DRNP 6540 Week 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders

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DRNP 6540 Week 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the DRNP 6540 Week 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders, 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 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders

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 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders

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 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders

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 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders

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 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders

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 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders

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 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders Instructions

Assessing, Diagnosing and Treating, Head, Neck and Face Disorders

Head, neck, and face disorders are common, and thus you will likely care for elderly patients with these disorders. In your role as an advanced practice nurse, you must be able not only to correctly assess and diagnose patients but also help patients manage the disorder by planning necessary treatments, assessments, and follow-up care. Have a look at DRNP 6540 Week 5 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disorders.

To prepare:

  • Review the Week 4 Case Assignment and questions provided by your instructor.
  • Reflect on the patient’s symptoms and aspects of disorders that may be present.
  • Consider how you might assess, perform diagnostic tests, and recommend medications to treat patients presenting with the symptoms in the case study.
The Assignment:

After reviewing the case and the accompanying case analysis questions, included in the document, answer the questions directly in a word document. When providing evidence to support your answers, be sure they evidenced-based, current (no more than 5 years old), and follow current standards of care. Follow APA 7th edition formatting, including a cover page and references. 

By Day 7

Submit your Assignment.

WEEK 4 CASE ASSIGNMENT

A 79-year-old woman presents today with complaints of nasal drainage, clearing of throat, and occasional nasal congestion, especially on waking in the morning. She has recently moved into an independent living center after living in her home for 40 years. She states that, although she has had these symptoms before, generally the symptoms appeared in the spring, and she associated the nasal drainage with pollination. Because it is winter, she could not identify the trigger of her symptoms.

Chief complaint: Persistent “runny nose” for 4-week duration, associated clearing of throat, and nasal congestion on awakening in the morning.

VS: BP 130/84, temperature 98.6, pulse 78, respiratory rate 16   02 Sat 98%

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

  1. What further ROS questions will you want to ask her? List at least three.
  2. What physical exam (PE) will you perform on this patient? List at least three.
  3. What are the differential diagnoses that you are considering? Describe at least three.
  4. What laboratory tests will help you rule out some of the differential diagnoses?
  5. You have determined, by choosing your ROS, PE, and differential diagnosis, that this patient has allergic rhinitis (AR). Describe the treatment options for your diagnosis, and what specific information about the prescription will you give to this patient? List at least two treatment options: medications with dose, side effects and/or cautions in the older adult.
  6. Describe any health promotion topics for this patient, when will you have the patient follow up? Be specific.

DRNP 6540 Week 4 Assignment – Assessing Diagnosing and Treating Head Neck and Face Disorders Example

Assessing, Diagnosing, and Treating Head, Neck, and Face Disorders

Physical assessment and health history are vital baseline interventions for developing a presumptive diagnosis. A good health history and physical examination provides the basis for additional testing that helps narrow down to the definitive diagnosis, hence the need for comprehensive health history taking and physical examination. This paper discusses a patient presenting with respiratory system complaints, additional ROS and physical examination necessary, differential diagnosis, laboratory tests, treatment interventions for the patient (appropriate for older adults), and relevant health education topics.

For the patient, a 79-year-old woman, additional ROS questions necessary include a history of associated symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, loss of smell, itchy eyes, and fullness in the years. These symptoms are characteristics of conditions of the respiratory system, and their assessment can help narrow down the diagnosis. Another ROS question to consider is the common triggers, such as exposure to pollen, dust, animals, or new environments. These factors can trigger the patient’s symptoms, and asking questions can help determine any underlying cause. Another question is the seasonality of the presentations.

The patient mentions the presence of the problems in spring and their unlikelihood in winter. However, inquiring about their appearance in other seasons will help further understand the patient’s presentation. In addition, I would ask the patient about chest congestion or chest pain. Chest pain and chest congestion are signs of cardiac or lower respiratory tract involvement and can help narrow the diagnosis and inform the patient’s management (Wilson & Giddens, 2020). These ROS questions will help gather the necessary information and form a foundation for focused physical examination and laboratory testing.

Physical examination should be focused on gathering data from the pertinent systems. HEENT, pulmonary and cardiac exams are necessary for this patient. HEENT assessment, focusing on the nose and throat and assessing for erythema, drainage characteristics, signs of postnasal drip, cobblestoning, and structural abnormalities, is crucial (Wilson & Giddens, 2020). Pulmonary examinations include auscultating for breath sounds, crackles and wheezes, chest movement symmetry, use of accessory muscles, and congestion.

Cardiovascular system examination will include peripheral pulse palpation, capillary refill, and heart sound assessments to rule out abnormalities (S3 and S4). The examination will provide important data for a more focused presumptive diagnosis. With the physical assessment, health history, and ROS findings, the selection of laboratory tests is more focused.

The differential diagnoses for the patients are allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis. Bernstein et al. (2024) note that allergic rhinitis is an allergic response to seasonal or year-round allergens and causes itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose. The patient presents with a persistent runny nose, throat clearing (postnasal drip), and nasal congestion, which supports the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Non-allergic rhinitis is the inflammation of the nasal membrane, often caused by engorgement in the nasal mucous membranes (Al-Ahmad et al., 2021). The patient’s presentation, runny nose, postnasal drip, nasal congestion and lack of clear causative factors can lead to this diagnosis.

Allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis have similar presentations but are differentiated by laboratory testing. The third differential diagnosis is chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses that lasts more than 12 weeks, and symptoms include sinus pain, nasal congestion, sore throat, runny nose, cough, and headaches (Bleier & Paz-Lansberg, 2021). The patient has had the current symptoms of runny nose, nasal congestion, and throat clearing for the last 4 weeks, and the symptoms have been recurrent.  These symptoms could be suggestive of chronic sinusitis, and it is important to perform a physical examination and do laboratory tests to rule out the diagnosis.

Several laboratory tests can be done to determine the definitive diagnosis for this patient.  A complete blood count may be necessary to diagnose or rule out an infection from elevated white blood cells (Bernsteinet al., 2024). Eckrich et al. (2020) note that a nasal smear examination for eosinophils can help diagnose allergic rhinitis and is commonly used to differentiate allergic from non-allergic rhinitis. In addition, allergy tests through skin prick or serum IgE level analysis can help diagnose or rule out allergic rhinitis (Eguiluz‐Gracia et al., 2021). These laboratory tests’ results, alongside health history and physical examination, can help determine the definitive diagnosis

Treatment of allergic rhinitis entails corticosteroids and antihistamines. The medications for this patient are fluticasone 50mcg spray, two sprays per nostril daily, and loratadine 10mg daily (Eguiluz‐Gracia et al., 2021). Corticosteroids and second-generation antihistamines are effective and well-tolerated in older adults with few side effects. Corticosteroid side effects include nasal dryness, epistaxis, and nasal irritation, and use should be discontinued with severe side effects. Side effects of loratadine include drowsiness, fatigue, and dry mouth, although they are rare. Assessing patients for other medication use to prevent sedation from multi-drug interactions is also crucial.

Patient education is vital for their collaboration and optimal health outcomes. Patient education points include environmental modification, including avoiding allergens and ensuring clean air in the living space (Eguiluz‐Gracia et al., 2021). Another education point is symptom monitoring, such as the use of a symptom chart to help identify and address triggers. Another education point is medication administration, which includes proper administration of the intranasal spray.

Education on the dosages and frequency is also crucial for optimal patient management. Patient follow-up helps determine prognosis and the need for vital care decisions such as referral and changes in treatment. The patient’s presentations, physical examination, and laboratory testing are crucial to patient diagnosis. Management interventions should be tailored to meet patient needs and specific health factors.

References

Al-Ahmad, M., Hassab, M., & Al Ansari, A. (2021). Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. Textbook of Clinical Otolaryngology, 241–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54088-3_22

Bernstein, J. A., Bernstein, J. S., Makol, R., & Ward, S. (2024). Allergic rhinitis: A review. JAMA, 331(10), 866-877. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.0530

Bleier, B. S., & Paz-Lansberg, M. (2021). Acute and chronic sinusitis. Medical Clinics, 105(5), 859-870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2021.05.008

Eckrich, J., Hinkel, J., Fischl, A., Herrmann, E., Holtappels, G., Bachert, C., & Zielen, S. (2020). Nasal IgE in subjects with allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. World Allergy Organization Journal, 13(6), 100129.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100129

Eguiluz‐Gracia, I., Testera‐Montes, A., & Rondon, C. (2021). Medical algorithm: Diagnosis and treatment of local allergic rhinitis. Allergy, 76(9), 2927-2930. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14848

Wilson, S. F., & Giddens, J. F. (2020). Health Assessment for Nursing Practice-E-Book.  (7th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences.