Critical analysis related to the care of critically ill patients Essay

Critical analysis related to the care of critically ill patients requiring high dependency care - Essay Example The 3 basic roles of a nurse are that of a practitioner, leader and researcher. As a practitioner, the nurse attends to all the medical needs of the patient and as a leader she takes decisions which relate to, influence and facilitate the actions of others with an aim to achieve a particular goal. As a researcher, the nurse aims to implement studies to determine the actual effects of nursing care and to work towards further improvement in nursing care (Nettina, 2006). The aim of this essay is to analyze and criticize the management and care of a 55 year old patient Mr. X, diagnosed with myocardial infarction. The name of the patient shall not be disclosed through out the essay for the purpose of confidentiality. Mr. X was brought to the casualty on a Saturday afternoon by his wife with complaints of tightness in the chest, difficulty to breathe, and sweating for 10 minutes. There was no radiation of pain. The discomfort started suddenly while Mr. X was watching television. No physical activity triggered the symptoms. Mr. X did not experience similar complaints in the past. He was a known hypertensive and smoker. For his hypertension he was taking a combination of beta-blocker and ACE inhibitor. His previous health check-up 2 months ago showed normal sugars and mild hypercholesterolemia. ECG done at that time was normal and ECHO revealed mild left ventricular hypertrophy. In the emergency room, Mr. X appeared pale and diaphoretic. He was sweating despite cold weather. Pulse rate was 100 per minute, regular and not with good volume. Blood pressure was 160/100 mmHg. Perfusion was moderate. Saturations were 90%. Spot blood glucose was 120 mg per dl. Third heart sound was present and rales were heard over the basal regions of the lungs. Other systems examination was normal. ECG done in the casualty showed ST segment elevation abnormalities in the II, III and aVF leads. A diagnosis of inferior wall infarction was made. Diagnosing myocardial infarction is