Nursing Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis is a strategy applied by medical practitioners to help them weigh the potential of one health disorder versus that of other health disorders that account for the patient’s illness (Carpenito, 2009). Therefore, the differential diagnosis of the patient in the case study suffering from normocytic anemia begins with the analysis of recent amputation of the right-above-the-knee; this led to loss of red blood cells through bleeding. The diagnosis was followed by the patient’s medical history, which reveals peripheral vascular disease, chronic kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes.

The patient’s history in the case study helps establish the other health disorders that the patient is suffering from and which might be the cause of the current disorder (Carpenito, 2009). The other need for patient’s history during diagnosis is to help the healthcare practitioner establish the patient’s reactions towards diverse medication. Physical examination was conducted to establish the other body parts that might have been affected by the patient’s fall, which might result to internal bleeding and damage on other internal organs. On the other hand, laboratory reports provide vital information concerning the infections that the patient might e suffering from as well as information on the immunity and deficiencies in the patient’s body, which she needs to supplement through a nutritious diet or medication.

Anemia is a health condition that emanates from deficiency of iron in the red blood cells (RBCs) onus for carrying oxygen around the body. In the case study, the patient’s laboratory report shows that MVC is normal, meaning that patient is suffering from normocytic anemia, which results aging and the infection of other health disorders such as kidney diseases, cancer, rheumatoid and diabetes (Buttaro, el at. 2013). One of the treatment approaches of this health disorder is through injection of erythropoietin and treatment of the other medical conditions that cause the disease. In this case Quinapril 20 milligrams PO daily for the chronic kidney disease, 30 units of Lantus and Humalog for Type 2 diabetes.

References

Buttaro, T. M., Trybulski, J., Polgar, Bailey, P., & Sandberg-Cook, J., (2013). Primary Care: A Collaborative Practice 4^th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

Carpenito, L. J., (2009). Nursing Care Plans & Documentation: Nursing Diagnosis and Collaborative Problems, 5^th ed. Philedephia: Wolters Kluwer.