2.       Augment skills in clinical decision making and reasoning through synthesising and analysing information required to care for a surgical patient

3.       Apply appropriate assessment, problem solving, planning, prioritising of interventions to care for the selected client scenario chosen

4.       Demonstrate the nurse’s role in monitoring and implementing prioritised nursing interventions in response identified patient needs

5.       Demonstrate the ability to communicate specific patient care issues succinctly according to scholarly writing and referencing conventions

RNs use a variety of thinking strategies and the best available evidence in making decisions and providing safe, quality nursing practice within person-centred and evidence-based frameworks.

Standard 4: Comprehensively conducts assessments. RNs accurately conduct comprehensive and systematic assessments. They analyse information and data and communicate outcomes as the basis for practice.

Standard 6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice.

RNs provide and may delegate, quality and ethical goal directed actions. These are based on comprehensive and systematic assessment, and the best available evidence to achieve planned and agreed outcomes.

Standard 7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice.

RNs take responsibility for the evaluation of practice based on agreed priorities, goals, plans and outcomes and revises practice accordingly

(NMBA 2018) Registered Nurse standards of practice Retrieved from: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-GuidelinesStatements/Professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx

1.       Submit via Turnitin

2.       Late submission penalties will apply unless written extensions requests have been approved (see 4.2.4 https://policy.usq.edu.au/documents/14749PL#4.2_Assignments )

3.       Work submitted more than ten (10) University Business Days after the due date without an approved extension will have a Mark of zero (0) recorded.

Weighting:

1. Double Line Spacing
2. Times New Roman, 12 point font
3. Use APA 7th formatting style. The first line of each paragraph is indented. The reference list starts on a new page with the heading References. References are listed alphabetically and have the second and subsequent lines indented)
4. Subheadings are required for each question

1. You are expected to present your assignment in a scholarly fashion i.e. academic writing conventions in essay format

2. Must be written in the format of an academic assignment and in third person.

2. Bullet points, numbering, use of tables or figures are not appropriate in the essay. Bullet points may be used in the care plan template

3. Subheadings are required for each question

4. Reference according to USQ APA 7^th edition

(https://www.usq.edu.au/library/referencing/apa-referencing-guide)

5. Rule of thumb for references: 1 reference per 100 word

7. Use a separate page for references. The reference page is not included in the word count.

8. Use size 12 font and double line spacing

9. Indent the first line of each new paragraph

10. Marking RUBRIC sheet attached as a separate document

11. Academic staff assistance is provided to answer questions but we are not in a position to review drafts – but we will help with clarifying assignment instructions.

Submission information

https://www.usq.edu.au/library/study-support/assignments

Referencing

https://www.usq.edu.au/library/referencing

Pre-operative clinical data

Postoperative clinical data

Sarah returned from theatre at 1700 following an open right hemicolectomy for a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon with lymph node metastasis in two out of 28 dissected lymph nodes.  You are the nurse looking after Sarah on the night shift.  You have arrived on the ward at 2100 and will be looking after Sarah on the night shift.

Your answer will concentrate on the first 24 hours of post-surgical care.

Subheadings are required for each question

1. Provide an INTRODUCTION (approximately 100 words)

An introduction will provide clear scope about the direction of your assignment.  This includes providing some background to your essay (not restating the case) and defining the issues that you will be addressing in your discussion.

Part A : Use template provided at the end of this document: Maximum 2 pages (10 font)

This section will focus on the first 24 hours of post-surgical care. Prioritisation of care is required.

This part of the assignment asks you to formulate a plan of care including the following 4 elements:

·         Assessment

·         Potential clinical issues

·         Interventions (independent nurse initiated interventions and collaborative interventions)

·         Rationales (supporting the interventions)

Using the provided plan of care template, identify priority clinical issues, and nursing interventions (refer to the example provided)

1.       Gather ASSESSMENT: Analyse the case scenario and document appropriate assessment data from the case study.  Consider the clinical data you have been given BP, RR, urine output and the data that is missing e.g. Respiratory rate = 12 but what is the depth / quality/ breathe Sarah’s breathing

2.       Identify FOUR (4) PRIORITY clinical problems for Sarah. Justify each problem based on the data collected and analysed from Sarah’s clinical assessment data. e.g. at risk of severe pain

3.       Identify NURSING INTERVENTIONS related to the clinical issues. For each of the FOUR clinical issues provide nursing interventions (with rationales) e.g. Encourage deep breathing exercises hourly

4.       Provide RATIONALES to support your interventions along with supporting relevant referenced literature / research.   For the intervention: Encourage deep breathing exercises including use of the spirometry hourly; provide a rationale: further promotes normal lung expansion and increases oxygen levels, is useful in preventing pneumonia and atelectasis

Part B: Analysing and discussing the case to identify potential clinical issues (1100 words)

1.       Discuss Sarah’s co-morbidities including smoking, cardiac heart disease, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) (previous MI, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia) in the context of having a general anaesthetic (GA) and specific to the 24 hour postoperative period.

2.       Choose TWO (2) potential clinical complications related to the co-morbidities that could arise in the 24 hour period.

3.       Discuss the relevant assessment/s and interventions the nurse would initiate to identify and prevent clinical deterioration. Provide rationales for your actions/ interventions and support with academic literature

Part C: Discharge planning (700 words)

1.       Plan and prioritise discharge advice and a plan for Sarah

2.       In the discharge plan, consider the appropriate post-operative education for Sarah including the surgical procedure.  Concisely provide a discharge plan and education around medication, prevention of post-operative complications, psychosocial issues, and lifestyle modification

3.       Refrain from merely providing generic information.  Be succinct and appropriate in your advice but also critically evaluate the information in the case and specifically relate this to your discharge plan.

Provide a CONCLUSION (approximately 100 words)

Your conclusion succinctly summarises the main points of your assignment but this section is not an opportunity to introduce new information.