Your home health agency has received an order from a local hospital to evaluate and treat an
elderly woman being discharged from its medical surgical unit.
Millie Gardner, an 83-year-old female patient, is being discharged home today to the care of her
husband Fred (87 years old) following a 9-day hospitalization for pneumonia, dehydration, and
failure to thrive. She has a history of hypertension (HTN), Type II Diabetes, and cerebral
vascular accident (CVA) with left-sided weakness. Patient is alert and oriented but does have
periods of forgetfulness during the overnight hours. Patient has intermittent incontinence of
bowel and bladder and requires assistance with all activities of daily living (ADLs).
Upon arrival, you are greeted by Champ, the couple's rambunctious miniature Doberman
pinscher dog. Millie is in her wheelchair staring blankly out the window, and Fred is busy in the
kitchen preparing the couple's lunch.
The prognosis for Mrs. Millie Gardner, our Home healthcare’s pending new admit is not very
dire overall, but her presentations are rather challenging. As I drive towards her home and Fred’s
her husband, thoughts about her and her peculiar health needs that I’ve gathered from her
doctor’s face sheet and admission orders raced through my mind. However, I look forward to this
initial encounter with the Gardner family.
Based on the scenario above, please use the general survey process to describe the
areas that you would be observing immediately upon entry to the home.
The overall attributes of the individual are regarded as the general survey. As a nurse,
initial contact with the patient should begin with this brief overview (Jarvis, 2016). The
general survey commences immediately you come into the vicinity of the patient; it
, includes your observation of the patient and the patient’s surroundings as well
(Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2017).
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