Maria Carr is a 67-year-old retired teacher. She has been admitted to the accident and emergency (A&E) department with left sided arm and facial weakness, which started an hour ago. While in A&E an emergency CT scan was performed and confirms the diagnosis of an ischaemic stroke. As Maria had been in A&E less than 4.5 hours, the medical team administered Alteplase 900 micrograms/kg as prescribed. GCS and BP to be monitored at 30-minute intervals to check for deterioration. If BP increases above 180 mmHg systolic or 105 mmHg diastolic, Maria is to be reviewed by the medical team. She has been transferred to the acute stroke unit. You have been assigned to her care.
On admission Maria is very drowsy but responding to verbal stimuli, she is snoring loudly, and her left sided weakness remains.
Medications as per drug chart
Dipyridamole 200 mg BD (twice a day)
Aspirin 75 mg OD (once a day)
Ward baseline Observations
Pulse: 90 beats per minute
Respiration rate: 9 breaths per minute
Blood Pressure: 170/95mmHg
Temperature: 36.50C
Oxygen saturation: 94% on Room Air
Verbal on ACVPU scale
Her pupils are size 3mm equal and reacting to light (PEARL)
Glasgow Coma Scale: 11
Considering relevant pathophysiology, discuss Maria’s acute management and nursing care in the first 24 hours after admission.
Referencing
Ensure that you use the Harvard system of referencing. The University Referencing and Cite Them Right guidelines are available in the Learning Development Unit Blackboard shell. You should provide one reference list for both questions.
How your work will be assessed
Your work will be assessed using level 5 Marking Grid, which covers :
Presentation /15 (see below),
Please note: You need a front sheet on this submission:
Student number and cohort
SpLD sticker if applicable
Module code and name
The submission date
The module leader’s name
Word counts, one for each scenario
Text should be Ariel Font 12, left hand justified only and an additional line space between paragraphs.
The word count for this assignment is 1250 words for each scenario, excluding the reference list. Please note the University guidelines which stipulate that you may submit 10% over or under this word count.
Two word counts are needed, they should be declared as “Scenario 1 ??? words, Scenario 2 ??? words)”. Word count excludes the reference list and word count itself.
Write in an appropriately formal academic style, avoiding contractions (e.g., don’t, won’t, etc.) and informal or spoken forms of language. Avoid sub-titles, beyond Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, use the number actually attached to the Scenario below.
Knowledge and understanding /25 (knowledge of the care delivery). The definition of the condition, the pathophysiology of the condition, A-E assessment applying to the patient, their observations…, medical interventions, including tests, pharmacology (medications, including side effects), nursing care
Integrating academic learning with practice /20 (this section will consider how you have demonstrated the ability to integrate biological sciences and nursing theories to provide in-depth understanding/rationale for use of skills/interventions required when caring for the acutely ill patient).
Analysis /20 (this section will consider of how you have demonstrated the ability to critique relevant theory & practice from a broad range of perspectives and has used these to reflect on own practice, demonstrates a sustained critically analytical approach).
Synthesis and Evaluation /5 (This section will consider of how you demonstrated the ability to assemble and link ideas and evidence from a full range of relevant sources, evaluates data to build a reasoned and articulated argument; conclusion drawn demonstrates insight and creative thought).
Be sure not to identify any individual or organisation directly or by implication in your work (NMC, 2018).
Be aware, for unsafe practice, the academic regulations demand a penalty.
Submission details
This assignment (Two scenarios, with accompanying one reference list) should be as one paper, being submitted electronically.
This assignment is to be submitted electronically by the above date via Turnitin in Blackboard
To submit electronically you must upload your work to the e-submission area within the Blackboard module concerned. Click Submit> Browse (find the correct file to upload) Upload> Submit.
Please ensure that your work has been saved in an appropriate file format. Turnitin will only accept the following file types: Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint, PostScript, PDF, HTML, RTF, OpenOffice (ODT), Hangul (HWP), Google Docs, or plain text. Your file must also contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in size. Mac users will need to convert Mac documents to Word documents.
You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.
Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided you have set this up). Please keep this receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment.
You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on the University website: In submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these regulations.
Before you submit
Please use the provided checklist below to make sure you are ‘fit to submit’ your work
We recommend you use this checklist as soon as you get this assignment brief to help you plan your work
Fit to Submit: Assignment Checklist
This brief assignment checklist is designed to help you avoid some of the most common mistakes students make in their coursework.
HAVE YOU READ THE ASSIGNMENT BRIEF?
IF NOT, DO IT NOW!
In it you will find details of the assessment task, word count, the assessment criteria your work is marked against, and the learning outcomes – the basis for the assessment strategy in each module.
Students often lose marks by forgetting some of the more straightforward elements of their assignments. We recommend that you “tick off” each of the points below as you prepare your work for submission. If you need any help, ask your tutor and / or visit
TICK
Have you read and understood the assessment criteria?
Have you met the learning outcomes? You will lose marks and your work may even be failed if you have not.
Have you demonstrated you can think and write critically in the completed work? This means you have supported your arguments/explanations appropriately e.g. using relevant academic sources and you have offered discussion points which extends your own or others’ viewpoints to make reasoned conclusions/judgements.
Have you maintained an academic tone throughout your work? Is your work formal, focused, developed and clear?
Have you checked that the referencing in your assignment is in line with your programme requirements?
Have you proof-read your work and used spellcheck software to check your spelling and grammar?
Have you checked the presentation of your work is as specified by your tutor, for example, are font size, colour, style, line spacing and margins as the tutor specified?
Have you kept to the word count (or equivalent)? If you are not sure, check with your tutor.
Can you confirm that the work submitted is your own and not plagiarised?