Comparison of Collaborative Care for Bipolar Disorder Patient and Renal Disorder Patient

Comparison of collaborative care for bipolar disorder patient and renal disorder patient
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Comparison of collaborative care for bipolar disorder patient and renal disorder patient
Part 1
Differences between bipolar disorder and renal disorder
The selected mental health disorder is bipolar disorder and the selected medical disorder is renal disorder. Also referred to as manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder is essentially a brain disorder which brings about unusual shifts in energy, mood, activity levels, as well as the ability too perform daily routine tasks (Sorref, 2011). The symptoms of bipolar disorder could cause poor school or job performance, damaged relationships, as well as suicide. This mental disorder is treatable but not curable, and individuals suffering from it may be able to actually lead productive and full lives. Bipolar disorder is common in people of all ages except children, but it usually develops when one is aged between 18 years and 24 years (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). Renal disorders, on the other hand, are understood as any kidney disease. Renal failure occurs when the kidneys stopped functioning (WebMD, 2015). Kidneys have the function of removing waste products and they are useful in balancing salt and water in addition to other minerals – also known as electrolytes – within the blood. The moment a person’s kidneys cease functioning; there will be a buildup of electrolytes, fluids, and waste products in the body (WebMD, 2015). Unlike bipolar disorder that can occur on an adult of any age, renal disorders occur mostly on older adults, or the elderly.
Similarities between bipolar disorder and renal disorder
The first similarity is that both disorders are long-term, permanent conditions. Both do not have a cure but there are medications and treatments that can control the condition and help the individual lead a normal life. In the case of renal disorder for instance, dialysis can help the individual with kidney failure to live a normal life (MedlinePlus, 2014). With bipolar disorder, there are also various treatment options that can be used to treat this condition to enable the individual lead a normal life (Sorref, 2011).
Resources and efforts required to manage the disorders
The burden a patient with a bipolar disorder endures is not comparable to the burden experienced by a patient who has renal disorder; the patient with renal failure endures so much than a patient with bipolar disorder. This is primarily because treating and managing renal failure is very expensive for instance dialysis and kidney transplantation. Moreover, a patient with renal failure has to wait an average of 4 years for kidney transplantation. In comparison, bipolar disorder can be easily managed using drugs only which are easily available; no major medical procedures or transplants are needed in managing bipolar disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014).
Managing bipolar disorder: this condition is incurable, although it could be treated well over the long term. It is notable that proper treatment helps individuals with this mental disorder to achieve better control of their mood swings as well as related symptoms. Considering that bipolar disorder is a long-term, lifelong disease, unremitting treatment is required to control the symptoms. Manic episodes call for urgent control and the patient could be violent (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). Different sorts of drugs could help in controlling symptoms of this condition and prevent episodes of hypomania, mania, and depression. The drugs also treat the symptoms of mania and depression whenever they occur (Sorref, 2011). The drugs for treating bipolar disorder include antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. Psychological treatment, for instance talking therapy, helps the patient to deal with depression and offers advice regarding how the individual can improve relationships (Sorref, 2011).
Managing renal failure: With renal disorder, the treatment options available for the patient include a kidney transplant or dialysis, and each of these treatment options has its own drawbacks and benefits (MedlinePlus, 2014). Dialysis is usually required when the patient develops end-stage kidney failure. Dialysis – haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis – is used to remove extra fluid and waste from the blood and keep the chemical balance of the blood at a safe level. Dialysis is very expensive but the federal government pays 80% of the cost (MedlinePlus, 2014). All in all, the treatment for renal disorder is influenced by the following factors: finances, availability of resources, the individual’s health and medical suitability, the individual’s lifestyle, and personal preferences. Kidney transplants are highly successful given than more than 94 percent of kidney transplants are working 12 months later. However, the wait for a kidney from a donor is roughly four years (Kidney Health Australia, 2015). This comparison demonstrates that the burden that a patient with a mental health disorder endures is really not comparable to the burden experienced by a patient with a medical disorder. The patient with renal failure medical condition endures more burdens. In essence, more resources and efforts are needed to treat and manage renal disorder than those needed to treat and manage bipolar disorder.
Issues that may arise
Issues which could crop up for the patient/family when caring for the patients with renal disorder and bipolar disorder are as follows: (i) having to cope with the patient’s problems. Just like any other serious sickness, bipolar disorder and renal disorder could be difficult for family members, spouses, in addition to other caregivers. In the case of bipolar disorder for instance, close family members usually need to cope with the severe behavioral problems of the individual, like poor school or work performance and extreme withdrawal during depression. In general, it could be really hard to cope with the bipolar symptoms of a loved one (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). (ii) The other issue is the patient having to cope with the side effects of the medications. The side effects of dialysis include fatigue, muscle cramps, itchy skin, anxiety, joint and bone pain, dry mouth, insomnia, hernia, weight gain, and loss of libido. The side effects of drugs for bipolar disorder include dry mouth, acne, restlessness, muscle or joint pain, indigestion or bloating, skin rushes, heartburn, brittle hair or nails, mood swings, and abnormal discomfort to cold temperatures.
Part 2
The legal and ethical implications the registered nurse takes into consideration when caring for patients who have medical disorder and a mental health disorder include the following: the patient’s right to treatment; confidentiality; informed consent; and right to refuse care.
Similarities and differences in the RN’s approach to address the implications
Similarities: (i) right to treatment – a person with bipolar disorder and one with renal disorder both have a constitutional right to be given individual treatment that provides them with a realistic opportunity to improve their mental or medical condition. In essence, the RN is obligated to offer treatment that would be helpful to the patients with bipolar disorder and renal disorder. The patient’s right to good treatment should not be violated (Davis, 2015). The right to treatment would be violated if the RN does not provide treatment. For instance, if a patient with bipolar disorder comes into the hospital but the RN does not talk to him or does not attempt to assist him in any way, the RN is not providing treatment. Another example is when the bipolar patient in a hospital’s psychiatric war...