Explain what you know about your patient or client.

In explaining your patient/client’s condition, do you understand how the illness is affecting them?

The assignment for this module is a 4000-word case study based on a patient, client or family you have encountered in your first few weeks of practice. The case study includes a description of their condition, but more importantly how their condition is affecting their life. The case study includes health promotion in relation to the patient you have identified, as well as how you would present the information as well as an analysis of your communication with the person.

A more detailed guide on how to write the assignment is available as a separate learning unit which I recommend you follow. The following is a general outline.

Introduction: 10% of your total word count. Open with a statement about the incidence of the condition your patient has (ref) then about some of the problems linked to this condition. Then how your essay is going to explore this.

Main Essay

Case Study (write in third person), approx. 1000:

Explain what you know about your patient or client. In your explanation identify how you obtained this information. Think about the variety of information, linking to patient assessment. In particular look at compassion, has the /client/family been treated compassionately in this assessment process? In explaining your patient/client’s condition, do you understand how the illness is affecting them? Overall the case study should be more than a simple explanation of the disease but also describe how the illness is impacting on the life of the individual you are focusing on.

Promoting health (write in third person), approx. 1,200: In the section you are being asked how you would apply evidence based public health promotion to the person in your case study. Firstly, consider an aspect of the patient/client’s condition, from your case study, and their life style that links to public health promotion. From the current literature identify two items of evidence, one must be quantitative, and one must be qualitative, that could be used in helping to inform the patient/client/family with regards changes to their life style. Write a 200-word summary for each item and include these in your appendix. Next identify the role of the nurse in public health promotion. Include in this defining public health promotion, discuss the use of evidence base research in nursing. Use your case study as an example, link to the two items of evidence you have found and explore what public health information you would use to help the patient/client/family with making a change in their lifestyle.

Writing in the first person, further explore the role of the nurse in health promotion, but focus on the personal attributes, the inter-personal skills. Then consider your ‘self’ by completing a Johari window exercise (on Nile). Identify how your personal attributes link to this role; what are your strengths and what may need development.

Communication (first person) approx. 1,200: This section is exploring your understanding of communication skills with the person in your case study. Complete one 20 self-assessment interaction (use the tool on Nile)., a copy of the completed self-assessment tool should go into your appendix. Then define communication and relate it to nursing and nursing practice. From your self-assessment identify 2 areas of your communication skills that you think need to be developed. Explore these two skills using the relevant and current literature, use this knowledge to inform an action plan for future practice (this helps show what you have learnt).

Summary (10%)

Bring all of the key points of the essay together by describing how you have developed over the course of the module. Return to the key points of your introduction and identify as a result of your learning what do you now know about you, your understanding of public health promotion, evidence-based nursing, assessment, and communication skills. There should be no new information, it should all be evidenced in your essay.