Sarah is 21 years old and has just started a job as a personal carer in an aged facility. She is saving for a rental property and is currently living in a caravan park with her daughter Zara, who is almost two.
Sarah is very upset as she has just discovered she is four months pregnant with her second child. She was living in Adelaide until two months ago when her partner, Jason, insisted that they move to Sydney because he didn`t like Sarah`s parents, saying that they were interfering all the time.
Sarah left Jason two weeks ago when he threatened to leave with Zara, making sure that Sarah never saw her daughter again.
Sarah has not told Jason that she is having another baby. She found the first birth difficult as Jason would not let her go to antenatal classes and she did not really understand what was happening when she commenced labor. She is now very scared of giving birth to another baby.
Sarah arrives at the antenatal clinic for her appointment.
The midwife, Louise, asks: `Is there someone here with you?!. Sarah shakes her head without answering the question verbally. Louise asks her how she is and Sarah turns her head away before answering that she has no one to help her. Sarah becomes very tearful and says she is so ashamed that she has messed up her life and that she doesn`t know how she will cope with another baby.
When Louise continues the interview, she finds out that Sarah is afraid of Jason knowing
where she lives and that she cannot afford the rent at the caravan park. Sarah says that she may end up living in her car.
Sarah is also concerned because she had many difficulties during her last pregnancy because she felt very nauseated and tired all the time. Sarah would love to talk to her mother but is so embarrassed about what has happened to her that she cannot face ringing her.
Case Study Analysis
Once you have selected and examined your case study, answer the following questions as they relate to the case:
1. What is the person`s primary concern? How has this concern impacted their life and their relationships with family, friends and the community?
2. What is the person`s stage in the lifespan? According to Erikson`s psychosocial theory, what challenge is the person facing? How the person is navigating this challenge?
3. What could enable and prevent the person from navigating ways to resolve their
concern?
4. How will you, as a nurse, assist the person to find person-centred solutions to their
dilemma?
