THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

UWI SCHOOL OF NURSING

Course code: NURS3015 Nursing Care for older adults

Assignment On:

Nursing care for older adults case study

Submitted by:

Student Name: Safiya Pierre

Student ID#: 816010829
 Case study – Pain Management = (20 marks= 5 % )
Mrs. Jamie, has a long history of suffering from osteoporosis for which she has been taking
Ibuprofen without adequate pain relief. You the nurse, have completed a pain assessment and
found Mrs. Jamie describes her pain as ‘constant aching’ all over body. The pain is worse on
ambulation, moderate in severity (5-6/10). Because it hurts more with walking, she is spending
more time lying down and watching TV and listening to music on her radio, which seems to help
a little. Mrs. Jamie states that she is comforted when the Nursing Assistant brings her a hot pack
for her back.
1. What screening tools/markers would you use to assess/monitor Ms. Jamie’s pain? )
(3Marks )
● Numeric Rating Scale from 0-10 with 0 being mild pain and 10 being unbearable pain
● Assess pain using behavioural indicators/behavioural scale.
● use the visual analog scale
● the faces scale
● verbal scale

2. Name THREE other factors that you may want to consider as part of the assessment
process (3 marks)
1) Renal system - Decreased clearance of drugs may lead to the build up of metabolites.
Commonly used medications are more likely to damage older kidneys, in particular NSAIDs.

2) Gastrointestinal function-The gastrointestinal tract experiences some changes with aging

that affect absorption and metabolism of medications.

3) _hepatic function- the liver detoxifies and metabolizes drugs.

3. What are the 3 most common side effects of opioids that need to be considered when
developing Mrs. Jamie’s treatment plan? (3 marks)
1) _constipation- stool softener can be used to when opioid therapy is used in elderly patients
2) sedation
3) _nausea

4. What THREE other non-pharmacological interventions might you consider? (3 marks)

1) the elderly can participate in yoga exercises
2) _massage therapy can be provided
3) _finally acupuncture can be helpful in relieving pain

5. Using the mnemonic ‘PAINED’ and the information from the case study, complete the
following chart: (6 marks)

Mnemonic Stands for How would you assess/observe

P place location of pain

A amount refers to pain; intensity

I intensifiers what makes the pain worse

N nullifiers what makes the pain better

E effects effect of pain on the quality of life

D descriptors of the quality of pain (aching, burning,

throbbing)

7. If pain is not assessed or treated in the elderly, it can cause:

b) Unnecessary suffering

8. When a resident is unable to communicate his/her pain experience, the nurse should

c) Assess pain using behavioural indicators/behavioural scale