Select a client case whose care you have been personally involved in.
Introduce your case study explaining why you have chosen the topic. Introduce the patient. Some brief clinical details will be needed including signs and symptoms. More detailed information can be included in an appendix for example lists of medication the patient was already on and details of any relevant investigations.
Describe further the symptoms and signs of the condition and how the underlying pathophysiology can explain these, relating it all to your patient. Where the case is particularly complex you will need to concentrate on one or two aspects giving your rationale for doing so.
Analyse the rationale for the assessment/investigative process. These should be related to the pathophysiology to help explain why the tests are necessary.
Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the pharmacological treatments including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and evidence base. The mechanism of drug action should be explained and how this works to alleviate patient’s symptoms – this might be due to correcting underlying pathophysiology or by affecting bodily processes to alleviate symptoms. Main risks of medication should be explained – again using a knowledge of pharmacological actions which shows understanding of why such adverse events occur. This should be backed up by research evidence – how common are these risks? Is your patient likely to experience the side effects? Relevant pharmacokinetics should be related to the patient e.g. was the drug given SL? Oral/ IV? why? Was any dosage adjustment needed due to patient factors such as renal disease or age?
Critique the effectiveness of these interventions/medication with reference to current literature, theory, and protocols. The evidence base for the treatment needs critical analysis. Did guidelines such as NICE help to determine choice? Do other guidelines make similar recommendations? Were there any patient factors which led to deviation from the guidelines?
Maintain confidentiality and anonymity of patients/clients, family, staff and the environment in which the encounter has taken place
the pathophysiology or pharmacology helped enhance your own practice.
Maintain confidentiality and anonymity of patients/clients, family, staff and the environment in which the encounter has taken place
