DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan

ByDaniel Rossi Updated on

DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last few years and review each one for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, to save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested in reading through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence collected from the research, and ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between paragraphs by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan Instructions

Evaluation Plan

As geriatric patients age, their health and functional stability may decline resulting in the inability to perform basic activities of daily living. In your role as a nurse practitioner, you must assess whether the needs of these aging patients are being met. Comprehensive geriatric assessments are used to determine whether these patients have developed or are at risk of developing age-related changes that interfere with their functional status. Since the health status and living situation of older adult patients often differ, there are a variety of assessment tools that can be used to evaluate wellness and functional ability. For this Discussion, you will consider which assessment tools would be appropriate for a patient in a case scenario.

To prepare:

  • Review this week’s Learning Resources, considering how assessment tools are used to evaluate patients. Have a look at DRNP 6540 Week 1 Knowledge Check: Immunizations.
  • Your Instructor will assign a case study to use for this Discussion. Review the case study and, based on the provided information, think about a possible patient evaluation plan. As part of your evaluation planning, consider where the evaluation would take place, whether any other professionals or family members should be present, appropriate assessment tools and guidelines, and any other relevant information you may wish to address.
  • Consider whether the assessment tool you identified was validated for use with this specific patient population and if this poses issues. Think about additional factors that might present issues when performing assessments such as language, education, prosthetics, missing limbs, etc.
  • Consider immunization requirements that may be needed for this patient.
By Day 3

Post an explanation of your evaluation plan for the patient in the case study provided, and explain which type of assessment tool you might use for the patient. Explain whether the assessment tool was validated for use with this patient’s specific patient population and whether this poses issues. Include additional factors that might present issues when performing assessments, such as language, education, prosthetics, etc. Also explain the immunization requirements related to health promotion and disease prevention for the patient.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days in one or more of the following ways:

  • Suggest alternative assessment tools and explain why these tools might be appropriate for your colleagues’ patients.
  • Recommend strategies for mitigating issues related to use of the assessment tools your colleagues discussed.
  • Explain other health promotion considerations for patients in this population or with related issues.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the Reply button to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Post Reply, you cannot delete or edit your own posts and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Post Reply! 

DRNP 6540 Week 1 Discussion – Evaluation Plan Example

Case Study

Mr. Roberts is a 67-year-old man with a history of insomnia, chronic back pain, and alcohol recovery who presents today for a hearing evaluation. The patient reports a gradual, progressive inability to hear dialogue on television, difficulty hearing high frequencies, and an indistinguishable perception of conversations in public. His wife accompanies him today and states that her husband cannot hear her at home. He has positive history of bilateral, cerumen impaction but no dizziness, tinnitus, or vertigo. The patient worked 35 years for a printing company but retired 2 years ago. He denies ever smoking and quit drinking 25 years ago.

Hearing Loss

Many older adults experience hearing loss. According to Lohler et al (2019), 450 million people have hearing impairments with one-third being at least 65 years old and affected by sensorineural age-related loss. Aging causes changes in the external, middle, and inner ear altering the consistency of canal, cilia, cerumen, and circulation. Negative alterations of important auditory structures cause functional difficulties in nerve pathways and deteriorating sound signals which distort wave transmission and reception thus hearing loss occurs.

Hearing loss is a devastating, life-altering impairment commonly noted among the geriatric population. According to Deal et al. (2019), hearing loss is linked to physical, psychosocial, and cognitive adverse health risks and disease. Hearing loss not only disrupts how individuals communicate but also places them at risk for cardiovascular disease, falls, depression, and dementia. The high prevalence of hearing loss among geriatrics and its prominence on compounded comorbidities suggests that a hearing evaluation, is a necessary part of geriatric assessments.  

Geriatric Evaluation Plan

The evaluation plan for Mr. Roberts includes collecting history and reviewing body symptoms from the patient and wife, reviewing allergies and medications, examining the patient, utilizing diagnostic testing, and ordering referrals as needed to audiologists and or otolaryngologists.

A comprehensive history of hearing loss (present illness) would include the onset of symptoms, which ear is affected or if both are affected, how long episodes last or if constant,  the character of the hearing difficulty and whether he experiences buzzing, what aggravates or relieve any symptom, if the loss is a specific time of day or after a specific event, the intensity of the loss, and if additional symptoms like pain occur.

Mr. Robert’s social history is assessed to review alcohol and tobacco use, his past and present work environment at the print company for allergens and noise, and any hobbies that require noise. A review of body systems would include general, eyes, ears, nose, throat, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, neurological, and psychiatric questions. My rationale for each body system is to explore possible causes and effects of his ear loss. For example, hearing loss may cause Mr. Robert to lose his balance.

A comprehensive review of medication and environmental allergies and reactions would be elicited to investigate possible aggravating factors like seasonal allergies to pollen. The patient’s immunizations, vaccine, and surgical history would be reviewed and collected. I would note any ear and sinus procedures. All medications, vitamins, and supplements consumed in the past year would be reviewed to explore possible contact with ototoxic medications like opioids, NSAIDs, and antibiotics like gentamycin.  

Mr. Robert’s physical assessment mirrors the review of systems with an emphasis on the ear, nose, and throat. During the physical exam of the patient’s ears, the external ear is examined for structural abnormalities like reduced symmetry or abnormal shape and an otoscope would be used to visualize the internal structures of the ear canal and tympanic membrane like cerumen buildup and or discharge.

Next, the Weber, Rinne, whisper, and finger rub tests would be done to assess equality of sound among both ears, air and bone conduction, and the ability to hear low, soft tones. A pure tone audiometry test is anticipated, in addition to a speech perception test to assess hearing at varying frequencies and in the presence of background noises.

The major component of this plan will be the comprehensive geriatric assessment. Ward and Reuben (2024) indicate the geriatric assessment is an indispensable diagnostic tool that goes beyond traditional assessments to investigate multifaced holistic components and multifactorial factors that influence health. The geriatric assessment is the most important part of the evaluation plan because it uses screenings fueled by symptoms, predisposed illness and disease, and health promotion and prevention ideologies.

Screenings appropriate for Mr. Robert would include the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the elderly or HHIE-S, Katz Index of Independence in activities of daily living, Lawton Instrumental Activities of daily living scale, Tinetti balance and gait evaluation, Geriatric depression scale, General Anxiety screening, and Mini-Cognitive assessment (Ward & Reuben, 2024; Jin, 2021).

The Hearing handicap inventory for the Elderly and Lawton Instrumental activities of daily living are valid screenings that assess Mr. Robert’s ability to take care of himself with vital daily activities like dressing himself and taking medications. The significance of adding the Lawton screen is to allow the patient and his wife to give the practitioner a subjective/objective view of the patient’s daily home life and abilities. Tinetti balance and gain evaluation is a valid test to help determine a patient’s risk for falls and injuries.

Geriatric depression and Anxiety screening are relevant to aid the practitioner in determining addictive psychological stress, behavioral issues, and coping mechanisms (Blazer, 2020). Lastly, the mini-cognitive assessment is a valid test to screen for anticipated neurological disorders like dementia, a possible comorbidity related to hearing loss due to vascular changes and reduced circulation that affects the head and brain.  

After all data is gathered and assessed from the patient’s assessment, examination, and testing I would consult a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals including an audiologist, Otolaryngologist, Speech therapist, Physical therapist, Occupational therapist, and medical social worker to collaborate care. Mr. Roberts would be educated on diagnosis (presbycusis), and preventative health guidelines according to USPSTF(prostate, colon, diabetes, lipid, flu, covid, RSV), health promotion (healthy diet, hydration, exercise, sleep), and disease processes he is at risk for that relate to a hearing loss like cardiovascular and dementia (Kennedy-Malone & Groenke-Duffy, 2023.

References

Blazer, D. (2020). Hearing loss and psychiatric disorders. The Hearing Journal, 73(11);6. https://doi.org.10.1097/01.Hj0000722492.41773.6c

Deal, J., Reed, N, & Kravetz, A. (2019). Incident hearing loss and comorbidity a longitudinal administrative claims study. The Journal of American Medical Association, 145(1);36-43. https://doi.org.10.1001/jamaoto.2018.2876

Jin, J. (2021). Screening for hearing loss in older adults. The Journal of American Medical Association, 325(12); 1234. https://doi.org.10.1001/jama.2021.2513

Kennedy-Malone, L. & Groenke-Duffy, E. (2023). In advanced practice nursing in the care of older adults, 3rd ed. FA Davis

Lohler, J., Cebulla, M., Shehata-Dieler, W., Volkenstein, S., Volter, C., & Walther, L. (2019). Hearing impairment in old age. Deutsches Arzteblatt international , 116(17); 301-310. https://doi/org.10.3238/arztebl.2019.301.

Ward, K., & Reuben, D. (2024). Comprehensive geriatric assessment. Update. http s://www.uptodate.com/contents/comprehensive-geratric-assessmentLinks to an external site.