W3 A2 assessment

Essay Instructions:

The case for Week 3 Identify chief complaint, physical exams, lab tests and other diagnostic exams that would be most appropriate to gather more information about the patient's condition. Be specific and explain your reasoning. Case #1 Miss Washington is a 71 y/o female who presents with a new leg ulcer that appeared after a fall 1 week ago. The patient is coughing and wheezing. She tells you that “I’m feeling terrible.” Vital signs appear stable with no fever. Assignment: Diagnostic Reasoning Include the following: Identify the patient’s chief complaint. Identify what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be most appropriate to gather more information about the patient's condition. Be specific and explain your reasoning. Explain how the results would be used to make a diagnosis. Identify three to five (3–5)possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient. Explain your thinking. When seeking to identify a patient’s health condition, advanced practice nurses can use a diverse selection of diagnostic tests and assessment tools to help in understanding a patient’s condition. In turn, beginning with a differential diagnosis supports the process of further applying information to narrow the possibilities of what the condition may be and working to arrive at the most accurate diagnosis for planning treatment. For this Case Study Assignment, you will determine the physical exams and diagnostic tests that would be most appropriate for gaining information and better understanding of your patient’s condition. Then, based on your analysis, you will formulate a differential diagnosis for the patient. To prepare: By Day 1 of this week, your Instructor will assign a patient profile for this Assignment. Note: Please see the Course Announcements section of the classroom for your patient profile Assignment. Review this week’s Learning Resources. Review the details of the patient case study. Consider what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be most appropriate to gather more information about the patient's condition. Reflect on how the results would be used to make a diagnosis. Identify three to five (3–5) possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient. Assignment: Diagnostic Reasoning Include the following: Identify the patient’s chief complaint. Identify what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be most appropriate to gather more information about the patient's condition. Be specific and explain your reasoning. Explain how the results would be used to make a diagnosis. Identify three to five (3–5) possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient. Explain your thinking.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Diagnostic Reasoning: Miss Washington’s Case Study Name of Student Course Name of Professor University Date Diagnostic Reasoning: Miss Washington’s Case Study Chief Complaint Leg ulcer Coughing Wheezing Physical Examination While performing a physical exam, measure the size and depth of the leg ulcer as well as the position of the ulcer and also check if the ulcer has an infection as indicated by erythema, warmth or purulent discharge. The rest of the area surrounding the wound also needs to be checked for other damages or complications, including blood circulation. During the evaluation of the patient, components of the respiratory exam include wheezing, rales, rhonchi, respiratory patterns, and rates additionally, check the chest for pain and temporal and tactile changes. It should be done while looking at the blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rates, and oxygen saturation if there is a sign of a systemic infection or other abnormality Diagnostic Tests The diagnostics that are needed to diagnose Miss Washington are: The complete blood count (CBC) is to check whether the patient has bacterial infection by measuring the white blood (WBC) level, whether the cell is high or low and the anemia status of the patient. CBC should be used with C-reactive protein (CRP) or with Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to assess Systemic inflammation or infection. A swab can quickly determine if bacterial organisms are present and treat the ulcer if the wound appears infected. In order to determine if her lungs are infected, other than pneumonia, which might be causing her cough and wheeze, a chest X-ray will be done. Since she has respiratory signs, her severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma will be established through pulmonary function tests (PFTs/spirometry). It is essential to perform a venous Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the chances of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) due to her lying in the hospital bed and ...

Updated on September 7, 2024

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