26 Sep Assessment Tool for Patients Symptoms Using Theory of the Unpleasant Symptoms

Assessment Tool for Patients Symptoms Using Theory of the Unpleasant Symptoms

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Assessment Tool for Patients Symptoms Using Theory of the Unpleasant Symptoms

Nurses rely on the availability of symptoms to determine the kind and type of treatment for patients. Among them is the approach to unpleasant symptoms, whose proponent is Lenz. It helps nurses handle patients' symptoms and has a wide coverage. The paper explores the features to examine in the assessment tool for patients using the theory of unpleasant theory.

Individual symptoms, the factors that affect the symptoms, and the impacts on the patient are the components of the unpleasant symptoms theory (Lenz, 2018). The paper identifies four symptom analysis tools that nurses observe regarding the approach. The nurses need to monitor the intensity of the signs, the time of the symptoms, the stress the patients undergo, and the strength of the syndromes (Mikšić et al., 2018, p. 19). Based on the intensity, the nurses need to observe the severity of the symptoms where a patient may experience multiple symptoms, which may be from a single infection or various infections. The theory of unpleasant symptoms categorized the symptoms as physiological and psychological, which influence the occurrence of symptoms.

The other tool is timing, which involves the symptoms' duration and onset, where some syndromes may take longer while others may take a short period. The other tool assesses patients' suffering due to the symptoms' severity. Medical practitioners observe syndromes' magnitude as a tool for examining the seriousness of the infection. Additionally, the Medics need to monitor the patient's history concerning the disease (Gomes et al., 2019). Similarly, the patient's environment, physiological, and psychological conditions also matter. The interaction of the three tools shows the severity of the symptoms, which is important in clinical practice. Medical practitioners should also note the complexity of the symptoms because some may be less virulent. Besides, it is important to note what can prevent and manage the symptoms. Also, nurses need to observe the duration of treatments as some symptoms may be long-lasting. In addition, the nurses should note the outcome of the treatment.

In conclusion, the theory of unpleasant symptoms makes it easier for nurses to monitor patients' progress during treatment. The approach comprises three components: the symptoms, the individual's effects, and the patient's impact. The three components help identify major factors in assessment tools for patients. The symptoms' intensity, the duration and onset of the syndromes, the stress the patient experiences, and the syndromes' intensity are the factors to observe.

References

Lenz, E. R. (2018). Application of the theory of unpleasant symptoms in practice: A challenge for nursing.  Investigación En Enfermería: Imagen Y Desarrollo,  20(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.ie20-1.atus

Mikšić, Š., Bošnjaković, M., Simić, I., Stanić, B., Stanković, M., & Stojkov, Ž. (2018). Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms and Concept of Nursing Support.  Southeastern European Medical Journal: SEEMEDJ,  2(2), 17-22. https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v2i2.52

Gomes, G. L. L., Oliveira, F. M. R. L. D., Barbosa, K. T. F., Medeiros, A. C. T. D., Fernandes, M. D. G. M., & Nóbrega, M. M. L. D. (2019). Theory of unpleasant symptoms: critical analysis  Texto & Contexto-Enfermagem,  28. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-265X-TCE-2017-0222