient in real life and make a note of what you say and the order in which you say you would do things.

For example – You learned….The situation, Story, Symptoms, and Signs is a broad way to look at the ‘Assessment’ part of the nursing process.  Knowing this will help you structure your assessment.

Within Situation

You have learned that ABCDEfG is needed for every patient (so make sure this is first). Here you look at all aspects of the primary survey (including vital signs) etc. Break this down and ensure you address each of the letters as they apply.  If there are immediate problems in any of these issues – ensure you state what you would do about it.  Don’t forget – issues of Circulation can also include fluid balance-related things which you learned too.  Disability- neurological status etc.  Any application/reference to Cancer can be referred to here.

Within Story

This is the info you obtain from the patient and their medical history. This is where you have a dialogue with the patient, and your opportunity to reassure and encourage (Psychological and Sociological) the patient. Even stating you would ask the patient their story as well as checking this is good and shows your understanding here.  Perhaps psychological issues relating to diagnosis/cancer diagnosis are potentially relevant here….

Symptoms: This is what the patient is experiencing. List the symptoms the patient is experiencing. Utilize OLD CART or OPQRST when assessing these. If the patient is in pain, you can also use particular pain assessments as relevant.  Other symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness etc. etc. are added here if not already mentioned.

Signs: This is what you can see and are additional things you can look out for in your head-to-toe assessment and has not been covered elsewhere already.  Stuff like facial drooping, skin turgor, unbalanced gait, cachexia, sarcopenia, unkemptness, poor hygiene, nail clubbing, oral problems, limb issues, etc. can be included here.  Nutritional (MUST) assessments, oral assessments using BRUSHED, Limb assessment using CMST, etc can also be included here.

You will need to intersperse your work with supporting evidence from reputable sources (i.e. journals and books (avoid low-quality online sources if possible).

Important note.  This is a guideline, and as I said before, what you have learned on the module is about a toolbox of resources you choose to use where relevant.  Some will be more relevant depending on your case.

Ensure you have an accurate reference list at the end of the assignment.

Step 3 – evidence of additional learning and nursing/living through the Covid-19 pandemic

The purpose of this section is to provide space to add your evidence of the HSEland and First2act courses you have undertaken along with giving you space to express your reflection on your experience of Covid.  You can do this at any time and it shouldn’t take long to complete.  You just need to speak in the first person and just say what you feel needs to be said here.  This can be written in your own words.

I hope you find this guideline useful and wish you the best of luck in your educational endeavor.