NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment: Decision Tree for Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders
For your NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment, your Instructor will assign you one of the decision tree interactive media pieces provided in the Resources. As you examine the patient case studies in this module’s Resources, consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting symptoms of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment
To Prepare
Review the interactive media piece assigned by your Instructor.
Reflect on the patient’s symptoms and aspects of the disorder presented in the interactive media piece.
Consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting with the symptoms of the patient case study you were assigned.
You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the diagnosis and treatment for this patient. Reflect on potential co-morbid physical as well as patient factors that might impact the patient’s diagnosis and treatment.
Write a 1- to 2-page summary paper that addresses the following: NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment
Briefly summarize the patient case study you were assigned, including each of the three decisions you took for the patient presented.
Based on the decisions you recommended for the patient case study, explain whether you believe the decisions provided were supported by the evidence-based literature. Be specific and provide examples. Be sure to support your response with evidence and references from outside resources.
What were you hoping to achieve with the decisions you recommended for the patient case study you were assigned? Support your response with evidence and references from outside resources.
Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with each of the decisions and the results of the decision in the exercise. Describe whether they were different. Be specific and provide examples. NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment
NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment Answer
Clinical Decision-Making in Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders
Advanced practitioners often serve as the first point of contact for patients experiencing cognitive and behavioral changes following initial assessments by primary healthcare providers. While it is generally acceptable for patients to retain their usual way of life, when cognitive changes begin to significantly impact daily functioning, a comprehensive assessment is crucial to determine the most appropriate pharmacological intervention (Needham, Webb, & Bryden, 2017). This discussion explores the decision-making tool used to select the most suitable treatment for patients with such needs, namely the decision tree, which is rooted in evidence-based practice and aids practitioners in making informed clinical decisions. NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment
The case under consideration involves Mr. Akkad, a 76-year-old patient exhibiting “strange behavior.” His son has reported that these symptoms began several years ago, with the patient losing interest in familial interactions, displaying shifting personality traits, and reduced verbal communication. Recent weeks have witnessed a worsening of symptoms, with an escalating decline in cognitive abilities and instances of aggressive behavior that hinder the family’s efforts to provide adequate care and support.NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment
In this context, three critical decisions were made. The patient’s insistence on leaving for an unknown destination, coupled with a Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) score of 18/30, indicating moderate dementia (Jeon & Kim, 2021), prompted the following decisions:
First Decision: The decision was to initiate an in-depth assessment of Mr. Akkad to establish the precise nature and extent of his cognitive and behavioral changes, potentially including neuroimaging and further neuropsychological assessments.
Second Decision: In response to the initial findings, the decision was made to involve a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including neurologists and psychologists, to comprehensively evaluate Mr. Akkad’s condition and collaborate on treatment planning.
Third Decision: The decision to initiate pharmacological interventions was based on the collective assessments, with a focus on medications that address the specific cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with dementia, while considering potential side effects and monitoring protocols. NURS 6521 Week 8 Assignment
[Reference 1: Needham, P., Webb, L., & Bryden, D. (2017). Neurological assessment. Medicine, 45(12), 708-711.] [Reference 2: Jeon, Y. J., & Kim, Y. S. (2021). Mini-Mental State Examination and the diagnosis of dementia in the elderly: A review. Psychiatry Investigation, 18(3), 185-191.]
