Assessment Two –Patient Case Study of Bipolar Disorder

In this bipolar disorder assignment, please take note of the Assessment rubric for this assessment item. This provides you with some additional guidance. Please refer to the resource “What is a case study” which is available in the Assignments section of LMS. Also, take note of the Assessment rubric for this assessment item. It provides you with some additional guidance. Please also refer to the Assessment guide, for further information regarding the structural and referencing requirements for this bipolar disorder assignment.

Case Study Scenario

You are a newly registered nurse working in a large metropolitan hospital on an early shift in a busy ED/medical assessment unit. As such, you have John Thompson to care for as a 1:1 special in a single bed side-room. The following hand-over is available from the night duty RN: John is a 28 year old man who the hospital admits after an overdose of Clonazepam, Sodium Valproate and Quetiapine. John has a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and is currently a referred patient on a Form 1A of the Western Australia Mental Health Act 2014.

Overnight John has been occasionally drowsy, but at other times very restless and agitated. His conversation has some delusional content at times. He appears confused and is likely to be experiencing a delirium related to the intentional overdose of prescribed medications. John has an intravenous line of normal saline 1 litre over 8 hours –started 4 hours ago. The ECG shows lengthening of the Q-T interval and a repeat ECG will take place at 10:00 AM today. TPR & BP are within normal limits –check vital signs 4 hourly along with neurological observations until reviewed by the treating Medical team.

Further Observation

John’s behaviour has not presented any significant management problems overnight in the ward. However, in the Emergency Department he was in a severely agitated state. As a result, a Code Black (Aggressive incident & security response) was initiated. Because of John’s fluctuating sensorium she is ‘at risk’ and they need steps  to ensure her protection. John is off any medication unless severely agitated. The Consultation-Liaison psychiatry team are aware of her admission to the medical ward and will review John later this morning. Over the next few hours it is likely that John will become more alert and likely more distressed and agitated. You require to call for assistance if you have any concerns.

In a parting comment the night duty RN states, “I don’t know why we are wasting our time looking after a woman who wants to kill herself when there are plenty of sick people out there who need hospital beds”

Please extract the main issues and write about how the information given impacts the client, their family, and how it informs your nursing care and approach. Please use relevant research to inform your study on bipolar disorder and discuss these finding as applied to the case

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