NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders
Case Study 2
NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion. A 46-year-old, 230lb woman with a family history of breast cancer. She is up to date on yearly mammograms. She has a history of HTN. She complains of hot flushing, night sweats, and genitourinary symptoms. She had felt well until 1 month ago and she presented to her gynecologist for her annual gyn examination and to discuss her symptoms. She has a history of ASCUS about 5 years ago on her pap, other than that, Pap smears have been normal. Home medications are Norvasc 10mg qd and HCTZ 25mg qd. Her BP today is 150/90. She has regular monthly menstrual cycles. Her LMP was 1 month ago. NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion
As an advanced practice nurse, you will likely experience patient encounters with complex comorbidities. For example, consider a female patient who is pregnant who also presents with hypertension, diabetes, and has a recent tuberculosis infection. How might the underlying pathophysiology of these conditions affect the pharmacotherapeutics you might recommend to help address your patient’s health needs? What education strategies might you recommend for ensuring positive patient health outcomes? NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion
For this Discussion, you will be assigned a patient case study and will consider how to address the patient’s current drug therapy plans. You will then suggest recommendations on how to revise these drug therapy plans to ensure effective, safe, and quality patient care for positive patient health outcomes. NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion
Prepare
Review the Resources for this module and reflect on the different health needs and body systems presented.
Your Instructor will assign you a complex case study to focus on for this Discussion.
Consider how you will practice critical decision making for prescribing appropriate drugs and treatment to address the complex patient health needs in the patient case study you selected.
By Day 3 of Week 9
Post a brief description of your patient’s health needs from the patient case study you assigned. Be specific. Then, explain the type of treatment regimen you would recommend for treating your patient, including the choice or pharmacotherapeutics you would recommend and explain why. Be sure to justify your response. Explain a patient education strategy you might recommend for assisting your patient with the management of their health needs. Be specific and provide examples.
NURS 6521 Week 9 Discussion Answer
Menopausal Symptoms and Perimenopause Management
Menopausal symptoms affect approximately twenty-five percent of women and manifest in diverse ways, often significantly impacting their overall quality of life. In this case, a 46-year-old woman is presenting with distressing symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, indicative of perimenopause. Perimenopause represents the transitional phase leading up to menopause, marked by significant biological and endocrinological changes as the body prepares for this life stage (Santoro & Randolph, 2011). The woman is also experiencing genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), a common menopausal symptom. Notably, her last menstrual period occurred just one month ago, confirming her status as being in the perimenopausal stage.
Given that menopause is a natural biological process, the primary goal for this patient is to find relief from the challenging symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. While hormone therapy is effective for addressing vasomotor symptoms, it carries certain risks that need to be carefully considered for this particular patient because of her age and potential contraindications. Instead, a more suitable approach may involve non-hormonal interventions. Lifestyle modifications such as maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and managing stress can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Additionally, alternative therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy or certain antidepressant medications have demonstrated efficacy in managing hot flushes and night sweats for women who cannot or prefer not to use hormone therapy (Gartoulla & Worsley, 2014).
By considering a comprehensive approach that prioritizes the patient’s safety and specific needs, healthcare providers can help women like her navigate the perimenopausal and menopausal stages with improved comfort and quality of life.
[Reference: Santoro, N., & Randolph, J. F. (2011). Reproductive hormones and the menopause transition. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics, 38(3), 455-466.]Reference: Gartoulla, P., & Worsley, R. (2014). Use of complementary and alternative medicines for menopausal symptoms in Australian women aged 40-65 years. Medical Journal of Australia, 201(11), 650-655.]
