A 20-year-old female college student is admitted to the inte…
A 20-year-old female college student is admitted to the intensive care unit from the emergency department. The patient lives in a dormitory at her university and her roommate brought her to the hospital because “she is not acting like herself.” The patient was previously healthy to the roommate’s knowledge, involved in campus activities, and an excellent student. The RN collects the patient’s history of present illness from her roommate. About two weeks prior, the patient began feeling ill. She had nasal congestion and was diagnosed with a sinus infection at the student health clinic. However, the patient reportedly decided against taking the prescribed antibiotics because she did not believe they were necessary. She developed high fevers and one day ago began complaining of a stiff neck. That morning, she was more lethargic, making nonsensical statements, and had a fever of 105°F. Her roommate was frightened by her change in behavior and drove her to the hospital.
Read DetailsA 47-year-old male and father of five works as a high school…
A 47-year-old male and father of five works as a high school English teacher. He recently read in the community newspaper that local sewage is treated and repurposed to the community as drinking water. His senior English class is concerned about the quality of drinking water in the city and they want to petition the state senate to pass a bill barring the practice. He comes to the local health department asking for information.
Read DetailsA 78-year-old male presents to the emergency department repo…
A 78-year-old male presents to the emergency department reporting a 2-day history of difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain. Upon triage assessment, the patient is found to have a fever, rapid rate of breathing, low oxygen saturation, and crackles upon auscultation of the lungs. A chest X-ray reveals consolidation in the right upper lung field. The patient is diagnosed with pneumonia, initiated on oxygen therapy, and admitted for observation and treatment.
Read DetailsThe public health department is following a 34-year-old male…
The public health department is following a 34-year-old male who has reported several weeks of general malaise and a low-grade fever. The nurse assigned to his case communicates with the patient regarding the results of his laboratory testing.
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