High School

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**Case Study: Tula Stillwater**

Tula Stillwater is 36 years old and has had diabetes since age 26. Ms. Stillwater weighs 218 lb, is gravida 1 para 1, and delivered a 9 lb, 6 oz boy via cesarean section 3 days ago, resulting in a transverse abdominal incision with staples. She reports tenderness on the right side of the incision, but acute pain on the left side of the incision.

**Current Observations:**

- **Vital Signs at 0800:**
- Temperature: 101.6°F
- Pulse: 76 beats/min
- Respirations: 18 breaths/min
- Blood Pressure: 134/78 mm Hg

- **Blood Glucose:**
- Before breakfast: 185 mg/dL
- Previous days: 90 to 124 mg/dL

- **Incision Assessment:**
- Dressing intact
- Staples intact
- Right side: well approximated, without erythema
- Left side: pulling apart, edematous, warm, scant purulent drainage

**Prescribed Interventions:**

- Vital signs every 4 hours
- Fingerstick blood glucose before meals and at bedtime
- Regular insulin per sliding scale
- Remove staples before discharge
- Discharge on third day, if stable

**Clinical Reasoning and Clinical Judgment:**

1. **Interpretation of Vital Signs:**
- What is your interpretation of her vital signs?

2. **Notification:**
- Who should be notified and when?
- How would you determine whether Ms. Stillwater meets the criteria for discharge?

3. **Relationship between Diabetes and Postsurgical Condition:**
- What is the relationship between Ms. Stillwater's diabetes and her postsurgical condition?
- What factors affect her staple removal?

4. **Response to Blood Glucose Level:**
- How should you respond to her fingerstick blood glucose level?

5. **Nursing Interventions:**
- What nursing interventions do you foresee performing?

6. **Insulin Administration:**
- Describe the timing and the technique for administering her insulin.

Answer :

1. Ms. Stillwater's vital signs suggest a possible infection, as evidenced by her elevated temperature, tenderness, and purulent drainage at the incision site. This warrants further assessment and consideration of appropriate interventions.

2. The healthcare provider should be notified immediately due to the potential for infection and the need for further evaluation and treatment. Discharge criteria should include stable vital signs, resolution of infection symptoms, and confirmation of wound healing without complications.

3. Ms. Stillwater's diabetes predisposes her to delayed wound healing and increased risk of infection. Factors affecting staple removal include the presence of infection, wound integrity, and the need for adequate healing to prevent dehiscence.

1. Ms. Stillwater's elevated temperature, along with tenderness and purulent drainage at the incision site, may indicate the presence of an infection, potentially surgical site infection (SSI). These signs prompt further assessment and evaluation to determine the severity and extent of the infection and to initiate appropriate interventions.

2. Prompt notification of the healthcare provider is essential to ensure timely assessment and management of the possible infection. Criteria for discharge should include stable vital signs within normal range, resolution of infection symptoms, such as tenderness and drainage, and confirmation of wound healing without complications such as dehiscence or necrosis.

3. Ms. Stillwater's diabetes can impair wound healing and increase susceptibility to infections due to compromised immune function and altered inflammatory response. These factors may prolong her recovery and affect the timing of staple removal. Adequate glycemic control is essential to optimize wound healing and minimize the risk of complications. Insulin administration should be tailored to her blood glucose levels, with close monitoring and adjustment as needed to maintain euglycemia and support healing.

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Rewritten by : Barada

Ms. Stillwater's vital signs and symptoms suggest a potential post-surgical infection, and her elevated blood glucose is of concern for wound healing. A provider should be notified, and discharge criteria likely are not met. Proper monitoring and management, including administering insulin and providing wound care, are essential for her recovery.

The student is asking about the clinical condition of Ms. Tula Stillwater, who is a 36-year-old patient with a history of diabetes and recent cesarean section. When interpreting her vital signs, Ms. Stillwater's elevated temperature suggests a possible infection, particularly in the context of her surgical incision symptoms. A provider should be notified immediately due to her acute pain and signs of possible wound infection, such as the part of the incision pulling apart, edema and warmth at the site, and purulent drainage. Criteria for discharge would likely not be met given these clinical signs.

Ms. Stillwater's diabetes could negatively impact her wound healing and increase the risk of infection. Uncontrolled blood glucose levels can impede the healing process, and her elevated blood glucose needs to be addressed. The fingerstick blood glucose before meals and at bedtime should be monitored closely, and the sliding scale insulin should be administered accordingly to maintain blood glucose levels within the target range. The technique for administering insulin would involve four key steps: preparing the insulin dose as per the sliding scale, selecting an appropriate site for injection, cleaning the skin, and injecting the insulin subcutaneously.

Nursing interventions may include monitoring vital signs, providing wound care, managing blood glucose, administering insulin, pain management, and preparing for potential changes in the plan of care based on Ms. Stillwater's clinical status and response to treatment.