The purpose of the MSN History and Physical Examination Case Write Up Assignment is for your instructor to “see” what you are doing in clinical and “see” how you are making clinical decisions. For these write-ups, you will select a patient seen in your current clinical rotation. You will “write-up” the visit, omitting any identifying patient factors. In future semesters, you will continue to build on your write-ups and demonstrate comprehensive advanced practice thinking.
Make sure to start “fresh”. Do not copy and paste from any examples, templates, other students work or even your own work. Be honest in your write-up. If you realize that you have forgotten to assess something or forgot a certain part of the teaching, just add an Addendum at the bottom of the write-up saying what should have been done. Your clinical faculty do not expect perfect write-ups but do expect that you use every patient encounter and subsequent write-up as a time to learn and to evaluate and improve your own practice.
Note that you CANNOT redo write-ups. A grade cannot be improved by redoing a write-up. Faculty will not read and comment on rough drafts of write-ups
All case write-ups are to be submitted to the appropriate assignment category by the due date. Late submissions to the appropriate assignment category will incur a 5pt/day penalty (no maximum) including weekends unless an extension has been requested and approved at least 72 hours before due date.
When submitting case write-up in Blackboard, the assignment will submit to a plagiarism detection software. The plagiarism detection software is used by HBU to identify plagiarized assignments. We are aware of the difference between high “copy matches” due to copied things such as titles/headings and significant matches that were inappropriately copied from another paper. If a paper has significant or complete sections of copied material, a grade of zero will incur.
These write-ups will require a complete history, head-to-toe or extensive ROS and physical examination (PE). Visits that may necessitate a comprehensive ROS, physical exam, and write-up include annual physical, well-woman exam (may not always include head to toe, but could be the only preventive care most women receive), well-child exam, new or established patients with complex or chronic diseases or comorbidities, non-specific complaints, such as fatigue, generalized weakness or body ache, dizziness, etc.
Make sure that you select an appropriate patient so that you can meet all the requirements of the assignment. This write-up should be 2-6 pages (excluding title page, reference page and templates).
This assignment is designed to promote the development of the following: AACN Essentials (2022): Domains 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 and NONPF NP Core and Population-Focused Competencies (2012;2017): Scientific Foundational, Practice Inquiry, Technology and Information Literacy, and Independent Practice.
Following the format of: https://meded.ucsd.edu/clinicalmed/write.htm.
Chief Complaint: This should be in quotes: “I’ve had a cough and sore throat for 2 days.”
History of Present Illness: One of the most important parts of the assessment. Check the list of important questions to ask (OLD CARTS or PQRST). As you become more proficient in physical exam and lab testing, the HPI does not decrease in importance – your ability to use it in diagnostic reasoning just increases.
Past Medical History: Past or present illness. Be careful with “blindly” copying history from a prior clinical note.
Past Hospitalizations: Past hospitalizations with reason for admit, duration of stay, and rough dates
Past Surgical History: Past surgeries and rough dates when possible.
Medications: List name, dose, frequency and indication (why are they taking it?) Do NOT omit PRN medications and how often the medications are taken. This is one way to check whether you’ve put all important information in your patient history. If a patient is taking Metformin and there’s no related information on the history and/or diagnosis list, something is missing.
Allergies: Medications, Food allergies when applicable. Specify what type of reaction next to the allergy if known by the person you are collecting history from (E.g., Penicillin-rash)
Social History: This includes several factors: alcohol use, cigarette use, sexual history, work history are a few examples. Include health promotion information such as exercise and immunizations. Immunizations are important – we want to know the date of an adult patient’s last tetanus immunization. Be specific, don’t just say UTD. For pediatrics: list dates for all immunizations.
Other pediatric specifics: list who all lives in home with patient, how many siblings with ages next to them, type of home, any pets inside/outside home & what type of pet, any smoking in home, any guns in home; if young child – are they in daycare or if babysitter or family member or parent stay home with child, are they in school & what grade and what type of grades does the child make, list any extracurricular activities, any problems with school or teacher, any recent social or home changes. If they are pre-teen and older – add alcohol use, smoking, sexual history, work history, etc.
Family History: It is generally appropriate to go back at least two generations. State family member (mom/dad/maternal grandparents/paternal grandparents/siblings/etc.), their age & if they’re alive (if they are deceased, write deceased), write any conditions or illnesses next to each person, write unknown if history not known
Obstetrical History: When appropriate, document number of pregnancies and other relevant information.
Birth History: applicable for pediatric write ups especially for young pediatric patients
Review of Symptoms (ROS): Should be extensive and include every system. Always address growth and development in pediatric patients. Nutrition should be addressed, especially in pediatric patients. In childbearing women (any teen or female who have reached menarche), make sure to document date of last menstrual period (LMP) and methods of contraceptive use on every visit on any woman capable of becoming pregnant (having menses and has not had a tubal ligation/hysterectomy).
Every visit – If you order such a medication without documenting the above information, we have to assume that the patient could be pregnant (as would any lawyer in a lawsuit). For a young teen you can put “not sexually active” (but make sure you have asked). This is sometimes tricky with teens being seen for general health problems but so very important. If in any doubt, ask the parent to step out for a moment so that you can talk to the teen alone. Data should be systemically presented.
Vital signs: (BMI should be included on every visit)
Physical examination – This is head to toe detailed and thoroughly describe findings within ALL systems. Do not put within normal limits (WNL). Make sure to describe all findings. Findings should be displayed in a systematic fashion.
Any laboratory findings, diagnostic imaging available at the time of the visit should be documented. Do not include testing that was ordered during the visit but results were not available.
TIP:
Make sure to proper distinguish between subjective and objective data. Subjective data, as the name suggests, is the information you gather by interviewing the patient, family, or significant other. This will include data from chief complaint, social/family history, and Review of System (ROS). Objective data will include those information or data you elicited through physical examination, vital signs and/or diagnostic test results.
Note that statement such as “Denies chest pain, sob, dysuria, vaginal bleeding, diarrhea, etc.” should be in the subjective section (ROS) of your note, and not in PE section. Do not write “Alert and oriented; no tenderness; no erythema; breath sounds clear; no spine curvature” under ROS or subjective section. These are objective findings. You elicited these data through your physical examination of the patient.
In future semesters, you will begin to form your differential diagnoses and presumptive diagnoses. This is documented under the assessment. Your assessment should always be supported by findings in your history and physical exam. For this write up, you will list any diagnoses made by your preceptor.
You will complete a pathophysiology template for each diagnosis made by your preceptor. You should use resources from the previous courses and other current evidence-based sources to complete your pathophysiology templates. Cite appropriately. The pathophysiology template can be located in Appendix A.
In future semesters, you will order medications, labs tests, referrals, conduct patient teaching and determine when the patient needs to follow-up. For this write up assignment, you will present the plan created by your preceptor. Please be sure this information is organized under each diagnosis; keeping it organized helps the write up flow well to where the reader is able to get a clear picture of everything you did during the patient encounter.
You will create a medication card for each medication your preceptor ordered/refilled/continued. You should use resources from previous courses and current evidence-based sources to complete your medication cards. Cite appropriately. The medication card template can be located in Appendix B.
Templates will require APA-formatted in-text citations and sources should be included on an APA reference list.
***Remember to add an additional note at the end of the write-up if you realized anything was missing from the encounter that should have been done or ordered. Put it at the end of your write up and label it: Addendum ***
Chief Complaint: “I don’t enjoy anything anymore and always feel down.”
History of Present Illness: Ms M, a 38-year-old woman, has deteriorated mood over the past six months. Initially, she experienced a mild decrease in her energy levels, attributed to work-related stress and her recent divorce. However, this decline was followed by an evident loss of interest and enjoyment in activities that previously brought her pleasure, such as reading, hiking, and socializing with friends.
Her sleep patterns have become disrupted, and she frequently wakes up multiple times during the night with persistent feelings of despair and regret from the past. This disrupted sleep has contributed significantly to her daily exhaustion, causing significant fatigue.
Additionally, she mentions a decrease in appetite, leading to unintentional weight loss of around 10 pounds over the past three months. She struggles with concentration at work and often has to read documents multiple times for comprehension, which was not previously an issue. She denies any thoughts or intentions of self-harm or suicide but admits to moments where she wishes she could “disappear.”
Apart from her divorce approximately eight months ago, there have not been any noteworthy changes or stressors in her life. She has never experienced these emotions before and is worried about her ability to function normally since she has begun isolating herself from loved ones due to her low mood.
Past Medical History: Ms M was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in her mid-20s due to irregular menstrual cycles and signs of hirsutism. At 32, she experienced mild gestational diabetes during pregnancy, which resolved after giving birth. There is no record of any other chronic conditions. During her early 30s, Ms.M reported experiencing frequent headaches, which were considered tension-type, but it has become less frequent over time.
Past Hospitalizations: At 24, she was hospitalized due to a ruptured ovarian cyst associated with her polycystic ovary syndrome. She received two-day treatment to alleviate pain and monitor for potential complications.
Past Surgical History:
2014, laparoscopic cholecystectomy for recurrent gall stones.
2015, caesarian section due to breech presentation.
Medications:
Metformin 500mg Orally B.D
Ibuprofen 400mg as needed to relieve headaches and menstrual pain, about 2-3 times per month. Ongoing use of prenatal vitamins once daily since her pregnancy for comprehensive health support.
Allergies: Penicillin caused a rash and swelling when she was a child. Shellfish – causes itching and hives.
Social History:
Work: She works as a financial analyst and sometimes finds her job difficult.
Alcohol use: Enjoys a glass of wine weekly.
Cigarette smoking: She smoked briefly in her early twenties before quitting 13 years ago.
Sexual history: Divorced heterosexual woman who utilizes barrier contraception.
Previously engaged in hiking; now less so due to mood.
Immunization: The last tetanus shot was in 2017; the flu vaccine was administered the previous year.
Family History:
Obstetrical history includes two pregnancies. First, she miscarried. A healthy child was born due to a second pregnancy at 32, delivered via cesarean due to breech position.
Review of Symptoms (ROS):
· General: Reports unintentional weight loss fatigue. Denies fever or chills.
· HEENT: Reports an occasional headache but no head trauma or dizziness
Eyes: Reports that her vision is intact
Ears: No complaints of any hearing problems.
Nose: She reports not having nasal congestion or a runny nose; her sense of smell is intact.
Throat: no mention of difficulty when swallowing.
· Neurological: Decreased concentration; occasional mild headaches.
· Cardiovascular: Denies chest pain or palpitations.
· Respiratory: No shortness of breath, cough, or wheezing.
· Gastrointestinal: Reduced appetite; denies nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
· Genitourinary: Regular menses; denies dysuria or hematuria.
· Musculoskeletal: Denies joint pain or muscle weakness.
· Integumentary: Denies rashes or changes in moles.
· Lymphatic system: does not have any swellings in her nodes
· Endocrine: Can tolerate both cold and hot weather usually.
· Psychiatric: Chronic low mood, anhedonia, and feelings of hopelessness. Denies hallucinations or suicidal ideation.
Vital signs: Blood Pressure: 120/78 mmHg Heart Rate: 72 bpm Respiratory Rate: 16 breaths/min Temperature: 98.6°F (37°C) weight 69 kg height 169 cm BMI: 24.2
Physical examination
· General: Fair general state, alert, oriented to person, place, and time. Not in any apparent distress. She is well groomed and appears her stated age.
· Head: Normocephalic, atraumatic, with her hair evenly distributed.
· Eyes: Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation (PERRLA). Conjunctivae clear.
· Ears: Tympanic membranes are pearly grey with a good cone of light visualization.
· Nose: The mucosa is pink, and there is no nasal discharge.
· Mouth: Moist mucous membrane, good dentition, and oral hygiene. No oropharyngeal erythema.
· Neck: Trachea midline. No lymphadenopathy or thyromegaly.
· Cardiovascular: Regular rate and rhythm. On auscultation S1 and S2 noted and no murmurs.
· Respiratory: Clear to auscultation bilaterally. No wheezing, rhonchi, or rales.
· Gastrointestinal: Abdomen is warm to the touch, soft, non-distended, non-tender. Bowel sounds active in all quadrants.
· Musculoskeletal: Full range of motion in all extremities. No joint swelling or tenderness.
· Neurological: Cranial nerves II-XII intact. Sensation was intact to light touch.
· Skin: Warm and dry to the touch. No rashes, lesions, or suspicious nevi.
Laboratory Findings:
Thyroid function tests:
TSH: 3.0 mIU/L (Reference range: 0.4 – 4.0 mIU/L)
Free T4: 1.2 ng/dL (Reference range: 0.8 – 2.0 ng/dL)
Complete Blood Count (CBC):
Hemoglobin: 14 g/dL (Reference range for females: 12-16 g/dL)
White Blood Cell Count: 6,000 /µL (Reference range: 4,000-11,000 /µL)
Diagnostic Imaging:
No imaging was done during the visit.
Diagnosis: Major Depressive Disorder
Ms. M. exhibits signs of major depressive disorder, such as chronic melancholy, loss of interest in everyday activities, chronic exhaustion, and irregular sleep patterns. The clinical manifestations of MDD, which are brought on by genetic, physiological, environmental, and psychological factors, closely match these symptoms.
MDD is thought to develop and progress due to the disruption in neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The extensive symptoms seen in those with this disease can be caused by a physiological imbalance resulting in the dysregulation of mood control mechanisms.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria, five specific symptoms must be present to diagnose MDD, including a substantial low mood or anhedonia that significantly impairs social or occupational functioning. In Ms. M’s case, her detailed history suggests alignment with several of these criteria.
It is crucial to conduct further assessment to ensure that she does not have an account of manic or hypomanic episodes, which could indicate a different mood disorder instead of MDD. A thorough understanding of the pathophysiology and evident manifestations of this illness in patients like Ms. M can assist clinicians in developing an effective and individualized treatment plan (de Menezes Galvão et al., 2021; Bains & Abdijadid, 2022).
The hallmark of generalized anxiety disorder is constant, uncontrollable concern that affects different facets of life, including relationships, employment, and health. This excessive worrying can last for more than six months. Physical symptoms associated with GAD may resemble depression, including fatigue, restlessness, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances (Newman et al., 2022).
Ms. M exhibits signs of potential GAD based on her reported fatigue, sleep problems, and concerns related to her recent divorce and job situation. It is important to note that the primary symptom distinguishing GAD from Major Depressive Disorder is the presence of anxiety and chronic worry in GAD compared to the pervasive depressed mood observed in MDD.
Moreover, GAD does not typically include profound anhedonia—the loss of interest or pleasure in most activities— which further sets it apart from MDD.In summary, Ms.M’s presentation suggests possible Generalized Anxiety Disorder rather than Major Depressive Disorder due to the absence of a predominant depressive mood characteristic.
Dysthymia, also referred to as Persistent Depressive Disorder, is characterized by a chronic manifestation of depression that lasts for at least two years (Quagliato et al., 2023). Periods of major depressive episodes can occur intermittently within this duration. It would be required to take dysthymia into account if Ms. M had been enduring persistent depressed symptoms for more than two years.
Although both Major Depressive Disorder and dysthymia entail depressive symptoms, it is essential to remember that their primary distinction is the length of time that these symptoms last (Quagliato et al., 2023). Dysthymia is associated with its enduring and persistent nature, lasting at least two years, whereas MDD may present itself through shorter yet more intense episodes.
1. Pharmacotherapy: Commence treatment with a daily oral dose of 50mg of Sertraline to manage depressive symptoms. Evaluate the individual’s progress after four weeks and contemplate modifying the dosage per their therapeutic response and any adverse reactions encountered. Discuss potential side effects such as nausea, dizziness, disruptions to sleep patterns, and any indications suggesting serotonin syndrome.
2. Psychotherapy: Consult with a licensed therapist for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) sessions, initially weekly for eight sessions, then re-evaluate the necessity for ongoing therapy based on response.
3. Lifestyle Modifications:
Encourage the re-engagement of previously enjoyed leisure activities such as hiking.
Recommend consistent engagement in physical activity, aiming for a minimum of 30 minutes per session, at least five days per week.
Guide practicing good sleep hygiene habits to enhance the quality of sleep.
4. Follow-up: A consultation in 4 weeks is recommended to review the efficacy and tolerability of the prescription medicine and the patient’s mood and overall well-being. If no change or symptoms worsen, it may be time to consult a psychiatrist.
5. Safety Assessment: Although Ms M denied having suicidal thoughts, it is crucial to watch for any emerging suicidal or self-harming thoughts, particularly in the early stages of treatment. She needs to stay around people to avoid suicidal thinking. They can also dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
6. Educate: Explain the typical delay in experiencing therapeutic benefits from antidepressants, which typically occurs within 2 to 4 weeks. Emphasize the significance of gradually tapering off medication instead of abruptly discontinuing it to avoid potential withdrawal symptoms. Encourage consulting a healthcare professional if there is an intention to stop treatment.
Upon further reflection on Ms M’s appointment, it is worth considering a few areas for improvement:
1. Comprehensive Exploration of Psychosocial Stressors: To better understand the onset and contributing factors of her depressive episode, it would have been helpful to delve deeper into any additional psychosocial stressors or triggers beyond her job and recent divorce.
2. Screening for Substance Use: While alcohol use was discussed, future evaluations should include a more detailed examination of substance use history, including potential illicit drug use or misuse of prescription medications. This is important as substance use can contribute to or exacerbate depressive symptoms.
3. Analysis of Previous Episodes: Given the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, it would be beneficial to explore any previous instances where Ms. M experienced depressive episodes in her younger years or following significant life events. Understanding this history could assist in predicting treatment responsiveness and providing insight into the course she may experience moving forward.
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Nursing practice has evolved and transformed from an era when patient care was hazy and met with illusory practices to the current epoch when care has advanced significantly. One of the ways that ancient caregivers could have an epiphany and gain a better understanding of various aspects of care was through the development of nursing theories. The middle-range nursing theories, which fall between the grand theories and the practice theories, are of particular interest.
The middle-range theories have fewer concepts and encompass a more limited range of reality; however, despite their immanence, they aid in explaining and understanding various aspects of care (Leandro et al., 2020). Throughout the course, I have had an incredible time moving from one theory to the next and applying each to a different aspect of patient care. In this reflective essay, I reflect on what I have learned throughout the course and incorporate some of my peers’ thoughts on some of the course issues.
Nurses play an important role in patient care delivery as well as knowledge development. I have had the opportunity to learn about the process of developing knowledge that influences nursing practice, all of which begin with a nursing theory. Some of the theories I have found particularly interesting and applicable in contemporary practice are attachment and comfort theories, as well as the concepts of proxy subjective healthcare status.
According to John Bowlby’s attachment theory, a child’s behavior is associated with the attachment figure, and the quality of the relationship, in terms of proximity to and the attachment figure’s behaviors, is responsible for future child’s behavior, thoughts, and actions (Ali et al., 2021). This has altered and influenced how child psychotherapeutic interventions are delivered, as well as aiding in the understanding of children’s personalities as they grow.
Also, during my rotation on the surgical ward, a patient scheduled for a breast lump excision expressed her concerns about the pain after surgery, potential complications, and cosmesis because she was newlywed. This prompted us to reach an agreement with her via a formal patient comfort contract, in which she expected pain-free post-surgery sprees, no or limited complications, and a return of cosmesis to near normal. The theory of comfort helped me understand that patients’ comfort is a highly valuable outcome of nursing care, and that ensuring it is a collaborative effort between the care provider, the patient, and family members.
Regarding proxy symptom reporting, it is true that a patient may be physically or mentally incapacitated to provide a history of illness. As a result, the assistance of a proxy is required, who is assumed to provide relevant information that would be close to the patient’s narration. This has made me appreciate the dynamics of life, in which a person may be critically ill, lack cognitive ability, or be unable to communicate, necessitating assistance with trivial matters such as speaking on their behalf.
Finally, I had the opportunity to hear some of my coursemates’ thoughts and perspectives on a variety of course topics. In one of their points of view, patient comfort extends beyond the hospital and into the patient’s home, with which I agree. This can be aided by providing a quiet environment, dimming the lights in the patients’ rooms, reminding them of their medications, turning them on the bed to prevent bedsores, and using music therapy (Khatri et al., 2020).
This was especially useful during the Covid19 period when home healthcare services increased exponentially. Moreover, a peer’s perspective on proxy reporting suggested that a proxy could be human or non-human. Indeed, a non-human intervention of patient assessment, the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tool, is increasingly being used.
A reflective essay depicts one’s experience and feelings about an event. In this case, the experience I had with the course was impactful. I have learned about several aspects of knowledge development, with nursing theories as a starting point. While several theories were learned, I only included theories that directly impacted my clinical rotations in the various departments in this reflective assay, which are the theory of attachment and the theory of comfort, as well as the concepts of proxy subjective health status.
The perspectives of one’s peers are also important for maximizing understanding because they shape and sculpt one’s thinking. As a result of the course materials, educators, and classmates I had, my critical thinking has greatly improved.
Ali, E., Letourneau, N., & Benzies, K. (2021). Parent-child attachment: A principle-based concept analysis. SAGE Open Nursing, 7, 23779608211009000. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608211009000
Khatri, P., Seetharaman, S., Phang, C. M. J., & Lee, B. X. A. (2020). Home hospice services during COVID-19: Ensuring comfort in unsettling times in Singapore. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 23(5), 605–606. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2020.0186
Leandro, T. A., Nunes, M. M., Teixeira, I. X., Lopes, M. V. de O., Araújo, T. L. de, Lima, F. E. T., & Silva, V. M. da. (2020). Development of middle-range theories in nursing. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 73(1), e20170893. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0893
Also Read:
Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms Essay
Please reflect on what you have learn during the last 15 weeks throughout this course. Please include 400 words in your initial post with 2 scholarly references by Wednesday midnight. Please include 200 words in two answers to your peers by Saturday midnight.
1 Week : Making judgement as to whether a theory could be adapted for use in research is very important. Describe the internal and external criticism that is used to evaluate middle range
theories.
2 Week: Theory of Pain .
3 week: Theory of unpleasant symptoms .
4 Week: Theory of Self-Efficacy using the internal and external criticism evaluation process.
5 Week: Theory of Chronic Sorrow.
6 Week: Use of spirituality in nursing practice is not new. However, it is more studied and utilized in a more structured format in nursing. Identify and discuss tools used to evaluate spirituality.
7 Week: Analyze the potential effectiveness resulting from professional or nurse-provided social support versus enhancement of social support provided by personal relationship and social networks for parents of children with chronic mental illness.
Week 8: Middle Range Nursing Theory .
Week 9 :The surrogate role is not one that is frequently mentioned in recent nursing practice literature. Is that role as defined by Peplau relevant to nursing practice as currently experienced. If so, in what way. If not, why?
Week 10 :Based on the theory of attachment, what behaviors would a nurse attempt to stimulate when working with parent to promote health attachment?
Week 12 :Conducted a literature review on the use of integrative theory in clinical practice or research studies.
Week:13 Postsurgical overall comfort, and also where they can specify chronic discomforts and interventions that they use at home for relief.
Week 14 :Discuss the underlying assumptions and potential ramifications of having proxy subjective health status or evaluation measures for children or those unable to speak for themselves.
Week 15:
Advanced theoretical perspectives for the nursing class is the foundation of the formation of professional nursing. It provides a framework for nursing practices. Throughout this semester, this course helps me explore theories related to nursing which includes analyzing the philosophical underpinnings of nursing theories and critiquing nursing’s conceptual models, grand theories, and mid-range theories. This course also helps me understand the etiology of professional nursing and what it means to be an FNP.
One of the main topics this course encompasses is the middle-range nursing theory which is underlying the practice of nursing education and constitutes a tool for bridging the theory-practice gap and suggests approaches to generate active growth in nursing education to inform and promote optimal client health outcomes using concept linkages in theories. The middle-range nursing is bifurcated into nine sub-theory that describe the concepts of health, the nursing process, the nursing client, stressors, and responses.
They also identify the phenomena in which a nursing science should be concerned which include educational programs and nursing administration used, and the nursing workplace. The middle-range theory underlying structures of health care organizations and the social psychology of health and health care. The latter includes studies of stress, coping and social support, health and illness behavior, and practitioner-patient relationships.
This course also helps me develop a perfect understanding of the theory of pain. I have learned that pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Besides that, modern research considered evidence that supports the theory that pain is not only a physical phenomenon but rather a biopsychosocial phenomenon, encompassing culture, nociceptive stimuli, and the environment in the experience and perception of pain.
I have also learned about unpleasant symptoms and described the complexity of symptom experiences of the patients and how integrated nursing actions can be effectively managed. Three major concepts that have been developed throughout this theory are physical, spiritual, and psychosocial factors, which include dyspnea, pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and hopelessness. The theory generates several applicable approaches to support nursing practice and research (Moore & Kenefick, 2022).
This course makes me understand nursing as a whole and how healthcare professionals can contribute to supporting our community by empowering health. Now, I know how to integrate nursing and related sciences into the delivery of care to clients across diverse healthcare settings and analyze quality initiatives to improve health outcomes across the continuum of care. I also understand the illness and disease management to provide evidence-based care to clients, communities, and vulnerable populations in an evolving healthcare delivery system (Advanced theoretical perspectives, 2022).
References
Moore and Kenefick, A. (2022). The Holistic Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms, Retrieved from
MRU., (2022). Advanced theoretical perspectives
The last 15 weeks have been very insightful, and I have learned many things that are useful in my nursing practice also in my personal life. I have learned that a theoretical perspective in nursing is crucial as it allows nurses to plan and implement proactive and purposeful care. A theoretical perspective allows users to practice systematically, making them more efficient in their practice, and as a result, they have better control of their outcomes.
With the changes in technology and patient needs, it has become necessary for nurses to offer patients personalized care that ensures that their needs are well met. Meeting patient needs cannot be met easily if a nurse does not have the best system to perform effectively. The course has taught me the importance of communicating with others in healthcare to ensure success. A nurse cannot work alone to obtain patient outcomes (Heinen et al., 2019). Still, they have to work alongside other professionals in healthcare and communicate with patients and their families to offer tailored care, improving patient outcomes.
The course has been very interactive through the different discussions we have had. The discussions have helped me understand my peers’ different perspectives, and they have all made me better in my discussions. The assignments have helped improve my research skills and how to incorporate the gathered research in my work and support my arguments. Nursing relies heavily on theories, and nursing theory helps nursing to understand their patients’ unique needs.
Advanced theoretical perspective in nursing help nurses to know what they can do and how to do it. Advanced theoretical perspective has given me foundational knowledge to enable me how to care for my patients. I have learned that I cannot approach different patient needs using the same approach, which is why I need to use the established guidelines for my practice and the issues I am handling, whether they are broad or specific.
The course has made me realize and appreciate the nursing theories designed to help improve the profession and understand why nurses and institutions employ different nursing theories in their practice. I will use the advanced theoretical perspectives to evaluate patient care and make the right decisions for the best nursing interventions based on the current situation (Mudd et al., 2020). As much as patient outcomes are of priority in emergencies, it is important to allow patients to express their control and independence in their care through their decisions.
Heinen, M., van Oostveen, C., Peters, J., Vermeulen, H., & Huis, A. (2019). An integrative review of leadership competencies and attributes in advanced nursing practice. Journal of advanced nursing, 75(11), 2378-2392.
Mudd, A., Feo, R., Conroy, T., & Kitson, A. (2020). Where and how does fundamental care fit within seminal nursing theories: A narrative review and synthesis of key nursing concepts. Journal of clinical nursing, 29(19-20), 3652-3666.
A theoretical perspective in nursing enhances patient outcomes and quality care. Nursing philosophies have directed practice in western and eastern nations and are more practical than traditional nursing practices. Nurses should practice based on the nursing theories’ perspectives as they assess the usefulness of nursing theory-led practice. A theoretical perspective enables users to practice systematically and control outcomes better.
Good communication is also crucial in healthcare and augments efficiency. Effective and open communication among nurses promotes success and better decision-making. Successful communication amongst nurses and other healthcare professionals promotes care coordination and continuum. The form of the nurse-doctor relationship and internal communication’s efficacy contributes to the eminence of patient care (Amudha et al., 2018).
Coordinated care applies far-reaching approaches such as care management and teamwork and detailed coordination actions like assessing patient requirements and goals and making a practical care plan. Care coordination, if well-planned and targeted, is a strategy to progressing the health care system’s safety, practicality, and proficiency.
Nursing theories facilitate nurses’ understanding of their patients’ needs. Essentially, theory-based nursing applies numerous philosophies, concepts, and models from nursing science to clinical practice. Nursing theories integrate grand, middle-range, and micro-range theories. Micro-range theories provide outlines for possible results, implementation basis, and nursing practice impacts. Nursing theories are practical in nursing education because they direct and define nursing care, encourage evidence-based practices, and offer a foundation for clinical decision-making.
Nursing theories progress practice by positively impacting the patient’s health and life quality. Middle-range philosophies support nurses in accomplishing their goals of leading all-inclusive nurse research (Risjord, 2019). Middle-range models help nurses comprehend their roles, contributing to nursing education. Nursing theories provide nurses with the groundwork in making healthcare verdicts, direct evidence-based research and practice, and simplify learning.
Amudha, P., Hamidah, H., Annamma, K., & Ananth, N. (2018). Effective communication between nurses and doctors: Barriers as perceived by nurses. J Nurse Care, 7(03), 1-6. DOI: 10.4172/2167-1168.1000455
Risjord, M. (2019). Middle?range theories as models: new criteria for analysis and evaluation. Nursing Philosophy, 20(1), e12225. https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12225
MSN560 University Access Cost and Quality for APNs Discussion
Length: 4 pages, double-spaced, excluding title and reference pages (required)
Chapter 24 of Joel, L.A., (2018). Advanced practice nursing. Essentials for role development (4th Ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis. [ISBN-13: 978-0-8036-6044-1]
Format: APA 6th Edition
Learning outcomes expected as a result of this chapter:
Performance measurement in the health-care system is ubiquitous and complex. Whomever the provider, whatever the geographic location, whatever the setting, whatever the organization, whomever the stakeholder, whomever the payer, advanced practice nurses (APNs) can expect to have their performance evaluated.
APNs, along with other individuals and organizations, must demonstrate that their performance enhances the triple aims of improving care experiences for patients and families, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita costs of health care (Berwick, Nolan, & Whittington, 2008).
As Whittington, Nolan, Lewis, and Torres (2015) suggest, the triple aims are an integral part of the United States’ strategies to improve health outcomes and health care. These aims provide a framework for state and federal initiatives and the work of credentialing, accrediting, and regulatory agencies at all levels influencing the organization, delivery, and financing of health-care services.
To improve care experiences, individual patients and families are encouraged to become more engaged in care and to participate in planning and assuring they receive quality, safe care. To improve outcomes for population health, providers and communities are expected to transform the organization and delivery of services.
To reduce health-care costs, care providers and payers are engaged in payment reforms and developing more cost-effective interventions. Reimbursement structures are also being modified. These aims are influenced by several trends related, in part, to the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA; Public Law [PL] 111-148) and subsequent policy and administrative changes.
Trends and issues include increased access and, thus, more demand for services; drug pricing; mergers of providers, organizations, and insurers; technologies such as telehealth and mobile apps; and data security (Blumenthal, Abrams, & Nuzum, 2015; Lorenzetti, 2015). Superimposed on all these changes—and influencing them—are political and power issues.
Given the demands facing the health-care system, the voice of nurses and the leadership of APNs are essential to meet our professional and societal obligations to improve health and health care. APNs are uniquely positioned to contribute critical knowledge, skills, and attitudes, as well as their values of civic professionalism and compassion, to political and decision-making dialogues.
The purpose of the health-care system is to continuously reduce the impact and burden of illness, injury, and disability and to improve the health and functioning of the people of the United States. Although providing direct care and influencing the direct care provided by others are necessary work and contribute to meeting this goal, they are not sufficient to meet growing professional and societal quality and accountability demands.
By demonstrating their contributions; continuously improving their performance; and being accountable to the profession, employers, and the public for all components of their role, APNs can make a difference.
As the nurse moves from novice to expert, responsibility for and accountability to self and others for the structures, processes, and outcomes of health care increase proportionally. Achieving the status of APN is not a terminal event and the role assumes ongoing and increasing professional and societal obligations.
Responsibility for meeting the triple aims means that the APN must serve the profession and society as a primary agent contributing at the level of individual care, in the practice setting, and at the tables where organizational and public policies are made and implemented. In addition, the professional and societal trust afforded to the APN obliges meaningful contributions—beyond individual patient care—to meet the purpose of the health-care system.
APNs must not only do good, they must demonstrate their value to society through performance assessment and its documentation and dissemination at every level of care and decision making so their voices are heard. The importance to health outcomes, the profession, and society cannot be underestimated or ignored. The Case for Accountability Why should APNs be concerned about these issues?
A Web search of the terms health care AND accountability resulted in more than 130 million hits. This reflects the importance of this issue in our society. The search revealed that accountability for the quality and costs of health care—its value—are of interest to consumers, purchasers/payers, employers, insurers, the government, and professional provider organizations.
Although the demand for accountability for the value of health care is not new, growing complexity and changes in the health-care 368 Unit 4 • Ethical, Legal, and Business Acumen of pay-for-performance determinations. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) (1999, 2001, 2006) identified problems with the quality of care and safety concerns that continue to be reported in the literature.
Reports of consumer satisfaction or experience with the health-care system, such as those of the Commonwealth Fund (Commonwealth Fund, 2016b; Davis et al, 2002), found that patients were not satisfied with the quality of care they were receiving and reported continuing concerns on their summaries of assessment data.
Hero, Blendon, Zaslavsky, and Campbell (2016) found that concerns about access to preferred care were a major concern. Managed care, cost concerns, and the growing consumer movement in health care have increased the demand for information about the value (quality in relation to cost) of health-care services and the performance of health-care providers in delivering quality, cost-effective services across all components of the health-care system.
Led by advocacy organizations, consumers are demanding greater accountability from health-care providers and the health-care system. They want quality, cost-effective services delivered from a patient-centered perspective. Federal and state government agencies and other purchasers want to know if the services they pay for are achieving the best possible outcomes at the best price.
Organizations that accredit health-care organizations are increasingly seeking evidence that the structures and processes of care produce positive health outcomes. All these demands to demonstrate and be accountable for value- and cost-effective high-quality care require individuals and groups of providers to measure performance and share their assessments with stakeholders.
Organizations such as the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the National Quality Forum (NQF), The Joint Commission (TJC), and several agencies of the federal government lead efforts to measure and report on the quality of care provided by various health-care system components.
Federal and state agencies, independently and in collaboration with private sector organizations, are collecting and disseminating information about the quality of services provided by the health-care system’s various providers. Health-care “report cards” are mechanisms widely employed to address the concerns of consumers, payers, employers, and others about the quality of health care being provided.
Report cards are done for hospitals, system raise the issue to a level that cannot be denied or minimized. This demand requires the APN to measure and disseminate information on the value of the role. Nurses in advanced practice, similar to other providers and health-care system components, need knowledge and skills to assess and measure quality and determine the costs of their services if they are to demonstrate value.
It is not enough to “do good”; the APN must demonstrate how “doing good” translates into outcomes and costs. Accountability for practice has been and continues to be embedded in APN standards, education, and position descriptions. As Buerhaus and Norman (2001) suggest, the improvement of health-care quality is an “authentic commitment” (p. 68) for all stakeholders and will shape how health-care services are delivered.
Given the definition of advanced practice and its role components, APNs must contribute to and lead broad efforts to improve quality. Their actions in defining, measuring, and reporting on their performance will determine their future and that of the health-care system. The advanced practice framework includes patients, health care, nursing, and individual outcomes.
Thus, the APN is accountable for performance in all these domains. These concepts and obligations are further reflected for the graduate-level student (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2011).
Prepared at this level, the nurse is expected to have advanced role skills, possess refined analytical skills, operate from a broad-based perspective, have the ability to articulate views and positions, and connect theory and practice. He or she is expected to engage in quality and safety initiatives and collaborate inter-professionally to improve patient and population health outcomes.
The Quality Context If the health-care system is to reduce the effect and burden of illnesses, injuries, and disabilities and improve outcomes and functioning, all involved in the system must be responsible for identifying and improving the structures and processes for achieving positive outcomes. Research has shown that consumers and society are not getting what they want or need from the health-care system.
Errors continue to occur and patient experiences with care continue to be issues with outcomes becoming part Chapter 24 • Measuring Advanced Practice Nurse Performance 369 health plans, and provider groups with the intent of informing consumers and improving quality. Public reports of health-care quality are done by state and federal governments and private sector organizations.
Implementation of the PPACA has resulted in greater reporting at the state and federal levels. Although these reports, especially those related to patient satisfaction and experience with care, remain controversial (Rosen & Chen, 2016), they are being widely reported and linked to pay-for-performance initiatives.
Quality in service is demanded by anyone seeking that service. This is especially true for health-care services, both by the person receiving services and also for regulating bodies. Nurses must recognize the part they play in quality and safety in an obvious way, measuring, reporting, and articulating their role.
The importance of quality and safety is evident in the APN Consensus Document (NCSBN, 2008) that articulates the parameters and standards for licensure, accreditation, certification, and education (LACE). The APN’s performance will be measured and reported; thus, he or she must be engaged in determining best practices to meet patient and outcome expectations.
Values and Value in Health Care To contribute effectively to fulfilling the purpose of the health-care system, the APN needs a clear vision derived from personal and professional values. The APN needs to embrace society’s mandate for health-care value and clarify how the quality and cost issues relate to personal and professional goals.
Explicit incorporation of quality and cost values and critical thinking about these issues will result in actions and activities consistent with social demand. Therefore, the APN role can be justified and the needs of society will be better served. APNs will be well positioned to provide leadership in affecting quality and costs, the “bottom line” of health-care system performance.
To be effective leaders and advocates for value issues associated with patients and the role, the APN must know and appreciate what other stakeholders want. Thus, it will be easier to understand their behavior and thinking about health and health care and to develop and implement strategies to address value conflicts, thereby resulting in better health-care outcomes.
For example, the APN’s employer may value reducing costs to ensure organizational survival, whereas the APN’s highest value is meeting the diverse needs of patients served by the organization. Negotiation, compromise, and collaboration are necessary to incorporate both values into strategic planning efforts. Awareness of the importance of values, understanding the value equation, and possessing the skills to address value conflicts are critical for APN survival and health-care system improvement.
The purposes of this chapter are to introduce APN students to quality frameworks, performance measurement, and accountability and to suggest approaches to current issues and responses to trends. For the graduate APN, this chapter can enhance knowledge and skills that will promote the quality activities, better demonstrate accountability, and foster actions to justify the role of the APN in meeting societal demands for quality, cost-effective health care.
The complexity of the quality movement and the value equation are discussed. As the health-care system becomes increasingly complex, as stakeholders’ values and visions clash, and as there is growing dissatisfaction with the health-care system, APN leadership is critical. The challenge to establish value and be accountable at all levels may appear daunting, but it is exciting and potentially rewarding for the APN, the profession, and our society.
Beginning with Florence Nightingale, nursing has always given attention to quality issues. Despite our historical roots as leaders in this area, the profession has drifted to a more internal, narrow perspective. Until recently, this mirrored the attention our society gave to the quality of health care.
In the United States especially, the values of individualism and self-determination, science and technology, a disease and medical focus, the free-market economy, and nongovernmental interference shaped both the structures and processes of the health-care system, thus influencing its outcomes. Access and cost issues have, until recently, received more attention than quality, particularly at the societal level.
As cost concerns increased and new delivery systems—such as managed care—were implemented, greater attention focused on quality and value. In addition, industry and quality theories and practices in business suggested that lessons learned in these arenas could be applied to the health-care sector. 370 Unit 4 • Ethical, Legal, and Business Acumen practice behavior, collaboration, and APN satisfaction.
The outcomes related to APN structures and processes include mortality, morbidity, patient knowledge, patient satisfaction, service use, and health status. Quality of care can be viewed from a micro or macro perspective. At the micro level, quality is conceptualized and assessed for the patient, the provider, or the institution. Clinical and technical care, satisfaction with care, and quality of life represent components of a micro view (Shi & Singh, 2005).
Deliver a 5–7-page analysis of an existing quality improvement initiative at your workplace. The QI initiative you choose to analyze should be related to specific disease, condition, or public health issue of personal or professional interest to you.
Too often, discussions about quality health care, care costs, and outcome measures take place in isolation—each group talking among themselves about results and enhancements.
Because nurses are critical to the delivery of high-quality, efficient health care, it is essential that they develop the proficiency to review, evaluate performance reports, and be able to effectively communicate outcome measures related to quality initiatives.
The nursing staff’s perspective and the need to collaborate on quality care initiatives are fundamental to patient safety and positive institutional health care outcomes.
The purpose of the report is to assess whether specific quality indicators point to improved patient safety, quality of care, cost and efficiency goals, and other desired metrics. Nurses and other health professionals with specializations and/or interest in the condition, disease, or the selected issue are your target audience.
You have been asked to prepare and deliver an analysis of an existing quality improvement initiative at your workplace. The QI initiative you choose to analyze should be related to a specific disease, condition, or public health issue of personal or professional interest to you. The purpose of the report is to assess whether specific quality indicators point to improved patient safety, quality of care, cost and efficiency goals, and other desired metrics.
Your target audience consists of nurses and other health professionals with specializations or interest in your selected condition, disease, or issue. In your report, you will define the disease, analyze how the condition is managed, identify the core performance measurements used to treat or manage the condition, and evaluate the impact of the quality indicators on the health care facility:
Note: Remember, you can submit all, or a portion of, your draft to Smarthinking for feedback, before you submit the final version of your analysis for this assessment. However, be mindful of the turnaround time for receiving feedback, if you plan on using this free service.
The numbered points below correspond to grading criteria in the scoring guide. The bullets below each grading criterion further delineate tasks to fulfill the assessment requirements. Be sure that your Quality Improvement Initiative Evaluation addresses all of the content below. You may also want to read the scoring guide to better understand the performance levels that relate to each grading criterion.
Analyze a current quality improvement initiative in a health care setting.
Evaluate the success of a current quality improvement initiative through recognized benchmarks and outcome measures.
Incorporate interprofessional perspectives related to initiative functionality and outcomes.
Recommend additional indicators and protocols to improve and expand quality outcomes of a quality initiative.
Communicate evaluation and analysis in a professional and effective manner, writing content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Integrate relevant sources to support arguments, correctly formatting citations and references using current APA style.
As primary caregivers and care coordinators, nurses play important roles in ensuring quality and safety in patient care. In fact, health care organizations rely on nurses’ knowledge and insight to design and implement quality improvement (QI) initiatives. However, QI initiatives tend to focus solely on patients’ well-being, creating a stressful work environment for nurses.
As a result, nurses suffer from poor nursing outcomes such as burnout and job dissatisfaction that can affect their ability to achieve QI goals. Hence, to ensure a QI initiative’s success, the quality of a nurse’s work environment has to be improved. The importance of nursing quality in a successful QI initiative will be discussed using the example of TrueWill General Hospital (TGH), a multispecialty hospital in the United States.
The hospital launched a QI initiative with the goal of improving patient safety, and thereby patient outcomes, in its medical and surgical units. The initiative’s framework was based on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Triple Aim, which is an approach to optimize health system performance by the simultaneous pursuit of three aims (IHI, n.d.).
However, early evaluations showed that the initiative led to poor nursing outcomes. As nursing performance declined, patient outcomes deteriorated as well, which contradicted the initiative’s goal.
In the QI initiative evaluation, the units’ nursing workforce will be analyzed for quality issues that may have been caused by the Triple-Aim-based initiative. The objective is to examine how nursing quality influences patient outcomes, which patient outcomes are most affected, and what quality benchmarks or measures are relevant to the success of the QI initiative.
Based on the findings, the report will recommend more protocols and indicators that will overhaul the QI initiative and improve the initiative’s clinical and organizational outcomes.
The QI initiative at TGH started with a series of reforms to promote the three Triple Aim goals to address existing safety issues in the medical and surgical units. The Triple Aim’s three goals—improve the health of the population, improve patient experiences, and reduce per capita cost of health care (IHI, n.d.)—were implemented in primary care or care given by nurses and physicians.
Initially, the hospital achieved QI benchmarks in the medical and surgical units— adverse events decreased, patient satisfaction increased, resources and infrastructure utilization optimized, and health care costs reduced. However, the Triple Aim’s patient-centric goals overworked the units’ nurses and put them under a lot of stress.
They had trouble balancing their clinical duties with other aspects of their jobs such as mentoring new staff, undertaking self- improvement plans, auditing the units, and compiling reports for the senior management.
High levels of job dissatisfaction among the units’ staff, especially nurses, affected their ability to ensure quality in patient care, which had costly implications on the hospital such as high nursing turnover rates and shortages in the units. As a result, the existing nursing staff were unable to manage their patient panels, forcing them to work longer hours in the units.
Delays in the review and follow-up of laboratory results increased the length of inpatient and outpatient stays and burdened the limited facilities and resources such as beds and medical equipment.
Burnout reduced the nursing staff’s adherence to treatment plans and made them less empathetic toward patients. The overworked nurses were also unable to notice important changes in their patients’ conditions (Bodenheimer & Sinsky, 2014).
The analysis of the QI initiative reveals the fact that an inefficient initiative can adversely affect nursing outcomes, which is detrimental to quality care and patient safety. The quality of the analysis can be improved with more data that bridge knowledge gaps or areas of uncertainty. For example, the data gathered from early evaluations do not provide details about the educational qualifications of the nursing workforce or the kind of training they have received.
Hospitals with inadequately trained nurses and unlicensed nurses have more patient safety issues and poorer staff outcomes. Furthermore, early evaluations do not mention the hospital’s investments in improving the quality of nursing staff and other primary care providers (Aiken et al., 2014). Further evaluation can bridge these gaps in knowledge and provide evidence that supports the QI initiative’s improvement.
The next step in the evaluation is assessing the success of the QI initiative against recognized measures, outcomes, and benchmarks. The evaluation will also justify why nurses are the most relevant staff group to the QI initiative’s success using certain assumptions about nursing. Concepts such as quality in nursing and indicators of quality will be explored as well.
A crucial point revealed in the analysis of the QI initiative is that a majority of the nurses in the medical and surgical units felt dissatisfied with their jobs because of overwork. Poor nursing outcomes at TGH are symptomatic of quality issues in the hospital’s nursing workforce. Therefore, prioritizing the quality of nursing is the first step to a successful QI initiative.
The statement is supported by certain assumptions about the value of nursing in achieving better patient outcomes:
Guided by these assumptions, TGH evaluated the initiative using the IHI’s plan-do-study- act model (PDSA), which is a simple model that focuses on setting aims and selecting or developing benchmarks, outcomes, and measures that indicate if a new process or product resulted in improvement (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2017).
The PDSA’s cycle of systematic steps are as follows:
In accordance with the PDSA model, nursing quality was evaluated across three measures—structure, process, and outcomes—to understand neglected patient outcomes. The hospital focused on nurse-sensitive outcomes in patients—delirium, malnutrition, pain, patient falls, and pressure ulcers—that are the benchmarks of nursing quality (Stalpers et al., 2015).
Nurse-sensitive outcomes describe patient outcomes that rely on the quantity and quality of nursing. Additionally, the three measures are made up of nurse-sensitive quality indicators, which are indicators that quantify quality and capture nurse-sensitive outcomes (Heslop & Lu, 2014). These indicators are separate from medical indicators of care quality and are specific to nursing (Montalvo,2007).
The quality indicators were adapted by TGH for internal use in its medical and surgical units from the American Nurse Association’s National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) and the National Quality Forum’s NQF 15.
Examples of some of the nurse-sensitive quality indicators used in the QI evaluation include
Using these nurse-sensitive indicators in the evaluation allowed TGH to determine the nursing structures and processes that were underperforming and needed improvement.
The evaluation revealed three nurse-sensitive patient outcomes occurring in the units— pain, patient falls, and pressure ulcers—that directly result from a fall in nursing quality and are evidence of an unsuccessful QI initiative. To form a better understanding of quality in nursing and nursing care, certain interprofessional perspectives on initiative functionality and results must be identified. Examining the perspectives will help ascertain the underlying factors in health care that nursing depends on to function well.
Various studies have attempted to understand the different processes and systems driving nursing quality and nursing care. These studies have become more relevant in health care because of the shortage of nurses globally. One perspective that is important in TGH’s context is acknowledging the phantom limb (Spinelli, 2013) of the Triple Aim.
In his groundbreaking study, Spinelli observed that the Triple Aim suffers from a phenomenon similar to the condition wherein patients experience twitching, pain, or other sensations in a previously amputated limb. By solely focusing on the quality of patient experience, the Triple Aim isolated and ignored the well-being of the health care professionals who are directly responsible for delivering care.
The phantom limb pain often manifests as job dissatisfaction and burnout (Spinelli, 2013) and is an important factor behind the functionality and type of outcomes in a QI initiative.
Another perspective that is a deciding factor in the success or failure of a QI initiative is organizational leadership. Health care professionals, including nurses, depend on their organizational leaders and management to organize and improve human resources, infrastructure, patient policies, and lines of communication and health technologies that help with the smooth functioning of an initiative (Huber, 2017).
Inadequate or inefficient leadership and management can be responsible for stressful working conditions that result in job dissatisfaction and overwork, leading to staff burnout.
The third perspective relevant to TGH’s nursing workforce and optimum QI performance is nursing characteristics. These characteristics are factors such as nursing leadership, staffing, nurse–physician collaborations, nurse experience, and nurse education that are inherent to the nursing work environment and influence nursing quality.
These characteristics should function properly for attaining good patient outcomes (Stalpers et al., 2015). The staffing characteristic also addresses problems caused by unlicensed nurses. The subject of unlicensed nursing is central to another perspective of functionality: nursing regulations.
Often, regulatory barriers prevent nurses from providing quality care for their patients. The lack of regulatory standardization on the ideal ratios of unlicensed nurses to unlicensed nurses causes confusion among health care professionals and increases chances for malpractices such as negligence.
Moreover, regulations do not offer any guidance on the definition and scope of nursing practice. The lack of clarity means that nurses are unsure about the boundaries of professional practice (Owsley, 2013) and become vulnerable to committing errors. These problems suggest a need for regulatory reform in nursing.
Even though these perspectives are valid in today’s health care context, there are areas of uncertainty. Hospitals are often unable to address the Triple Aim’s phantom limb and improve nursing quality because that would result in an increase in health care costs, which is borne by patients. Training, updating infrastructure, hiring more licensed nurses over unlicensed nurses, and redesigning units and staffing patterns need financial support and time, which can affect per capita health care costs and patient satisfaction.
Additionally, the lack of clarity on the scope of practice limits nurses’ opportunities for self-improvement. Nurses may feel discouraged from using their intuitiveness and creativity to go beyond their professional competencies if such actions benefit their patients.
The field of nursing and QI will benefit from separate studies that add to the current literature and bridge gaps in knowledge. The expanding evidence base provides opportunities for innovation in QI in the form of improved quality indicators, measures, and strategies.
Correspondingly, the QI evaluation will use the evidence to recommend additional indicators and protocols to improve and expand the outcomes of the initiative.
Nurses need to practice in an environment where providing safe care is a conscious act. As part of the fourth and final step of the PDSA model, the initiative’s indicators and protocols will be expanded to achieve sustainable improvement. TrueWill General Hospital’s QI initiative, which was based on the Triple Aim framework’s goals of quality care and safety, affected nurses’ abilities to achieve patient outcomes.
The QI framework can be improved by introducing a fourth dimension to solve the problem of the phantom limb. The resultant Quadruple Aim will address the needs and expectations of those individuals who deliver care for patients (Bodenheimer & Sinsky, 2014).
A few strategies can promote the Quadruple Aim:
Apart from these strategies, TGH can benefit from evidence-based quality care and patient safety protocols such as those mentioned in the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG). Examples of the NPSG’s categories include introducing steps to identify patients correctly, improving the effectiveness of communication among caregivers, improving the safety of high- alert medications, and reducing the risk of health-care-acquired infections.
Orienting medical and surgical units to the NPSG helps improve nursing quality and nurse-sensitive patient outcomes. A well-functioning unit and nursing workforce, in turn, increase job satisfaction among all staff and lower the risk of burnout (The Joint Commission, 2016).
The changes to TGH’s QI initiative should be supplemented with appropriate nurse- sensitive indicators. The additional indicators will ensure that organizational or clinical changes do not eclipse the needs of the health care professionals, especially nurses.
The nurse-sensitive indicators can be described as follows
While the benefits of implementing the strategies, protocols, and indicators are evident, the drawbacks of including them in TGH’s QI initiative need to be discussed. The main drawback is the fact that these solutions come with a risk of widening the gap between society’s expectations of quality and safety in primary care and primary care’s available resources.
The risk is equally great if the emphasis on the well-being of health care professionals comes at the expense of patients’ needs (Bodenheimer & Sinsky, 2014). Health care professionals at TGH have to ensure that any changes in the hospital’s system benefit all stakeholders.
Quality improvement initiatives carry a large risk of failure if the goals and expectations of different stakeholders do not align. Nursing professionals are crucial to achieving the objectives of quality care and patient safety. Devaluing the nursing workforce and implementing policies or programs that cause nurse dissatisfaction are detrimental to QI efforts, which was the case at TrueWill General Hospital.
Nursing outcomes also affect the productivity of the entire unit and the competencies of other health care professionals who rely on nurses for help in completing the delivery of quality patient care. It is important to remember that quality health care services are a product of a symbiotic relationship between the care providers and patients.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences F 23
15 Points
GOAL: Students explore the impact of the social determinants of health that result in health inequities among at-risk and marginalized populations in order to identify social justice and advocacy actions they might take to mitigate health inequities.
Chapter 17. Analyzing Community Problems and Solutions | Section 5. Addressing Social Determinants of Health and Development | Main Section | Community Tool Box (ku.edu)
1) View the PHN/CHN power point (Eardley & Schoon, 2022).
2) Review the two additional resources on school health.
Respond to the questions below in the open discussion forum:
Student: Instructor:
Grade: ____/15
CriteriaGradeInitial Post1. Described the social determinants of health and impact they have on different at-risk and marginalized populations with citations from textbook, Healthy People 2030 and/or Community Toolbox. (2 pts.)
2. Discuss important points your learned from one or more of the following websites: SDOH Public Health Actions, Public Health Professionals Gateway, Equitably Addressing Social Determinants of Health and Chronic Disease. How could you use this information in your own nursing practice or in your community? (2 pts.)
3. Discussed one or more social justice and advocacy actions that could be taken by the nursing profession in collaboration with others to reduce or eliminate the health inequities that result from specific social determinants of health with citations from two of the following: textbook, Healthy People 2020, and/or Community Toolbox. (2 pts.)
4. Identify the PHN/CHN specialty role and the at-risk population served. Cite Eardley & Schoon’s power point. Describe at least 2 SDOH that affect that at-risk population’s health. (1 pt.)
5. Describe what and what social justice and advocacy actions you could take if you were practicing in that PHN/CHN specialty role to reduce the impact of the SDOH on the at-risk population’s health status. Cite Chapter 13 in textbook to support your actions. (2 pt.)
/9 pts.Peer Responses – Respond to each peer individually.1. Compare one or more of the points you made in your initial discussion with the initial discussions of two peers. (1 pt.)
2. Responded to two peers comparing how the social determinants of health affected the health of the populations your peers discussed with the impact of the social determinants of health on the population you discussed in your initial post. (1.5 pts.)
3. Compare the advocacy actions you described with the advocacy actions your peers described. when working in a specific PHN/Specialty role. (1.5 pts.)
/4 pts.APA & Writing Style· Citations and References are included and in correct APA format with 2 mistakes or less in both initial and peer responses. (1 pt.)
· Discussion demonstrates critical thinking, and is organized with correct spelling and grammar. (1 pt.)
/2 pts.
Anna is a 45-year-old female that presented to her physician’s office for her annual check-up. Anna has a history of diabetes, obesity, and noncompliance with diet and medications to control her diabetes. She is a diesel mechanic, a single mother of three teenagers, and smokes regularly.
During the history review, Anna shared that she has not felt like herself for the past six months; she has been unusually tired and has a cough that won’t go away. In fact, for the last few weeks, she’s had a cough so bad that she coughed up rust-colored sputum.
She stated, “I am very busy with my children; I haven’t had time to get it checked out. When I had bronchitis before, the doc just gave me some antibiotics and they didn’t help.” Anna has a positive family history of bladder cancer; her mother and grandmother were also smokers who have been treated for breast cancer.
Anna has never had a mammogram. She has recently been experiencing a lack of appetite. During the examination, the practitioner noted she’d had a 15-pound weight loss since she was last seen and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Based on the physical findings, Anna will undergo a diagnostic CT scan of the chest.
In a 2-page paper, describe the care that Anna would require and address the questions below.
1. What risk factors does Anna have that could predispose her to cancer development?
2. What signs and symptoms could indicate that Anna has developed cancer?
3. Based on Anna’s risk factors and presenting problems, identify three multidimensional care strategies that you would use to provide quality care to Anna. Provide a rationale to explain why you chose these strategies.
For assistance with citations, refer to the APA Guide.
For assistance with research, refer to the Nursing Research Guide.
Bottom of Form
You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort, and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized.
Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in, and make corrections as necessary. Often, having a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors is advantageous. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.
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Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.
The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on each page’s top, bottom, and sides. When submitting a hard copy, use white paper and print it out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.
Arguably, there is an association between alcohol use and depressive illnesses, one that often results into poor health outcomes. The assessment and treatment of patients with depression cooccurring with alcohol use has many challenges. When considering treatment of such patients, several approaches have been proposed with each having both its advantages and disadvantages. The FDA approves the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as first-line agents for the treatment of depressive illnesses (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
SSRIs are tolerated better and are safer in MDD patients who have a history of alcohol use. Sertraline is an example of an SSRI used for the management of MDD. Studies have shown that patients, especially those with severe symptoms, benefit the most from sertraline. The recommended dose of sertraline is a maximum of 200 mg/d. SSRIs can also be combined with drugs used for the treatment of alcohol dependance such as Naltrexone (Gasparyan, 2021).
A study by McHugh & Weiss (2019) concluded that a combination of sertraline and naltrexone produced a more desired effect of reduced depressive symptoms and a longer delay before relapse of alcohol use. Combination therapy of both drugs yielded a longer relief when compared to single-medication. It is generally not advised to take SSRIs concurrently with alcohol as this may worsen the symptoms of depression. Also, it increases the risk of overdose, thereby increasing the chances of occurrence of such side effects as drowsiness and dizziness. It should take around 4- 6 weeks before the effects of treatment can be appreciated (McHugh & Weiss, 2019).
Within the health sector, anxiety disorders remain largely underrecognized despite their immense contribution to mental and physical disability among geriatric patients. In fact, being a chronic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has direct association with increased disability and suicide attempts. GAD is a multifactorial disorder and usually precedes major depression, and if often characterized by high stress levels. Among the risk factors for GAD draw from both proximal and distal factors, some of which can be modifiable by healthcare intervention.
Noteworthy though is that treatment of GAD is not easy, hence the need for early identification of the predictors of the disease among elderly patients. Aging is may be associated with psychosocial risk factors such as physical illness and disability. Aging also can be protective against anxiety due to the development of better coping strategies over the years changes in life perspectives which render certain anxiety triggers as less provoking. Principle predictors of late onset GAD are therefore:
As a mood disorder, MDD presenting with psychotic features has been associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Structural and functional abnormalities of the brain are associated with MDD. Some of the potential neurobiology causes implicated in the pathogenesis of psychotic major depression are:
The DSM-5 (2013) outlines an episode of major depression as lasting at least 2 weeks with one or more symptoms of depressions. At least one of the symptoms should be a depressed mood or anhedonia (loss of pleasure). Other symptoms associated with major depression are:
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that can result in unrefreshing and non-restorative sleep. Various medication can precipitate the onset of this disorder. Some of these drug-classes include;
Evaluate how well the following social-emotional intelligence power skills were demonstrated during the Mursion simulation:
I was the service headline director of the Emergency Department (ED) during the simulation. I facilitated the meeting with the ED nursing manager, Raymond, and the ED pharmacy manager, Jenna. I was mindful, patient, confident, and I showed gratitude to practice self-awareness. I was always attentive and present-minded during the meetings. I built trust by allowing these managers to raise their concerns.
I maintained confidence and calmness during the meeting. I gave a listening ear to them as they raised their concerns and expressed their frustrations. I refrained from interrupting. I expressed my concerns to them after they were done. We had a dialogue thereafter. Before the meeting was over, I commended both departments and urged them to continue with the good work and emphasized gratitude for their service to the organization.
I paid attention to details, used impulse control, and set goals for the meeting, elements that are essential in self-management. The goal was to settle the conflict between the pharmacy ED and nursing ED. Setting this objective was useful in giving us the direction of the discussion and creating the necessary environment. I encouraged Raymond and Jenna to express their concerns about the institution’s initiative to reduce the labor workforce by 10%.
I noted the differences between the tone and conduct of the two managers. Raymond was incredibly aggressive and had a frustrated tone. Jenna, on the other hand, was soft-spoken and calm. Jenna was the first to speak but was harshly interrupted by Raymond. I kindly requested Raymond to allow Jenna to express herself to maintain Jenna’s psychological state’s stability. Impulse control, paying attention, and focusing on the set goals ultimately enabled us to resolve the conflict between the two departments.
I practiced active listening in the discussion and was actively involved. I was compassionate to the two managers and I allowed each one of them to express their concerns about the meeting topic exhaustively. I acknowledged their contribution using verbal and nonverbal communication cues such as nodding, smiling, and positive comments. I allowed the managers to share their inputs after expressing my strategies to create a better working environment.
This action aimed to make the managers feel acknowledged and to assure them that their concerns were valuable. By allowing the two managers to share their respective understanding of the issue, I had the objective of demonstrating that I was intervening to help solve the problem in an amicable manner. The goal was to ensure the environment in the Emergency department was calm, the tone reconciliatory and the outcome joyous.
I portrayed critical thinking, planning, organization, and problem-solving attributes that I believe are useful in exercising the executive function. Raymond was concerned about nurses’ ability to deliver safe patient care. He argued that nurses should take additional tasks. He singled out on medication reconciliation as one of the tasks which he believed would increase safety of patient care. I critically thought about the issue putting into consideration the rationality surrounding his thoughts and concerns.
I suggested that the two managers should organize ana staff in-service training designed to impart valuable knowledge on medical reconciliation. The primary goal of the in-service training would be to improve the nurses’ confidence and competency. The nurses would, in turn, offer safe, effective, and efficient patient care in the short- and long-term. The managers embraced the idea, and eventually, we came up with a realistic goal for the department’s benefit. They both agreed to my recommendation to set another meeting to monitor our goal’s progress and achievement and implement new strategies where need be.
During the meeting, I demonstrated empathy and cultural awareness. I was non-judgmental and culturally sensitive. I showed no favors or discrimination based on culture, religion, nor background. I listened to Raymond and Jenna with equal precision and showed emotional concern to both equally. I have realized that for me to become an excellent leader, I need to effectively leverage the information I have learnt from the Mursion simulation experience.
Physical and psychological safety is the first strategy for implementing the “IHI Framework for Improving Joy in Work.” According to Mehrdad and Farhana (2020), high infection rates, work-related injury, assault, and insults are some occupational challenges that healthcare workers must contend with when executing their duties. An organization can adopt several interventions to create a safe working environment.
These interventions could entail providing personal protective equipment, educating workers on policies and procedures, and offering extensive support to the employees. The workers should be psychologically safe to air their concerns without fear of humiliation or punishment. To provide a joyful work environment and promote a collaborative relationship, nurse leaders should listen to the employees and provide feedback.
Recognizing and rewarding positive actions is the second strategy that organizations canpursue. Recognition of hard work and provision of positive feedback helps ensure everyone feels important (Hammedi, Leclerq & Van Riel, 2017). Celebrating an achievement motivates employees to work harder and joyously in the workplace. It also promotes happiness and work productivity (Ertan & Sesen, 2019).
A nurse leader should recognize hard work and provide rewards to the colleagues. A leader can form a habit of congratulating the nurses and recognizing their hard work even in times of increased workflow as recently witnessed in various hospitals across the country due to Covid-19 outbreak. The simple act of recognizing and rewarding employees has the effect of enhancing employee satisfaction, which creates joy at the workplace and consequently increases productivity.
Leveraging participative management approach is the third strategy. Decision-making also requires the workers’ inputs and leaders should involve them in decision making (De Brún, O’Donovan & McAuliffe, 2019). All members should be allowed to participate in decision-making process when implementing new policies and procedures. For example, a nurse leader would involve all units’ nurses in implementing the SBAR tool report.
The nurses can listen, understand the concept, and share their views. Nurses could commit to newly implemented policies or procedures if they were involved in the decision making and implementation processes. Such direct participation enhances the nurses’ understanding of the proposed policies, thereby reducing the likelihood of change rejection. When the nurses are engaged, they feel supported, an aspect that promotes the creation of a joyful working environment that increases job satisfaction.
During the Mursion simulation, I portrayed a leadership role with the task of dealing with a difficult situation in the workplace. A meeting took place between the ED nurse managers
Raymond Mullin MSN, RN and the ED pharmacy manager Jenna Zielinski, PharmD to discuss the frustration nursing is feeling due to the reduction in workforce (RIF) that has caused an increase in workload. Medication reconciliation, a function of the pharmacy department has now shifted to the ED nursing staff due to the RIF. In the leadership role five social/emotional power skills were utilized to help resolve conflict and incivility between the two departments. The five social/emotional power skills utilized were self-awareness, self-management, interpersonal communication, executive function, and social awareness.
At the start and throughout the meeting, self-awareness was demonstrated by being mindful and patient. This was going to be a challenge as I was listening to both parties’ thoughts and feelings. Being mindful helped to be non-judgmental and compassionate during the conversation. It was apparent that Raymond was upset and speaking in an aggressive tone when explaining his side of the situation.
Remaining non-judgmental allowed him to express his feelings and for me to be completely engaged while listening to what he was saying. Initiating the conversation with social awareness in mind I asked open-ended questions to both Raymond and Jenna not only for my perspective taking, but in hopes that all would be able to empathize with the current situation and understand all point of views.
Hearing both perspectives helped to open the dialog about the state of the current situation and validate that feeling and concerns are being heard. The next important power skill utilized was executive function. Using the sub skills of problem solving and adaptability, I
expressed that I understood the frustration of both parties and given the current state of changes both departments have to be able to adapt effectively, and collectively come up with a plan that will produce a positive and better work environment. Additionally, planning and organizing was key to opening the conversation of securing a team of members from both departments to organize, analyze, and implement a plan of action that could cohesively change the current process of medication reconciliation.
After coming up with a possible solution to ease the tension between the departments the next step would be to encourage interpersonal communication. In an effort to build relationships between the departments I suggested that both work together to form a new process that includes team collaboration within the departments and other staff such as providers who may also be able to help with medication reconciliation, easing some of the workload.
I also suggested that both managers talk with each other first to try and resolve any issues versus bringing up any frustrations to other staff. Having compassion, caring and consideration, and actively listening is important in resolving conflict resolution. Each participant can be heard and hear what the other is experiencing as well as come up with solutions to the problem.
Analyzing the difficult situation, the skills of self-management were very important in this scenario. To come to a resolution, I demonstrated initiative taking by offering my assistance with the plan of action. This was done by offering to assist with recruiting team members and talking with other departments to get involved with the process. Finally, having self-discipline exemplified the positive attitude and behaviors needed to achieve goal setting and complete tasks.
Creating joy in the workplace is a concept that organizations and health institutions such as the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) believe is important in reducing burnout and improving morale and satisfaction in healthcare. In a whitepaper written by Perlo et.al (2017)
IHI Framework for Improving Joy in work, it states “Perhaps the best case for improving joy is that it incorporates the most essential aspects of positive daily work life” (p.7). The framework was created with the goal of improving joy in the workplace listing nine critical components and steps leaders can take. Weighing in on what matters and what is important in the daily lives of employees. The four-step approach first asks staff what matters to you.
The second step identifies unique impediments to joy in work in the local context. The third step is the commitment to a systems approach to making joy in work a shared responsibility at all levels of the organization. The fourth and final step is the use of improvement science to test approaches to improving joy in work in your organization (p.8). This four-step approach is a tool leadership of an organization can use to overcome potential obstacles to create joy in the workplace.
To ensure successful implementation of the four-step process, several approaches should be taken by the leaders. One such approach is the “Get Ready strategies” (Perlo, 2017, p5). It ensures the conversation is set for the subject matters. It designates an overseer to a conversation, and sure all leaders participate in the conversation at all levels. The three functions contribute to the creation and implementation of a joyful work environment. Sticking to the subject matter is essential in building trustful relationships and boosting morale. It also helps optimize the work environment by changing processes, employees, and patients/consumers that are detrimental to the working environment.
Furthermore, when the organization supports employs at all levels, they feel valued and appreciated. It is imperative to be involved in the change process rather than being informed about change that one was not consulted. Being involved has its advantages. It minimizes costs the organization incurs in filling positions lost and creates room for advancement among the employees. The overseer of a process of change is responsible for relaying information about the process, improvements it entails, and any necessary adjustments and that require implementation.
I learned a lot from the course exercises, and the information shall be useful in my future practice. The Mursion simulation, for example, was instrumental in presenting the experience of conflicts that occur at work. Leading the procession was a challenge, and it requires in-depth practice and skill for me to be a proficient leader in the future. Patience and mindfulness were the two most important factors during the simulation. The two factors were instrumental in determining the issue’s root cause and developing an effective plan to solve the issue at hand. “Being mindful at work simply refers to doing a task consciously and all concentration, paying attention, keeping your mental and emotional state in check” (Alidina, 2018).
During the meeting, both department leaders created tension and being emotionally neutral. I focused on finding and developing a solution that would favor all the teams despite the emotional tension. As the leader, I had to keep my emotions off the situation to ensure I offered sound advice. The Mindmap and the force field analysis were vital tools in determining factors that contribute to the lack of joy at the workplace during the simulation. Specifically, the Mindmap enabled me to develop a better understanding of the experience of conflicts at work, and that a proficient leader must be one with the relevant practice skills to lead the procession.
Additionally, the force field analysis equipped me with the necessary skills to assess the different forces within an organizational setting, and how they impact joy at the workplace. Through this, I believe I can comfortably translate the information in identifying the root cause of conflict and develop an effective intervention plan. Overall, from the simulation, I have learned that many factors contribute to conflicts at the workplace. The Identified issues coupled with other factors such as opposition or support from all levels in the organization require prior preparation. Despite the much effort done, the controlling aspect of leadership lacks data follow-up. Commitment to the change process is very minimal.
Mindful behavior has become a part of me in my current workplace. I take time to explore what is happening around me and my subjective feelings in all situations. I usually take in between task breaks, breathe fresh air and, at times, meditate. The article Getting Started with Mindfulness (Mindful.org, n.d) states that “Mindfulness meditation asks us to suspend judgment and unleash our natural curiosity about the workings of the mind, approaching our experience with warmth and kindness, to ourselves and others,” (para. 5).
Open-mindedness shall ensure I take in other people’s perspectives and reason from their point of view compassionately without judging them. The force field analysis and the Mindmap shall be essential tools in informing my advanced practice in the future in situations demanding change and adjustments. I shall use the tools to showcase factors that would potentially contribute positively to change or be a barrier to change.
This week, you will complete Part 3 of the Information Retrieval Paper, which you worked on in Module 3 and 4. You are using the template provided, do not create a new word document.
So far, you have developed a research question, identified the PICO components of your research question, included your rationale for selecting your research question, created a title page for your paper in APA format, located three peer-reviewed articles, summarized each article in APA format, and critically analyzed the articles.
In this module, you will summarize and synthesize the key points of the peer-reviewed, evidence-based articles and develop a reference page in APA format.
Be sure to review the previous assignments that relate to the Information Retrieval Paper. Incorporate your Coach’s suggestions and corrections so you won’t make the same mistakes again in this last section of the Information Retrieval Paper.
Performance Objectives:
Use this rubric to guide your work “Information Retrieval Paper, Part 3.”
Task?
AccomplishedProficientNeeds ImprovementMissing InformationWeek 5 Application:“Information Retrieval Paper: Part 3” (100 points total)
Task #1:
Conclusion: Summarize Key Points (Total 60 points)
Key findings are identified and discussed relating to the identified research question studied. Well written with at least 3 sentences per topic. Scholarly writing is fully observed. (60 points)Key findings are identified and minimally linked to the identified research question studied. Two sentences are written per topic and scholarly writing is predominately observed. (40 points)Key findings are not fully identified or discussed as related to the peer research question. One sentence per topic is noted and scholarly writing is not observed. (20 points)
Does not complete.
(0 points)
Task #2:Reference Page and In-text Citations
(Total 40 points)
Correct Grammar and APA Format are graded heavily.
References are cited in APA format, alphabetized and complete.
(30 points)
Uses 3 properly formatted in-text citations to support thoughts.
(10 points)
Uses correct mechanics and APA format in writing professional papers (1-2 APA errors).(25 points)
Uses 2 properly formatted in-text citations to support thoughts OR 1-2 APA errors r/t citations
(7 points)
3-4 APA and/or grammatical errors noted.
(15 points)
Uses 1 properly formatted in-text citations to support thoughts OR 3-4 APA errors r/t citations
(3 points)
Does not use correct mechanics and/or APA format (more than 5 APA and grammatical errors).(0 points)
No use of in-text citations to support thoughts OR >5 APA errors r/t citations
(0 points)
Information Retrieval Paper: Part 3
In this week’s assignment, you will complete your Information Retrieval Paper. Review the outline for the entire assignment before your begin.
APA Format ElementsTimelineTitle Page in APA formatCompletion TimelineAPA formatCitations in the body of the paper
Headings
Applicable each time sections are submittedWriting styleGrammar
Spelling
Paragraphs of at least three well-written sentences
Organization and flow
Applicable each time sections are submittedContent CriteriaTimelineIntroduction:Identification of clinical problem in a workplace setting
Research question stated correctly
Rationale for question
Title page
Completed Module 3Summary of 3 peer-reviewed articlesOverview: Where did you search? How did you decide on the 3 articles?
3 article summaries
Completed Module 3Critical AnalysisCompleteness of analysis
Completed Module 4ConclusionSynthesis of key points for the 3 articles
To be completed Module 5 (now)Reference PageAlphabetized
Sources cited in APA format
References complete
To be completed Module 5 (now)
In this part of the Information Retrieval Paper, you will synthesize the main points from the three peer-reviewed, evidence-based articles.
Directions:
In this section write a paragraph or two to synthesize the key points of the articles. Consider this section a conclusion of your findings.
For full credit, each of the 3 articles needs a minimum of 3 sentences. Each article topic requires an in-text citation (3 total).
Synthesis Points from Articles (Type Below)
The first article was a retrospective study exploring the Impact of a COPD comprehensive case management program on hospital length of stay and readmission rates. COPD accounts for the majority of chronic disease hospitalizations that are associated with substantial economic and social burdens in the form of impaired quality of life and increased healthcare utilization costs. COPD comprehensive case management program is a vital intervention that can be executed to counter the consequences of COPD hospitalizations. The COPD comprehensive case management program encompassing patient education, follow-ups, and home visits significantly reduces the length of hospital stay as well as readmission rates among COPD patients (Alshabanat et al., 2017). Consequently, nurse leaders should implement the program to improve the overall quality of care for COPD patients.
The second article was a systemic review and meta-analysis investigating the impact of health coaching on hospital readmissions and health-related quality of life among COPD patients. This systemic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that implementation of health coaching, a self-management intervention comprising of goal setting, motivational interviewing, and COPD-related health education, exceptionally reduces hospital readmissions and improves the health-related quality of life among COPD patients (Long et al., 2019). Nurse leaders should establish the most effective health coaching components and delivery modality to accrue its benefits among COPD patients.
The final article looked into the role of respiratory care education in reducing readmissions in COPD patients. This research conducted at Houston Methodist Hospital exhibited that respiratory care education in COPD patients remarkably reduces hospital readmissions (RajtakMuller & Berger, 2018). However, offering respiratory education to COPD patients should be a multidisciplinary approach with nurses as active and critical participants. Subsequently, nurse leaders should consider a multidisciplinary task force including respiratory therapists in the identification, development, and implementation of a care plan that educates the patients as well as their families on COPD as a disease process.
In this part of the Information Retrieval Paper, you will create the reference page for the entire paper in APA format.
Directions:
– cited in APA format.
– alphabetized.
– Must have 3 peer-reviewed, evidence-based articles
Reference Page (Type Below)
Submit this Assignment Document into Canvas for grading.
Nurses comprise the hugest percentage of the healthcare workforce in an epidemic, and they carry out many of the responsibilities regarding infectious disease containment. They are considered the backbone of healthcare and usually must cope with profound burnout levels (Ross, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the nurse burnout situation, with most nurses reporting high levels of physical and emotional fatigue ((Shanafelt et al., 2020).
The prolonged exposure of nurses to stress related to the pandemic crisis has a possibility of causing insidious long?term health effects such as an increased risk of physical and mental disorders, impaired cognitive function, and reduced productivity and absenteeism at work (Ross, 2020). According to Callus et al. (2020), higher levels of distress were reported by healthcare workers during the SARS pandemic, such as burnout, psychological stress, post-traumatic stress, hostility, and somatization.
Nurses have endured compassion fatigue when handling traumatic events and patients affected by the COVID-19. Therefore, they must be provided with adequate support programs to meet their emotional needs and well-being (Fessell & Cherniss, 2020). Stress?management interventions for nurses may be a useful approach in reducing burnout caused by emotional fatigue. According to a study in China by Que et al. (2020), insidious psychological problems were observed among health providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that the prevalence of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and the widespread psychological problems among health providers during the COVID-19 pandemic was 46.04, 44.37, 28.75, and 56.59%, respectively.
According to Chen et al. (2020), strategies such as staff training on the psychological aspect of patient care and relaxation techniques can help reduce stress. Furthermore, positive mental health can reduce work-related stress and burnout and should be fostered among healthcare workers in COVID-19 ((Shanafelt et al., 2020).Strategies suggested for decreasing the workload include mindfulness and promoting self-care. Mindfulness training is commended for nurses because it can foster self-care and well-being (Fessell & Cherniss, 2020). Besides, mindfulness programs are praised since they improve resilience to stress, quality of professional life, and self-compassion.
Section I
Section II
Section III
Section IV:
STUDENT: ____LaQuinta Legania_________________________DATE: __02/05/2021
(Electronic signature acceptable)
FACULTY: _________________________________________________ DATE: _____________