DNRS 6501 Week 4 Assignment Case Study Analysis

DNRS 6501 Week 4 Assignment Case Study Analysis

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Student Name

Walden University

DNRS-6501

Prof. Name

Submission Date

Case Study Analysis

Incorporating disease analysis into the APRN education, it is important to examine what has been researched in the respiratory system and its relation to other systems. The next part of the discussion is dedicated to the case of a 50-year-old white woman patient with a background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whose symptoms of the disease are aggravated: the patient reports experiencing chest congestion, dyspnea, and ineffectiveness of the albuterol inhaler. In this instance, this analysis will outline the alterations in the pulmonary region, its interaction with the other systems, the impact of racial and ethnic variables in patients, and the interplay that results in the issue with the patient.

Case Study Summary

A patient, Sharita Masha Cole, presented to the emergency room with the complaint that she has been experiencing an increase in the level of chest congestion and putrid sputum in the past 3 days. The patient claimed that she had an increasing dyspnea and an insufficient response to the albuterol inhaler. Investigate: The history of Cole includes tobacco use that dates back 10 years, and the patient was diagnosed with COPD a year before the given date.

She was not in a position to purchase an inhaler suggested to control COPD, as she did not have the financial resources to get it. Her physical measurements were as; blood pressure- 148/90; pulse-108; respiration- 22; oxygen saturation-92 percent; and temperature-98F. 1 o. Basically, a chest x-ray conducted on the patient revealed that the patient had hyperinflation, a flattened diaphragm with no effusions or infiltrates.

Pulmonary Pathophysiological Processes

The predominant pathophysiological mechanism in this instance is COPD, which is a form of chronic inflammatory pulmonary disease that results in an air blockage within the lungs. The hyperinflation may be supported by the appearance of the chest x-ray of a flattened diaphragm, as it is a typical sign that indicates emphysema observed with COPD (Bofarid et al., 2021). Emphysema involves the slow destruction of the alveoli, thereby decreasing the area of the surface available for the exchange of gases and oxygenation, culminating in such symptoms as Dyspnea and hypoxia, which is manifested by an O2 saturation level of 92%. The other diagnosis is chronic bronchitis, which is the other component of COPD, inflammation, and the excessive secretion of plenty of mucus in the bronchial tubes that can cause the secretion of purulent sputum.

The implication of Cole taking the bronchodilator albuterol inhaler means severe airflow symptoms, which can be reversed only partially, which is typical of the end-stage COPD. The normal values of hypercapnia of 47 mm Hg, tachycardia of 22 breaths per minute, and increased pulse of 108 beats per minute are seen in hypoxemia and respiratory distress (Rasmi et al., 2021).

Racial/Ethnic Variables Impacting Physiological Functioning

The factors of race and ethnicity are contributing to the presentation and treatment of respiratory disorders. Therefore, a number of one or more issues might possibly impact the patient, Sharita Masha Cole, a White female, and her COPD outcomes and management. Indicatively, it has been indicated that perceived socioeconomic status (SES), insurance, and culturally-tagged beliefs on smoking and compliance with treatment vary among different racial/ethnic lines (Javed et al., 2022). Indicatively, poverty and lack of choice regarding health and healthcare, as demonstrated by the inability of the patient Cole to afford her medication, are pertinent determinants that deny patients the chance to control their diseases.

Moreover, there is a possibility that COPD patients have a specific gene expression, which can influence the effectiveness and severity of the treatment. It is still in its infancy, and despite that, the use of actual genetic markers, by which COPD can be associated, it was observed that genetic effects can adjust the loss of functions and the capacity of the lungs to resist the tobacco smoke damage (Javed et al., 2022).

Interaction of Pathophysiological Processes

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both forms of COPD, which lead to the development of severe changes in the functionality of the lungs. The emphysema causes the loss of alveolar distensibility, which results in hyperinflation of the lungs, causing air trapping in the airways, flattening of the diaphragm, and increased work of breathing. Airway damage, increased mucus production, which consequently further narrows the airways, is also a part of the long-term inflammation case of bronchitis (Li et al., 2020).

Outcomes of these processes include decreased alveolar ventilation and gas exchange, hypoxemia. The body attempts to correct this by accelerating the breathing rate and cardiac output (via the high pulse), partly compensating for the loss in the operation of the lungs, but struggling to completely counter the effects of COPD, which still continues and restricts exercise capacity (Li et al., 2020).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the example of Sharita Masha Cole gives us the description of the role of multiple pulmonary pathophysiologic processes of COPD, as well as the role of the social determinants in the treatment process. Since these considerations influence COPD patients, it is significant that the APRNs are aware of what causes the disease and the importance of racial/ethnic considerations in providing care and patient education. Integrated care ought to incorporate curative and non-curative activities in addition to interventions pertaining to the socioeconomic position of the patients in order to maximize the results of COPD.

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