Mental Health Case: George Palo
Guided Reflection Questions
Opening Questions
How did the simulated experience of George Palo’s case make you feel?
-I felt extremely sorrowful for Geroge and his unfortunate situation with his loss. It made me realize that
his emotions are in a fragile state and I had to make sure my questions weren’t too intruding or
insensitive.
Talk about what went well in the scenario.
-Making sure I was able to remove dangerous items from Geroge’s surroundings and ensuring I had a
safe and comformtable environment for the assessment. I was also able to complete the
reccommendations in the electronic health record smoothly and address the physical concerns his
daughter has.
Reflecting on George Palo’s case, were there any actions you would do differently? If so, what were
these actions and why?
-I asked Geroge a couple questions before I realized that I should’ve started with a physical assessment
of vital signs and observations. So next time I would start with an assessment of his physical condition to
help put his daughter at ease and then dive deeper into his mental status with questions thereafter.
Scenario Analysis Questions*
PCC/S What priority problem(s) did you identify for George Palo?
-Geroge was feeling very sad and depressed. He also reported having low energy and feeling
more tired than usual lately. With this decreased level of activity he also showed less of an
ability to care for himself and his mini cognition score was around the same as his last
assessment which leads me to believe his mental status has no improved much showing a
difficulty with coping. He also had a lot of weight loss and has expressed feelings of lonliness.
PCC/I Discuss the benefits of pet therapy for individuals with minor neurocognitive decline and how
it could benefit George Palo.
-Pet therapy can help to boost Geroges energy levels, self-esteem, and overall satisfaction with
his treatment. He will be able to develop a more positive outlook for his condition and future
which will help to decrease his depression. Geroge will be able to become more active and with
an individualized care plan he will become more independet and able to take care of himself.
From vSim for Nursing | Mental Health. © Wolters Kluwer.
T&C
What other individuals in addition to the primary care team should be involved in George
Palo’s case?
-The community nurse should also be involved to help set-up a follow-up assessment in the
future if deemed neccessary. Support group professionals should also be involded in Palo’s care
because they will be able to set him up with resoures to keep him motivated and change his
focus off the loss of his dog.
PCC
What support is available for George Palo’s daughter?
-NAMI Family Support Group is a great support group for family members of patients with
depression. Geroge’s daughter also has support from the caregiver themselves and should be
educated on caregiver burden and what this burnout can do to an individual both mentally and
physically. She should not feel alone in her support and care for her father and can also contact
home health aids and SAMHSA help line which is fee and provides great services.
Concluding Questions
Describe how you would apply the knowledge and skills that you obtained in George Palo’s case to an
actual patient care situation.
-Patient may not tell you everything that they are feeling but it is up to us as the nurse to make a good
assessment of their mental status using body language and through the formulation of clear and concise
questions that are more likely to elicit a response. Using therapeutic communication techniques such as
active listening, giving recognition, and giving broad opening will also be of great use in an acutal patient
care situation.
From vSim for Nursing | Mental Health. © Wolters Kluwer.