Case study: Alteration in women health

Active Classroom Instructor’s Guide for Durham & Chapman’s Maternal Newborn Nursing 3e Handout 1: Case Study: Alterations in Women’s Health Katherine is a 70‐year‐old woman who was recently widowed. She retired from the U.S. Postal Service at age 65. She has three grown children; her daughter lives close to her. She weighs 150 pounds. Her height is 5 foot, 6 inches; her height at age 50 was 5 foot 8 inches. Her blood pressure is 124/86. She takes Synthroid and a multivitamin each morning. Recent lab values are: Fasting glucose—110 mg/dl Hemoglobin—11.5 g/dl Hematocrit—34 RBC—3.8 WBC—10.5 Her EKG is normal. She is scheduled for a vaginal hysterectomy and repair of cystocele and rectocele. Her admitting diagnosis is pelvic organ prolapse. 1. What is pelvic organ prolapse? What are cystoceles and rectoceles? 2. What are the priority preoperative nursing actions for Katherine? 3. What are the postoperative nursing care actions for Katherine? 4. Develop a discharge teaching plan for Katherine that includes addressing postoperative care and health promotion. 13