Aim of assessment

The purpose of the evidenced base case study is to enable students to consolidate nursing issues covered in class materials, tutorials, and other Blackboard site information. The assessment will determine students’ understanding of the topics and applications in a mental health setting and the transition into the professional nursing workforce. This is an evidence based case study based on a scenario where the students respond by critiquing and answering a series of questions.

Case study scenario

_________________________________________________________________________

You are a Registered Nurse in an Accident and Emergency Department. Jill was brought in by ambulance after her sister found her semi-conscious at home. Medical assessments revealed Jill consumed an overdose of over the counter medications. Jill is alert, orientated and engaging with you. During your discussions with Jill, you gather the following information.

Jill is 22-years-old. She lives with her father Ian, and older sister Pam, who is 24 years old. During your conversations with Jill, she reports she has a good relationship with her father. However, Jill feels more distant from her dad since her mum died suddenly 11 months ago from a chronic illness. Jill reports her dad has been working two jobs and extra hours to pay for the family bills.  Jill says she doesn’t see him much as he leaves home at 6 am and gets home around 8 pm most nights –on the weekend he is too tired and doesn’t talk much.

Jill is an apprentice hairdresser (works 4 days a week) and studies part time as part of her apprenticeship (1 day a week). Jill has told you she is behind in her studies and has failed one assessment and hasn’t submitted two others. She says she has been feeling very tired, unmotivated, and has noticeable lower energy for two to three months now. Jill says she used to go to the gym and play soccer but she just can’t find the enthusiasm to go anymore. Jill has also taken a few sick days from work over the last month. She is becoming increasingly anxious that she may lose her apprenticeship due to not submitting her work and reduced attendance at work. Jill has been in a relationship with Jack (23 years old) for two years. They met through a friend. Jill states that Jack has been increasingly upset and distressed with her during the last two months as he feels that she has become increasingly distant, frequently cancels time together and often doesn’t return his phone calls or text messages. She also has stopped using social media and her friends are concerned about her.

On the night of the overdose, Jill and Jack met for dinner. They had an argument about the state of their relationship and Jack left dinner half way through visibly upset. Jill walked home alone and on the way went to the bottle shop she tells you she thinks she drank a whole bottle of wine in her room when she got home – no one else was home at the time. She reports that she became increasingly anxious, agitated and distressed after consuming the wine, because she doesn’t usually drink and started to feel unwell. She took an impulsive and intentional overdose of medications.  She states she can’t remember which tablets she took or how many. Jill states she has been experiencing ruminating thoughts of suicide since her mum died. The first anniversary of her mum’s death is approaching and she was thinking that it would be the best date to do it. She misses her terribly. She hasn’t been able to talk to her dad because he is busy working and she doesn’t want to burden him anymore – she knows he misses her too and she feels guilty.  She feels like a failure because of work and not submitting her assignments and feels like she is letting her family down. The last month has been especially difficult as she feels overwhelmed and Jack has mentioned ending their relationship. At the current time, Jill tells you “she just wants to end it all”.

_________________________________________________________________________

1.    Depression and suicide are significant areas of concern in Australia.

a)    Investigate and outline the incidence of both depression and suicide in Australia.

Depression and suicide should be addressed separately.

b)    Critically discuss one community group identified as ‘at risk’ of depression and one different community group identified as ‘at risk’ of suicide.

Ensure your answer demonstrates why these identified groups are thought to be at risk applying contemporary literature.

In response to the case study answer the following questions. (Remember to refer to the literature)

2.    Critically discuss three (3) factors that may have contributed to the development of the client’s mental health concerns and risks.

3.    Legal and ethical considerations in health care can generate in-depth discussion from varying perspectives within the multidisciplinary team.

The case study presents areas of risk regarding harm to self and others.

Define and discuss the ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence and aspects of the Mental Health Act 2014 W.A., which are relevant to the areas of risk in the case study.

4.    Identify a high priority mental health risk from the case study, and provide two (2) relevant nursing interventions.

Explain the rationale and the potential impact on the client for each intervention associated with the risk identified (Note: the interventions should be within the nurse’s scope of practice). Remember to support your discussion by referring to contemporary literature.

5.    Identify a mental health problem/ issue/ need from the case study, and provide two (2) relevant interventions. Explain the rationale and the potential impact on the client for each intervention associated with the problem/issue/need identified (Note: the interventions should be within the nurse’s scope of practice). Remember to support your discussion by referring to contemporary literature.

·         Refer to marking criteria and standards for mark allocation for each questions.

·         This essay requires a standard essay introduction and conclusion.

·         There is a word limit of 2500 words (+/- 10% as per SNM Presentation and Assignment Guidelines).

·         You are required to present your essay in order of questions; by referring to the question number in your answer.

·         Marks will be allocated as per SNM Assessment Rubric & the essay specific criteria below.

·         Submission instructions and link is accessible under the ‘assessments’ tab.

·         Students are to submit according to the instructions in this guide.

·         Students should refer to the SNM Presentation and Assignment Guide, ECU APA Referencing Guide, and the SNM Marking Assessment Rubric.