NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

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NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet is 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 paper’s audience and purpose, as this will 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, review its use, including writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review the formatting requirements for the title page and headings in the paper, as outlined by Chamberlain University.

How to Research and Prepare for NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify a list of keywords related to your topic using various combinations. The first step is to visit the Chamberlain 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 the Chamberlain University Library, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last 5 years and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, such as APA, so that you can 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. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next, create a detailed outline of the paper to help you develop headings and subheadings for the content. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part, as it helps provide the context of your work and determines whether the reader will be interested in reading through to the end. Begin 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 NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

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, as well as how it relates 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 NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

In-text citations help readers give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their work. 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 Morelli et al. (2024), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Alawiye (2024) highlights 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 NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restating 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. Conclude with a call to action that leaves a lasting impression on the reader or offers recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

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

Morelli, S., Daniele, C., D’Avenio, G., Grigioni, M., & Giansanti, D. (2024). Optimizing telehealth: Leveraging Key Performance Indicators for enhanced telehealth and digital healthcare outcomes (Telemechron Study). Healthcare, 12(13), 1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131319

Alawiye, T. (2024). The impact of digital technology on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 13, 13-22. 10.4236/etsn.2024.132002.

NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet Instructions

Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

Address the following statements and questions. Write on this template and include the following components:

  1. write 150-300 words in a Microsoft Word document
  2. demonstrate clinical judgment appropriate to the virtual patient scenario
  3. cite at least one relevant scholarly source as defined by program expectations
  4. communicate with minimal errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation

Some clinicians may find it difficult to explain the logic behind their clinical thinking. As you gain experience, your clinical reasoning will begin at the outset of the patient encounter, not at the end. Reflect on the clinical reasoning you used during this virtual patient encounter. Have a look at NR509 Week 6 iHuman Assignment Jessica Walbertz.

Describe the steps taken to identify and interpret the key findings in this case. 

What are some “lessons learned” within the assessment that you can apply to your professional practice as a provider?

NR509 Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet Example

Week 5 iHuman Assignment Reflection Worksheet

Clinical Judgment

The patient presented with several symptoms, including fever, blood in stool, and elevated white blood cell count (WBC). These are the typical signs of infection. On performing a stool culture, the results confirmed the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis, aligning with the patient’s symptoms and justifying the use of Ciprofloxacin 500mg OD, an antibiotic effective against Salmonella infections. The elevated BUN of 26 from the Basic Metabolic Panel indicates a potential kidney involvement, possibly due to dehydration secondary to infection. The elevated WBC count (13,500mm3), specifically with a notable percentage of band cells, indicated a strong inflammatory response and an ongoing infection (Paul & Walson, 2021).

My clinical judgment also factored in the medication choices. I prescribed Ciprofloxacin based on the patient’s severe infection symptoms, positive stool culture, and bacterial susceptibility. The recommendation of acetaminophen for fever management aligns with best practices, and the inclusion of probiotics helps manage infectious and antibiotic-associated diarrhea (Kopacz & Phadtare, 2022). Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is a condition characterized by diarrhea that occurs as a side effect of taking antibiotics (Kopacz & Phadtare, 2022). This happens because antibiotics disrupt the balance of the natural gut microbiota, leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff) or other pathogens, which can cause diarrhea.

Logic Behind Clinical Thinking

At the initial encounter, I engaged in a comprehensive review of the patient’s presenting symptoms, medical history, and initial diagnostic results. The presence of fever, blood in stool, elevated white blood cell count (WBC), and elevated band cells signaled an immune response (Eberhardt et al., 2022). Recognizing that severe infection symptoms were evident, I was prompted to consider a serious infectious cause as the primary differential diagnosis.

The diagnostic tests, particularly the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) and Complete Blood Count (CBC), offered vital insights. The elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) raised concerns about dehydration and systemic involvement of the infection (Sheley et al., 2023). The positive stool culture for Salmonella Enteritidis supported the hypothesis of an infection.

My clinical reasoning then led to the prescription of Ciprofloxacin, which was chosen based on the identified pathogen, Salmonella Enteritidis bacteria, and the patient’s severe symptoms. The decision was bolstered by the patient’s need for immediate intervention due to the severity of the infection, marked by an elevated WBC count of 13,500mm3 and elevated Band cells of 10% (Sheley et al., 2023).

Describe The Steps Taken To Identify And Interpret The Key Findings In This Case
Step 1: Review of Presenting Symptoms

The initial assessment of the patient’s symptoms, including fever, indicated an immune response, which is often a sign of infection (Swearingen & Wright, 2019). Moreover, the observation of blood in the stool suggested a potential gastrointestinal inflammation or bleeding. These symptoms collectively signaled the possibility of a severe infection.

Step 2: Laboratory Data Analysis

Upon analyzing the laboratory results, two key findings emerged. The Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) showed an elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level of 26. This indicated potential kidney involvement, which could be due to dehydration associated with the infection or other systemic factors. The Complete Blood Count (CBC) revealed an elevated white blood cell count (WBC) of 13,500/mm³, along with an elevated percentage of band cells at 10%. This elevated WBC count and the presence of band cells indicated an active immune response, particularly to an infection.

Step 3: Microbiological Analysis

The negative result for Clostridium difficile (C.diff) ruled out one potential causative agent of gastrointestinal infection. However, the stool culture came back positive for Salmonella Enteritidis, which confirmed the presence of Salmonella bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. This was a crucial key finding, narrowing down the source of infection.

Step 4: Microscopic Examination

The stool gram stain provided additional information by showing the presence of Gram-negative bacilli. This aligned with the characteristics of Salmonella bacteria, further corroborating the diagnosis.

Step 5: Immune Response Confirmation

The finding of fecal leukocytes greater than 10,000 WBC/mcL provided direct evidence of an inflammatory response within the gastrointestinal tract. This reinforced the suspicion of an active infection and an ongoing immune reaction.

Integration and Treatment Rationale

The integration of these key findings provided a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s condition. The elevated WBC count, band cells, and fecal leukocytes confirmed a robust immune response to a severe infection. The elevated BUN indicated potential kidney involvement, and the positive stool culture, along with the presence of Gram-negative bacilli, confirmed the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis as the causative pathogen (Swearingen & Wright, 2019). Ciprofloxacin was prescribed based on the confirmation of Salmonella infection and the patient’s severe symptoms of infection. Acetaminophen was recommended for fever management. Additionally, the use of probiotics is intended to support gut health and alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms.

Lessons Learnt

One of the critical lessons I learned from this assessment is the significance of differentiating between mild, moderate, and severe cases to tailor the treatment approach. The ability to integrate clinical data, interpret results, and prioritize interventions based on the patient’s condition is essential. Another lesson is the importance of patient education; I understood the need to educate the patient about hydration, rest, proper hygiene, and the rationale behind probiotic use (Swearingen & Wright, 2019). This experience has reinforced the importance of evidence-based practice and staying updated with guidelines. The clinical reasoning skills I have developed will guide me in making informed decisions, providing appropriate care, and improving patient outcomes in my professional practice as a healthcare provider.

References

Eberhardt, N., Bergero, G., Mazzocco Mariotta, Y. L., & Aoki, M. P. (2022). Purinergic modulation of the immune response to infections. Purinergic Signalling, 18(1), 93–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11302-021-09838-y

Kopacz, K., & Phadtare, S. (2022). Probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 10(8), 1450. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081450

Paul, I. M., & Walson, P. D. (2021). Acetaminophen and ibuprofen in the treatment of pediatric fever: a narrative review. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 37(8), 1363–1375. https://doi.org/10.1080/03007995.2021.1928617

Sheley, W. C., Gray, M. J., Wilber, M. Q., Cray, C., Carter, E. D., & Miller, D. L. (2023). Electrolyte imbalances and dehydration play a key role in Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans chytridiomycosis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.1055153

Swearingen, P. L., & Wright, J. (2019). All-in-One Nursing Care Planning Resource – E-book: Medical-surgical, pediatric, maternity, and psychiatric-mental health. Elsevier Health Sciences.