Patient Description
Neurological pain, which was the main problem in this situation, could be felt on his/her skin and other body tissues including the bone, viscera and muscles. The nature of their pain ranges from simple to severe cases, depending on the type of injury, extent of the tissue damage or its length. The tissue damage could result in the production of dangerous ions, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides, and proteins, which cause severe pain to the patient (Loveman, Frampton & Cleqq, 2008). Sometimes, the patient could experience low pain or “suprathreshold” that might increase the pain. This condition is known as hyperalgesia. A patient’s response to stimuli also differs according to his or her level of immunity to such sensation. In this regard, neuropathic pain results from dysfunction or lesion that occurs in the patient’s nervous system. This could be in the peripheral or central system and has severe consequences if not well addressed.
Assessment Methods
Clinical relevance of the assessment method(s) to the patient is critical when developing a holistic therapy for helping those with neurological problems, whether they occur in the peripheral or central mechanisms (Sluka, 2009). In addition, research evidence that underpins the assessment method(s) helps the physicians articulate their duties. Some of the assessment methods used include consultation with healthcare physicians and providers, sector coordination and stakeholder involvement. Owing to the important nature of the program, the approaches used should prolong the patient’s life and in consideration of the health policy (Ketefian, 2007). All the adjustments should focus on promoting healthy living that reduces painful experiences that the patient suffers, thus he or she could lead a self-fulfilling life (Linda et al., 2001). In order to make sure that the assessment methods remain successful, the care plans are developed in consultation with cardiologists, nurses, doctors, and other medical personnel. The parties outline the treatment plan, counseling, and education sessions to inform the patients and social workers who give daily support to the patients (Stewart, 2002).
Second, the physician should analyze the patients’ demographics so that he/she could determine the best course of action to take to minimize the pain. The other assessment approach would be to coordinate the various sector players such as home health facilities, referral hospitals among others. The importance of this approach is that it makes the provision of Medicare easy and effective, in the sense that the health facilities would mutually relate (Linda et al., 2001). Moreover, the approach encourages exchange programs of the skills and expertise of managing the disease. Therefore, the patients eventually benefit from the initiative as the coordinated effort would increase efficiency.
The other approach would be to involve all stakeholders through sensitization in advanced planning and providing healthcare to the community. This ensures the development of the health provision programs, which benefit from extensive input from the stakeholders’ long experience in this field. The stakeholders might help in funding the program and providing other essential facilities, thus ensuring smooth operation (Lapworth & Cook, 2012).
Patient Description on Pain Assessment
Concerning the interpretation of the pain assessment results concerning the literature and my clinical reasoning, I believe that all the information relating to the management of neurological pain should be channeled through proper criteria. Indeed, medical experts postulate that such assessments would even help in determining the extent of pain and intervention for future healthcare delivery (Cheah, 2008). This is one area where intellectualism helps since the experts draw the pain assessment after extensive consultation. Truly, following the assessments is an assurance of safety to the patient (Wood & Harber, 2006).
The pain assessment also includes all forms of treatment and diagnostic algorithms to be used in maintenance of the disease (Weilitz & Potter, 2006). The current healthcare trend regulates the medical practices in developed and many other developing countries alike. Arguably, the assessments reduce negligence among the physicians and nurses as this enables them to give the best services, for reducing neurological pain and sustaining quality healthcare. In addition, the assessments lead to unconditional provision of medical care since the health professionals would be responding to known problems (Cheah, 2008). Notably, the health authority has no power to alter the assessment plans, but to uphold them.
In applying the pain assessments, the patient’s needs are prioritized, meaning the doctor cannot proceed with the medication till he/she considers the patient’s condition (Nancy, 2004). This would show professionalism in the judgment concerning the medical actions, which the experts would undertake. Since research has evidenced that the medical assessments are commonly acceptable, the medical practitioners have to make it a law, and follow its provisions (Cheah, 2008). As well, the plan of managing neurological pain cases stands to benefit from adhering and concentrating on the assessments. Scientifically, standardized assessments are effective and produce best results (Nancy, 2004). Therefore, the planned management of neurological pain conditions in patients contributes to the initiative’s success.
The other pain assessment concerns the reduction of medical cost because managing the condition outside the hospital is cheaper compared to the cases, which are referred to the hospital (Cheah, 2008). Since the neurological infection affects mostly the older people, there are possible financial burdens during this age, making the cure for such diseases outreach of many patients. The assessment plan works in the patient’s interest since the overall cost of transportation, accommodation and medication becomes significantly minimal (Weilitz & Potter, 2006).
In addition, there are other specific issues relating to the nervous system mechanisms for the patient’s pain. For instance, reliance on scientific findings plays a very integral part in the nursing career and prevention of neurological pain. Unlike in some practices, medical operations borrow heavily from past research as a basis for improving the patient’s health care. Besides, EBN increases the participation of all the practitioners in the medical field, thereby leading to the success of such an intervention (Haynes, 2000). Indeed, the intervention procedures in the nursing care increase the possibility of making meaningful gains in the process of applying the finding to reduce pain and improve the condition of the patients.
In reducing neurological pain, the health practitioners mainly base their activities on the evidence that other scholars have come out with. Note that the qualitative research process that avails the scientific evidence of the issue to be addressed. Therefore, through a qualitative search, the evidence found can be categorized either as an applicable or not applicable. Through cross-examining the evidence of a previous research, medical personnel, nurses included, become able to analyze the situation of the patients about the current pain status and that of a different patient, thereby being able to make or recommend an intervention mechanism considered more appropriate to the patient’s condition (Salmond, 2007). This would help the patient reduce or possibly eliminate pain.
More importantly, the analysis of the evidence at hand may help in deterring whether the research that was carried out ended up being unsuccessful or successful for future medical actions. Undeniably, proper presentation of medical research findings provides the needed evidence to be used in justifying the future actions of nurses when handling the patients. For the case of a patient with neurological pain, it is important that the nurse in his care monitors his condition and compares it with the existing evidence. In this manner, the nurse may be able to use the previous record to help the patient address the condition.
Management Plan
In this case, an evidence-based, structured management plan that focuses on the pain component of the patient’s problem would include a number of issues. First, the health professionals should transparently conduct their daily affairs, thus intervene and immediately find a solution to the medical problem that the patients might be going through (Nancy, 2004). In cases of neurological pain conditions, transparency means the medical personnel and caregivers have to inform the patients appropriately regarding the progress they have made during the intervention (Cheah, 2008). In fact, giving proper information might give the patient the confidence to continue taking the medication. This is imperative in situations where the patient suffers from chronic neurological implications, and an improvement in his/her condition would give hope of enduring the temptations, which result from the painful neurological problems.
Maintaining professionalism is another best practice in the management of neurological infection. By sticking to the professional principles when attending to the patients, the physician would diagnose the patient properly and administer the most effective medicines (Nancy, 2004). This explains the extent to which health issues must be entrusted to the medical experts in the field. Abuse of professionalism is comparable to jeopardizing the patient’s life since they could be neglected (Cheah, 2008).
Another best practice in the reduction of neurological pain is upholding ethics while on duty. Through applying ethics in the medical career, especially when managing chronic ailments such as neurological pain, the physician and/or the nurse would be guided by moral considerations to arrive at precise and workable conclusions (Cheah, 2008). This makes the management of those illnesses literally easy and convenient for the health experts and patients.
Despite the attempts to adopt the best practices, there is still uncertainty when it comes to clinical effectiveness, medico-legal issues, and validity of such applications (Wood & Harber, 2006). Therefore, in formulating the best practices, the implications ought to be addressed. The management of neurological pain could also be complicated since the necessary education and proper counseling might not reach all the patients. Sometimes, the patients might not report early symptoms of the disease because they lack enough information to detect them (Susan et al., 2000) (a). Therefore, a comprehensive management plan would work for such needy patients. The plant involves education on the right diet for the patient, rest and physical activity schedules. In addition, the patient would be monitored for proper use of medicines since abuse would lead to possible resistance (Susan et al., 2000) (a). Through monitoring, the patient’s progress would be checked to establish if the medicines should be altered, depending on the response and economic status.
Health experts suggest that vulnerable patients should use beta-blocker and inhibitors. This would prolong their life despite the distressing medical condition (Ellenbogen et al., 2004). To ensure better management of pain, the medical personnel, the patients and family should cooperate to achieve progress in all medical and non-medical attempts such as using volunteer social workers. In reality, to achieve a milestone in preventing sequential cases, proper education on dietary matters is central. Patients’ sensitization to dietary modifications is important for a healthy life.
The other approach in managing the neurological pain disease would be to include nurses in symptom monitoring. In reality, monitoring the patient as he/she recovers from the chronic condition is vital in ensuring a milestone in the program and minimizing social interruption (Susan et al., 2000) (a). As mentioned earlier, consistent monitoring helps in evaluating the way, in which the affected person responds to the medication. Positive response would be shown through the improvement of the patient’s health condition, while negative response could be manifested by the side effects of the medication (Susan et al., 2000) (b). Therefore, the patient should be free and encouraged to report any unusual condition to /her doctor for further instruction.
In controlling and monitoring neurological pain, applying systematic management is very helpful. Soon after the patient is discharged, the social workers and other caregivers should embark on a systematic program to consistently monitor the patient to avoid social interruption (Susan et al., 2000) (b). This helps in making sure that the recuperating patient does not skip any provision of their health management schedule. In fact, leaving the patient to manage the health condition on him/her has a gross effect on the management process (Ellenbogen et al., 2004). For instance, the patient needs encouragement to use the medicine according to the physician’s directive and constantly be advised on dietary issues.
References
Cheah, T. S. (2008). The Affect of Clinical Assessments and Clinical Pathways on Medical Practice. Annals Academy of Medicine, 27(4), 534-539.
Ellenbogen, K. A., et al., (2004). Device Therapy for Congestive Heart Failure. New York, NY: Saunders.
Haynes, S. (2000). Evidence-Based Nursing: An Introduction. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Ketefian, S. (2007). Application of Selected Nursing Research Findings. London: BMJ Publishing Group.
Lapworth, T. & Cook, D. (2012). Nursing & Health Survival Guide (Clinical Assessment). New York, NY: Pearson Education.
Linda, C., et al., (2001). Case Management for Elderly Persons with Heart Failure. Web.
Loveman, E., Frampton, G. & Cleqq, A. (2008). The Clinical Effectiveness of Diabetes Education. Web.
Nancy, D. (2004). Global Health Issues and Issues. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Vol. 36 (1), 6-30.
Salmond, S. (2007). Advancing Evidence-Based Practice. London: BMJ Publishing Group.
Sluka, K.A. (2009). Mechanisms and Management of Pain for the Physical Therapist. Seattle: IASP Press.
Stewart, S. (2002). Chronic Cardiac Disease. New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell.
Susan, E., et al., (2000) (b). Management of the Patients with CHE Using Outpatient, Home and Palliative Care. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 43(3), 259-274.
Susan, L. et al., (2002) (a). Self-Management Education for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Web.
Weilitz, P. & Potter, P. A. (2006). Mosby’s Pocket Guide for Health Assessment. Los Angeles: Mosby.
Wood, L. & Harber, J. (2006). Nursing Research. Missouri: Mosby Elsevier.