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Running head:CASE STUDY ON MR M
Critical Thinking Case Study on Mr. M
Grand Canyon University: NRS 410 V
, 2
CRITICAL THINKING CASE STUDY ON MR. M
Critical Thinking Case Study on Mr. M
Mr. M is a 70 year-old male who lives in an Assisted Living Facility. He is experiencing
a decline in his mental abilities over the past couple months. This essay is a critical thinking
exercise in reviewing the possibility of causative factors, nursing evaluations, and treatments for
both him and his family. Although some people might think of dementia first, as his altered
mental state and age would suggest, this nurse has seen other diagnoses that have caused similar
symptoms and appropriate treatment cleared the altered mentation. A diagnosis of dementia is
not correct until others have been ruled out.
Clinical Manifestations
Mr. M is a 70-year-old male who lives at an assisted living facility (ALF). He carries
diagnoses of controlled hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Past medical history includes a
appendectomy, and surgery to repair a tibial fracture. There were no complications.
Mr. M’s medication list is as follows: Lisinopril 20 mg daily for hypertension. This is an
ace inhibitor that is controlling his hypertension. Lipitor 40 mg daily is a HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitor used to treat hypercholesterolemia. His PRN medications are as follows: Ambien 10 mg
PRN is a non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics used to treat his insomnia. There is no mention
of how often he uses Ambien, however the PDR recommends geriatric dosage at 5 mg. Xanax
0.5 mg is a benzodiazepine used for intermittent anxiety. Ibuprofen 400 mg, a Nonsteroidal
Antiinflammatory Drug/NSAID, is used as needed for pain. (PDR, 2020)
Due to an unsteady gait, he has difficulty walking and is not very active. He doesn’t
smoke or use alcohol, and has no known allergies. He does not have a diagnosis of dementia.
Mr. M’s mental abilities have declined in the past 2 months. He cannot remember names
of family or which room is his. He also cannot repeat what he read. Mood and behaviors have
Running head:CASE STUDY ON MR M
Critical Thinking Case Study on Mr. M
Grand Canyon University: NRS 410 V
, 2
CRITICAL THINKING CASE STUDY ON MR. M
Critical Thinking Case Study on Mr. M
Mr. M is a 70 year-old male who lives in an Assisted Living Facility. He is experiencing
a decline in his mental abilities over the past couple months. This essay is a critical thinking
exercise in reviewing the possibility of causative factors, nursing evaluations, and treatments for
both him and his family. Although some people might think of dementia first, as his altered
mental state and age would suggest, this nurse has seen other diagnoses that have caused similar
symptoms and appropriate treatment cleared the altered mentation. A diagnosis of dementia is
not correct until others have been ruled out.
Clinical Manifestations
Mr. M is a 70-year-old male who lives at an assisted living facility (ALF). He carries
diagnoses of controlled hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Past medical history includes a
appendectomy, and surgery to repair a tibial fracture. There were no complications.
Mr. M’s medication list is as follows: Lisinopril 20 mg daily for hypertension. This is an
ace inhibitor that is controlling his hypertension. Lipitor 40 mg daily is a HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitor used to treat hypercholesterolemia. His PRN medications are as follows: Ambien 10 mg
PRN is a non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics used to treat his insomnia. There is no mention
of how often he uses Ambien, however the PDR recommends geriatric dosage at 5 mg. Xanax
0.5 mg is a benzodiazepine used for intermittent anxiety. Ibuprofen 400 mg, a Nonsteroidal
Antiinflammatory Drug/NSAID, is used as needed for pain. (PDR, 2020)
Due to an unsteady gait, he has difficulty walking and is not very active. He doesn’t
smoke or use alcohol, and has no known allergies. He does not have a diagnosis of dementia.
Mr. M’s mental abilities have declined in the past 2 months. He cannot remember names
of family or which room is his. He also cannot repeat what he read. Mood and behaviors have
