Case Scenario:
Rudolf Sing is 84-year-old man DOB 6/3/1938 who lives on his own in his house in Ainslie after his wife Hilda died 18 months ago. He has been independent and has been very active throughout his life. He worked on the Snowy Hydro project after immigrating to Australia from Austria in the 1960's. Rudolf has 4 living adult children and his 5th child a daughter, died at the age of 7 months. None of his children live in Canberra, in fact two live internationally, one in Sydney and the other in Darwin.
A neighbour, Jen, visits Rudolf and she voices her concern. Rudolf looks pale and has lost weight as he has lost his appetite. He has stopped leaving the house and has not had a shower for several days. He is tired all the time as he is having trouble sleeping at night.
You are the student nurse working with a community nurse who has been visiting Rudolf. The reason for your visits up until now, has been to dress a skin tear on his right leg. You have visited for the past 5 days to do his dressing. This was the last visit currently scheduled for Rudolf. When you arrive, Jen, the neighbour takes you and the registered nurse aside and tells you about her concerns.
Respond the following:
Question 1: After observing Rudolf, identify 5 cues of concern that you have as a nursing student and explain the reasons for your concern citing relevant evidence.
Question 2: Informed by your analysis of the clinical scenario (written case and video) what relevant psychosocial assessments may be within the scope of the nursing student (supported by the Community RN) to undertake in the home environment? Explain the purpose of the assessment approach/tool and provide a rationale for your recommendation in Rudolf's case using evidence-based peer review articles which include evidence informed tools for comprehensive nursing health assessment.
Question 3: Identify and demonstrate how you would ask Rudolf a series of up to 10 questions to gather more information and expand your psychosocial assessment to investigate your concerns. The questions will demonstrate a therapeutic person-centred approach to your patient interview.
Question 4: The skills elements of Domains 1 and 2 of the Patient Safety Competency Framework for Nursing Students are evident in the video presentation.