Advanced Nursing Practice Advance Nursing Practice

Ignoring symptoms that are clearly indicative of something wrong is a bad idea. The idea becomes even more ill-advise as the symptoms become more and more prominent and/or numerous in nature. While chronic diseases and other disorders take time to do their work, waiting until they become unbearable is something that should never occur as the chances of an optimal outcome are not nearly as good as they could or should be. Further, become the opposite of a hypochondriac and avoiding the diagnosis and care of a doctor is also less than wise. For example, a person might think they have cancer when instead they just need a little modest medical care and lifestyle changes to their health back on track. Indeed, it would seem that precisely that is going on with the patient described and diagnosed below.

Patient Initials: Not Known Age: 60 Years Old Gender: Male

Subjective Data

Client Complaints

The patient has arrived and described a decrease in urinary flow and nocturia, the latter being the consistent and present need to get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Patient thinks he has cancer and is seeking help because there have been some major and palpable problems over the last forty-eight hours.

History of Present Illness

Patient has apparently been experiencing these symptoms to some degree over the last two years. The patient is coming to the doctor now because the issue has apparently gotten much worse over the last fourteen days or so. The problem is not new but has ramped up in severity of symptoms over the last few weeks. Patient says there are no signs of abdominal pain or nausea. Patient also denies that there is blood in the stool. No gross hematuria but also has not had a positive review of symptoms in the past.

Past Medical History

He recently had a possible case of angina. He was diagnosed with chest wall syndrome, was treated and released. There were no other issues with that disorder beyond that. Takes Cardizem (240 mg daily) and Zocor (20 mg daily) and is not known to be allergic to any particular drug. Per the drugs above and some other details, the patient is being treated for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. No known history of heart disease with the patient but there is apparently some in the case of some distant aunts and unclesbut nothing direct to the patient per what was told for this report.
Social/Personal History

Patient does not smoke or drink, per history collected. Denies partaking in illicit drugs. His wife does all of the cooking of the house. So much as the patient knows, he eats healthy. He does get regular checkups but is apparently not telling his physician about his bladder/prostate issues if this is true. Patietn is Hispanic but was born in the United States and his social/personal circles are all within his immediate geographic vicinity. He lives in a suburban setting.

Patient's Support System

Patient has one brother and one sister. Both are still alive and are both in good health so far as they all know and admit. Patient also has two children that are grown, both in their mid-30's.

Description of Client's Support System

His wife provides the bulk of his personal support and there is no known dysfunction between the two. He also gets support from his coworkers. However, the patient is high-strung and over-achieving and this is probably a major contributory factor of his hypertension. However, he does not have overt stress in his life but he does not get much in the way of support from anyone…