The purpose of this assignment is to help you learn to do the following:
- Demonstrate sound critical thinking and clinical decision making skills.
- Develop comprehensive documentation, including complete functional assessment, health history, physical examination notes, and requests for appropriate diagnostic testing.
- Perform a client risk assessment including lifestyle and other risk factors.
- Identify signs and symptoms of common emotional illnesses.
- Relate assessment findings to underlying pathology or physiological changes.
- Establish a differential diagnosis based on the assessment data.
Overview
In this assignment, you will work throughout the course to research how to approach either a pediatric or geriatric patient wellness exam from the position of an advanced practice nurse. This is a discussion of what health concerns occur in the age group and how the nurse practitioner would approach/perform the topics. You will share a summary of your work with your peers.
Action Items
- Read the assignment rubric to understand how your work will be assessed. Use that understanding in formulating your responses. Ensure all action items are addressed in your assignment.
- Select an age range of patients to focus on: a pediatric patient (0-11 years of age) or a geriatric patient (greater than 70 years of age). Next, select a specific age within the range you have chosen. Also, the gender of the patient should be identified as appropriate.
- Research and discuss expectations for physical and developmental milestones for the age of the patient you have identified.
- Research and discuss how you should conduct a wellness exam for this patient (physical and functional assessment) as an advanced practice nurse. Tip: a write-up of a physical exam is not needed.
- Explain how you, as an advanced practice nurse, would communicate the exam results to the patient and family member(s).
- Include mental health concerns, anticipatory guidance, and the type of documentation you would produce. Tip: focus on the mental health concerns in a population rather than a mental health exam.
- Your paper should be 6-10 pages in length, use APA style throughout, and include a minimum of 8 references that are current within the last 5 years: clinical guidelines, Bright Futures, Healthy People 2030, Medicaid, and any other relevant sources.
- Your paper must be checked by Turnitin. Follow these steps:
- Submit the completed first draft of your assignment. Your work will automatically be checked by Turnitin.
- Access your Turnitin report by reviewing your Submission Details for this assignment. Revise your work as needed based on the feedback.
- Re-submit the final version of your work by the due date.
Submission Instructions
- By Wednesday, post a summary (including highlights and references) of your e-Portfolio paper to the discussion board.
- By Friday, read everyone’s summaries.
- By Saturday, return to your original post and comment on what stood out to you as you read your peers’ work and compared it with your own. Comment on what you might study further, and work more on, going forward as an advanced practice nurse.
- By the due date indicated, submit the final version of your paper (after any necessary revisions based on your Turnitin feedback).
Grading Criteria
Read the assignment rubric to understand how your work will be assessed.
This assignment is also used to assess Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) through the rubric. The PLO assessment will appear as separate rows within the rubric; they will not contribute points to the assignment.
For your information, the following PLOs are being assessed:
- PLO 1: Synthesize theories and knowledge from nursing and related disciplines to develop a theoretical basis to guide practice in an advanced nursing role.
- PLO 8: Integrate clinical prevention and population health concepts to provide holistic, comprehensive nursing care for individual, families, and aggregates.
- PLO 9: Demonstrate an advanced level of understanding of nursing and relevant sciences and integrate this knowledge into practice.