Nursing Care Study -- 2

Length: 1500–1800 words

Question: Comprehensive health assessment on an elderly client
Scenario

Sam is a 78-year-old gentleman. During his early adulthood period, he was a successful businessman and had a complete family. However, he became bankrupt owing to economic turmoil, and divorced 30 years ago. He became introverted, socially isolated and suffered from alcoholism. He has complained of fatigue and found it difficult to take care of himself recently. Therefore, he was referred by a social worker to stay in a nursing home two weeks ago.
He verbalizes feeling lonely, worthless and hopeless. He is stressed and questions the meaning of life. He refuses all social activities in the nursing home. He has suffered from insomnia for two weeks.
You are the case nurse of Sam. You have observed that Sam is losing weight in a year. His abdomen is distended. Sam also complains that he has been suffering from constipation for half a year. He occasionally finds blood stains in his stool.

Question
You are going to conduct a comprehensive health assessment on the above client.
Briefly describe the components of a comprehensive health assessment and the significance of conducting each component of the health assessment.
Based on the scenario, critically discuss how you are going to conduct the following assessments, including the special assessment skills. Then, identify factors that may affect Sam’s health in each of the following areas:
• developmental assessment
• psychosocial assessment
• spiritual assessment
• physical assessment