Assignment title: Information
NRSG366 2017 Assessment 1 – CASE STUDY 2
NRSG366 Semester One 2017- Assessment One Case Study-Parkinson’s
disease
Case scenario: Diana Harrison is a 64 year old female newly diagnosed
Parkinson’s patient who you have been asked to visit.
Multiple factors influence the care of patients with chronic conditions. As a Primary
Heath Care nurse, it is important that care given is prioritised based on clinical and
patient needs. Prioritisation of the patient needs for care is integral to daily nursing
practice. This requires integrating and collaborating different aspects of patient needs
in order to maximise care activities and the effectiveness of nursing interventions.
This case study is designed to demonstrate the integration of various principles of
managing care of patients with chronic conditions. Students will be expected to
analyse the case scenario, identify the care needs and from the list of identified needs
discuss two COMPLEX care priorities. Please refer to the subject outline and marking
rubric when answering this question.
The history you have been provided is as follows:
Diana is an active semi-retired part time as a relief high school science teacher. She
is married to Oliver with three adult children, all of whom live out of home and have
done so for a period of time-Vanessa 35 years old-3 children under 10, Adam 33
years old-new born baby and Anton 30 years old-1 year old. Each of the adult
children is located interstate and has young family as indicated. Diana had
previously participated in many outdoor activities with her husband and her hobbies
include bushwalking, cryptic crosswords and gardening.
Shortly after returning to relief work after the Christmas period Diana noticed that the
fingers on her right hand began to shake with a very slight tremor and her gait
became very unsteady. The tremor in her hand seemed to be worse when she sat
down at night and in bed when she was resting. Leading up to and over the
Christmas period Diana began to notice that she was very fatigued and increasingly
forgetful. This was becoming more noticeable and problematic as the tremor did not
subside and Diana felt she was becoming clumsier. Diana spoke with her husband
and they concluded it was probably due to a very busy and stressful time over the
recent Christmas period with all her adult children and grandchildren staying for the
week between Christmas and New Year’s. Diana nevertheless made anNRSG366 2017 Assessment 1 – CASE STUDY 2
appointment with her GP for the following week to discuss her ‘odd’ symptoms with
her GP.
During her first week back at work in late January Diana felt so fatigued that she was
concerned she would ‘go to sleep in class!’ and the tremor in her right hand
persisted. Diana was watching TV after a busy day at work and when she went to
stand up she found herself falling back onto the couch and she felt as if the ‘world
was spinning’, both her hands felt numb and she could not stop shaking. Diana
became extremely emotional and could not speak properly. Diana’s husband called
an ambulance as he was concerned perhaps she was having a stroke. Diana was
seen by a medical officer, admitted and referred to a neurologist for assessment.
Diana spent three weeks in hospital and a provisional diagnosis of Parkinson’s
disease was made. To rule out any other neurological conditions a series of
investigations was conducted including an MRI and PET scan was conducted. Both
imaging investigations returned a normal result. Following this and based on the
neurological physical exam and symptom history a firm diagnosis of Idiopathic
Parkinson’s disease was made.
Diana was discharged into the care of her husband with two months of sick leave
from her job. Diana found that once the provisional diagnosis was made previous
symptoms that she had concluded were due to stress or fatigue began to make
sense.
Symptoms experienced
Fatigue for 12/12 -Diana was increasingly fatigued at work struggling to make
it through the day
Bradykinesia 6/12-She would find that setting up her science classroom she
would drop things and her hands felt ‘stiff’
Tremor 6/12-Increasing tremor in her left hand that she noticed mainly at rest
Emotional outbursts 12/12 intermittently-Diana would become overly
emotional at forgetting things or dropping items at work and at home
Unsteady gait 6/12-Tripping and stumbling with no obvious cause
Discharge Summary
Diana Harrison is a 64 year old female
Admitted via A&E with a history of:
o Pronounced tremor in left hand-patient describes worse when sitting
o Global bradykinesia-shaking and slow response to requests
o C/O increasing fatigue and ‘sleepy’ episodes during the day when
working
o Feeling ‘blue’ and sad on and off for the past 12 monthsNRSG366 2017 Assessment 1 – CASE STUDY 2
Medical history
High cholesterol-Lipitor
Surgical history
1 caesarean birth 1980
Tonsillectomy as a child
Other
Fit and healthy, works as relief high school science teacher
Admitted 14/01/2016
Neurological, muscloskeletal, cardiovascular assessment
Excluded neuro pathology-CT and PET scan clear
Provisional diagnosis: Parkinson’s disease
Discharged 03/02/2016
Primary diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease
Medications
• Lipitor 25mg mane
• Dopamine releaser-Amatadine HCL-5 mg daily
• Dopamine agonists-Carbergoline- 0.25mg BD
• Dopamine replacement- Levodopa 10mg TDS
• MAO-B inhibitors-Selegiline -25mg patch changed daily
• Maxolon for nausea 10mg prior to meals