Use the "Case Study: Timothy Smith – Hospice/Palliative Care" template (attached) to complete the assignment.
You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the past 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines
![]()
NRS-460 Benchmark – Case Study: Timothy Smith – Hospice/Palliative Care
Directions: Based on the information given in the case study, formulate a conclusion based on your evaluation and complete the Critical Thinking assignment as instructed below.
It is necessary for an RN-BSN-prepared nurse to demonstrate an enhanced understanding of the complex management of disease, the clinical manifestations and associated treatment protocols, and how they impact patients across the life span. The purpose of this assignment is to navigate patient needs associated with cognitive and physical decline while demonstrating effective communication and compassionate care.
PART I: Health History and Medical Information
Evaluate the health history and medical information for Timothy Smith, presented below.
Upon discharge from the hospital, Mr. Smith had a successful recovery with home health and outpatient therapy. At the end of his home health journey, Timothy was mobile with a walker and his cognitive abilities had significantly improved. He continued his physical and cognitive therapies to better his mobility on the left leg and address his ongoing PTSD and depression.
After 5 years of successful physical and cognitive therapy, Mr. Smith began to see a decline in his activities of daily living (ADL) and began refusing to attend checkups. At this time, his mother was his primary care giver. She has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Mr. Smith's decline continued to progress. His mother, who was his primary support, passed away, and he does not have a secondary support. He has been dragging his left leg due to decreased mobility, which has led to the development of an infected friction wound on the left foot. After no-showing three appointments with the psychiatrist, Mr. Smith showed up looking disheveled, had a positive drug screen, and seemed to be dealing with his cognition issues outside of the medical field. Due to the accident and decrease in cognition, he isn't able to comprehend his health needs. Due to immobility and progressive leg weakness, the provider ordered a vascular study of bilateral lower extremities. The study identified thrombus in the left popliteal vein. The patient reports shortness of breath despite no fever, which led to a chest x-ray being completed, showing no noticeable changes.
Laboratory Tests and Vitals:
1. Neurocognitive test – Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
2. Vascular study showed a thrombus in the left popliteal vein.
3. Patient is experiencing shortness of breath despite clear chest x-ray.
4. SpO2: 84% on room air
PART II: Critical Thinking Activity
Use the findings from your evaluation to complete the following:
|
Clinical Assessment and Interventions
Answer the following questions based on Mr. Smith's presentation and history.
|
|
Discuss the conditions that could be causing Mr. Smith's shortness of breath given his clear chest x-ray. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Identify possible interventions that would be needed to address Mr. Smith's shortness of breath. Include the timeframe for each intervention in your discussion. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Prioritize three to five additional interventions that would be needed to address Mr. Smith's immediate health needs. Your response should be a minimum of 200 words.
|
|
|
Building Rapport Through Respect, Compassion, and Empathy
Establishing caring relationships is vital for the nurse-patient relationship, especially when taking care of patients with complex, chronic needs.
|
|
Discuss the steps needed to build rapport and mutual understanding when providing care to Mr. Smith, given his distrust of healthcare providers and his lack of a support system. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Explain the strategies that would be useful when establishing a respectful nurse-patient relationship demonstrating qualities of compassion and empathy. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Effective Communication
Caring for patients with complex needs requires the nurse to possess effective communication skills. You are assigned as Mr. Smith's primary nurse during his most recent hospitalization. Consider Mr. Smith's most recent assessment findings in addressing the following questions.
|
|
When communicating with Mr. Smith, identify which of his values and beliefs would be important to consider to ensure effective communication. Use information from this and previous case studies in this course. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Emotional intelligence helps us maintain an awareness of our own emotions and enables us to effectively interact with others in an empathetic manner. When admitting Mr. Smith to the hospital, how would the nurse demonstrate emotional intelligence in her interactions with him? Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Psychosocial and Spiritual Considerations
Providing holistic nursing care for the patient with complex conditions requires that the nurse take into account the patient's psychosocial and spiritual needs.
|
|
Given the patient's current situation, discuss ways in which the nurse can take into account and address the patient's psychosocial and spiritual needs. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Hospice/Palliative Care Management
You are assigned as the nurse case manager for Mr. Smith.
|
|
Explain the difference between hospice and palliative care. Based on Mr. Smith’s current assessment findings, discuss the type of care (i.e., palliative, hospice, rehabilitative, etc.) that would be most appropriate for him. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Develop a plan to address Mr. Smith's needs including living environment, health care needs, mental health needs, and financial resources. In your plan, include a discussion of the type of support Mr. Smith needs now that he no longer has a support system and struggles to comprehend his current health needs and management. Your response should be a minimum of 200 words.
|
|
|
Identify two care team members who you would need to collaborate with in order to ensure effective coordination of care for Mr. Smith. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Community Resources and Support Network
Appropriate resources and a support network are important for Mr. Smith and will be imperative in promoting optimal outcomes.
|
|
Discuss the options that are still available to provide assistance to Mr. Smith. Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
Suppose this patient was a part of your community. What community resources are offered to enhance his quality of life? Your response should be a minimum of 150 words.
|
|
|
References (Please include working hyperlinks.)
|
© 2024. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.
image1.png
This assignment is a brief discussion about the use of statistics in quality improvement (QI).
- Describe how statistics are used to inform or initiate a QI initiative, and how they are used to monitor change.
- How are statistics presented in a QI initiative? In other words, what methods might be used?
This discussion should be 2 pages (double spaced) and utilize APA format and style (title page, in-text citations, reference page) and should include at least one reference outside of what is used in the course.
Document Type/Template:
Formative Rubric
Criteria Ratings
Scholarly Writing
Writing Mechanics
Clarity of Content
All Aspects Addressed
APA Sources (when appropriate)
Affirmed Writing is formal in language, avoiding colloquialisms, slang, and overly informal expressions.
Not Affirmed Writing includes colloquialisms, slang, and overly informal expressions.
Affirmed Minor spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation errors present, and/or sentence structure lacks minor elements of professional writing, and/or paragraphs are consistently developed. (1-2 errors)
Not Affirmed Multiple spelling grammar and/or punctuation errors present and/or sentence structure does not meet professional writing standards, and/or paragraphs are minimally developed. (more than 2 errors)
Affirmed Writing demonstrates a strong connection between ideas, ensuring that the reader can follow the logical progression of the arguments.
Not Affirmed Writing lacks a connection between ideas, and there is no logical progression of the arguments.
Affirmed Writing addresses multiple relevant aspects of the topic with sufficient detail and analysis, providing a thorough understanding.
Not Affirmed Writing fails to address relevant aspects of the topic with insufficient detail or analysis.
Affirmed Citations and references follow the APA style guide, with less than 2 errors.
Not Affirmed Citations and references are not included when appropriate or do not follow the appropriate APA style guide. There are more than 2 errors.
7/29/25, 6:10 AM C3: Formative 1 ✏
https://canvas.south.edu/courses/57134/assignments/1791502?module_item_id=6161732 1/1
This assignment aims to develop the ability to critically evaluate the impact of quality improvement initiatives on healthcare outcomes, incorporating cost considerations.
Instructions:
- Use Previous Quality Issue: For this assignment, utilize the quality issue selected in your previous assignment.
- Create a Presentation: Develop a brief presentation (5-slides) that evaluates the quality improvement initiative related to the identified issue. The presentation should include the following components:
- Problem Statement: A concise description of the quality issue and its relevance to patient care outcomes and costs.
- Impact Analysis: Analyze how the chosen quality improvement methodology (e.g., PDSA, Six Sigma) affects patient outcomes and cost implications. Discuss any expected changes in healthcare delivery or resource utilization.
- Goals and Objectives: Clearly articulate the goals for your quality improvement initiative, focusing on how these goals relate to enhancing quality and managing costs.
- Implementation Overview: Outline the critical steps for implementing the quality improvement plan, including necessary resources and stakeholder involvement. Highlight how the implementation will be monitored for both quality and cost-effectiveness.
- Design: Create your presentation using PowerPoint.
Document Type/Template:
Formative Rubric
Criteria Ratings
Scholarly Writing
Writing Mechanics
Clarity of Content
All Aspects Addressed
APA Sources (when appropriate)
Affirmed Writing is formal in language, avoiding colloquialisms, slang, and overly informal expressions.
Not Affirmed Writing includes colloquialisms, slang, and overly informal expressions.
Affirmed Minor spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation errors present, and/or sentence structure lacks minor elements of professional writing, and/or paragraphs are consistently developed. (1-2 errors)
Not Affirmed Multiple spelling grammar and/or punctuation errors present and/or sentence structure does not meet professional writing standards, and/or paragraphs are minimally developed. (more than 2 errors)
Affirmed Writing demonstrates a strong connection between ideas, ensuring that the reader can follow the logical progression of the arguments.
Not Affirmed Writing lacks a connection between ideas, and there is no logical progression of the arguments.
Affirmed Writing addresses multiple relevant aspects of the topic with sufficient detail and analysis, providing a thorough understanding.
Not Affirmed Writing fails to address relevant aspects of the topic with insufficient detail or analysis.
Affirmed Citations and references follow the APA style guide, with less than 2 errors.
Not Affirmed Citations and references are not included when appropriate or do not follow the appropriate APA style guide. There are more than 2 errors.
7/29/25, 6:10 AM C3: Formative 1 ✏
https://canvas.south.edu/courses/57134/assignments/1791502?module_item_id=6161732 1/1
