End of Semester Case Study – Assessment
Task 5
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This assessment
consists of one case study divided into four (4) questions (1, 2, 3a and 3b)
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There is a total
of 14 pages
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Answer all
questions on the paper
·
This
assessment task has a maximum limit of 16 pages, any answers beyond this limit
will not be marked [excluding end-text referencing]
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Font size = 12
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In terms of scope
of practice, assume you are an Australian Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) or
Intensive Care Paramedic (ICP); expect to answer questions in line with
guidelines from the Australian New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR).
You will also be expected to consider options such as non-invasive ventilation,
mechanical ventilation, blood products, inotropes etc.
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Please note
interventions that you consider but reject (rationale).
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Equipment: assume
you have the necessary equipment for advanced life support, including syringe
drivers and a simple transport ventilator.
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Total number of
marks = 100.
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Once you have
completed the assignment please submit as a PDF via Assessment 5 – End of
Semester Case Study Assignment page (select Start Assignment)
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Papers will be
marked in line with the rubric.
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The emphasis
should be on demonstrating a clear connection between the diagnosis,
appropriate investigations and relevant treatment supported with convincing
rationale based on contemporary evidence-based practice.
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Evidence. APA-7
in-text and end-text referencing IS required for this assessment task.
·
Being able to
paraphrase is an important academic skill and demonstrates that you have
understood the material in your own words. DO NOT copy/paste (from an external
source or from your own work submitted in another unit) because this does not
meet the academic writing expectations that are outlined in the marking rubric.
·
Text boxes for
answers should give you a guide as to the length of the answer expected. There
is no need to delete questions/instructions etc. The answer box lengths are
there for a reason.
·
You can submit
more than once – the latest version will be marked.
·
Gaps in
formatting – the marker will apply common sense. If you have a blank half page
which you cannot delete, this will be considered.
Crew
mix
You
are working as a Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) in a road ambulance in a remote
area of Australia. Your partner is a
Basic Life Support officer (BLS) who can assist under your direction.
Note: In terms of
definitions of skill sets, assume that CCP is synonymous with the highest tier
of paramedic practitioner in the Australian context.
Call
received: 07.00hrs
You
are tasked to attend a 52-year-old man who identifies himself as Aboriginal,
living in a small community with basic infrastructure. The community is a two-hour 4WD ambulance
journey from the hospital. There is no further information currently.
You
are based at a regional hospital with a well-equipped Emergency Department (ED)
and a High Dependency Unit (HDU). The
Royal Flying Doctor Service typically responds within six hours for urgent calls
and can land at the community and your base hospital.
On
arrival at community: 09.00hrs
You
are taken to the patient by family members, who state the patient is usually
self-caring but has been generally unwell for three days. They also report he
often non-compliant with his medication. Today they found him unable to get up
from bed, incontinent of urine and confused.
There are no signs of trauma.
They are unable to provide further details re: past medical history etc.
On
examination:
You
find the patient lying in bed. He appears mildly overweight, pale, and
diaphoretic. The room is hot and humid. No obvious injuries are noted. On the
bedside table you notice an empty pre-filled insulin injector.
Airway:
Patent
and self-maintained
Breathing:
Patient
appears short of breath. Respirations are 40 /minute. Air entry is clear
bilateral. SpO2 86% on room air.
Circulation:
Radial
pulse is hard to palpate. 140 beats/minute. BP 80/55mmHg.
ECG:
Sinus tachycardia
Disability:
Patient
is confused to time and place.
GCS
12 (eyes 3, verbal 4, motor 5). BSL >30 mmol/L (monitor reads HIGH). He
appears to have equal but weak power in limbs bilaterally.
Exposure:
Patient
is afebrile. Tympanic thermometer
reads 36.2ºC. Nil rash or obvious injury.
There is a strong and offensive smell of urine.
