Category: Nursing

NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example

Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal

Poor interdisciplinary communication in discharge planning has become a major administrative problem in the community hospital that has led to delayed discharges, longer length of stay, emergency department overcrowding, and staff dissatisfaction. The proposed interdisciplinary plan takes place in an acute inpatient care unit that requires nurses, physicians, case managers, and allied health professionals to coordinate discharge across all levels. This plan aims to achieve the desired outcome of enhancing discharge efficiency, patient flow, and the quality of care through well-organized, evidence-based interdisciplinary collaboration.

Objective

This interdisciplinary plan aims to establish interdisciplinary bedside rounds to improve coordination and accountability at the discharge planning stage with standardized SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation) communication. In case this objective is realized, it will help to enhance patient outcomes by decreasing discharge delays and length of stay as well as increasing organizational efficiency, staff engagement, and patient satisfaction because teams will collaborate and communicate more effectively V.

Questions and Predictions

Will structured interdisciplinary bedside rounding be effective in decreasing discharge delays in the inpatient units?

It is expected that with regular and real-time interaction among nurses, physicians, case managers, and allied health professionals, the barriers to discharge will be identified earlier and the problems will be resolved more quickly, leading to the reduction of delays related to discharge and enhanced patient flow.

What is the expected impact of introducing the structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds and SBAR communication on the staff workload and workflow?

At first, the staff may face a slight rise in time demands, as the rounds and documentation will have to be adjusted accordingly, but with the roles being clarified, and the workflow simplified, the overall amount of time spent in addressing discharge-related issues is likely to drop.

Does the use of standardized SBAR communication enhance interdisciplinary cooperation and exchange of information? NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example

The idea of standardized SBAR communication is anticipated to enhance the level of clarity, decrease the number of misunderstandings, and advance the mutual understanding among different fields, especially between nursing, physicians, and case management, resulting in more organized discharge planning.

Will transformational leadership interventions result in changes in staff buy-in and long-term involvement in the interdisciplinary plan?

It is expected that strong transformational leadership will create trust, decrease communication barriers associated with hierarchies, and stimulate involvement of the staff to work on the common vision and appreciate the interdisciplinary contribution to the team.

Change Theories and Leadership Strategies

Lewin’s Change Theory can be used to implement this interdisciplinary plan in a structured manner by handling behavioral and organizational change. The unfreezing stage will be dedicated to raising awareness over the issue by presenting unit-level data concerning discharge delays, length of stay, and emergency department overcrowding. Dissemination of this information to the employees working in other fields will help create urgency and change by showcasing how poor communication affects patient outcomes and performance in the company (Howick et al., 2024). The change phase will involve introduction of structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds and SBAR based communication through education, pilot testing and leadership support. New patterns of communication will be practiced in a friendly atmosphere in which employees will be motivated to learn and work together. Refreezing will be geared towards sustainability where the changes are incorporated into the standard operating procedures, orientation programs, and performance expectations so that the change is internalized in the day-to-day practice.

The major leadership approach that will be used in this plan is transformational leadership. Transformational leaders encourage and drive staff by promoting a common objective, active engagement, and interdisciplinary contributions (Jun & Lee, 2023). The nurse leaders and department managers in this organization will be expected to model collaborative behaviors, to actively involve staff members in rounds, and to acknowledge interdisciplinary teamwork. The leadership style is especially applicable considering the hierarchical communication barriers outlined in the interview. Transformational leadership facilitates behavioral change, boosts morale, and commitment to interdisciplinary discharge planning by promoting an inclusive and empowering culture (Tsapnidou et al., 2024) NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example.

Team Collaboration Strategy

Effective execution of this plan needs well-established roles and responsibilities within the interdisciplinary team. Charge nurses will facilitate daily interdisciplinary bedside rounds in inpatient units and make sure that nursing reports are ready with the help of SBAR before the rounds. Bedside nurses will give clinical status reports, determine discharge obstacles and express patient educational requirements. Physicians will establish medical readiness at discharge and discuss expected discharge schedules and outstanding orders (Ghonem & El-Husany, 2023). Case managers will also organize post-discharge care, insurance approval, and placement requirements and detect social or logistical barriers at the beginning of the hospitalization. Functional assessments and therapy recommendations by physical and occupational therapists will drive the discharge preparedness. Unit leaders will monitor compliance, solve workflow issues, and offer continuous feedback and encouragement.

The two main collaboration strategies that can assist in the process are formalized interdisciplinary bedside rounds and standardized SBAR communication. Structured bedside rounds establish a predictive and participatory platform to engage in interdisciplinary conversation, and establish that all disciplines are involved in discharge planning at the same time. The methodology will decrease the presence of fragmented communication, increase shared decision-making and patient-centered care (Kovacevic et al., 2024). SBAR offers a unified structure of information sharing that enhances clarity and cuts down ambiguity between different disciplines, especially when care is being transferred NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example.

Required Organizational Resources

This interdisciplinary plan will need practical but modest organizational resources to be implemented successfully. There is no need to hire new full-time staff because current staff members will be involved in daily interdisciplinary rounds. Staff time will, however, have to be dedicated to training and to being involved in rounds, which may take about 15 to 20 minutes per patient interaction. Overseeing, coaching, and assessing the new process will also demand leadership time. The need for equipment and supplies will also be limited because the organization already has an electronic health record system that can support SBAR documentation and interdisciplinary communication. There might be minor costs of changing documentation templates or supplying educational materials, but these are not expected to be significant.

There is a need to access inpatient units, patient records, and interdisciplinary team members to facilitate the daily rounds. The access cost is not expected to incur any extra costs because these activities are part of the normal operation activities. General financial implications include mainly staff time and training that will likely be compensated by length of stay, patient throughput, and emergency department congestion. Without the implementation of this plan and ensuring that the discharge inefficiencies are addressed, the organization might experience higher operational costs, lower patient satisfaction scores, an increase in staff turnover, and the continued overstraining of the emergency department. These possible expenses emphasize the significance of investing in proactive evidence-based attempts to enhance interdisciplinary discharge planning.

Conclusion

The proposed interdisciplinary plan corresponds to a problematic organizational issue because it focuses on the inefficiency of communication and coordination during discharge planning in acute care inpatient units. The plan will provide a long-term strategy to enhance patient flow, care quality, and staff participation by combining Lewin’s Change Theory, transformational leadership, and evidence-based collaboration models, including the use of structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds and SBAR. The successful implementation can minimize discharge delays, increase teamwork, and favor patient and organization outcomes. On the flip side, failure to solve this problem will lead to further inefficiencies, rising expenses, and lowered employee morale, making it imperative to employ a systematic interdisciplinary approach to discharge planning NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example.

References

Ghonem, N. M. E.-S., & El-Husany, W. A. (2023). SBAR shift report training program and its effect on nurses’ knowledge and practice and their perception of shift handoff communication.
SAGE Open Nursing
,
9
(1).
https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608231159340

Howick, J., Bennett-Weston, A., Solomon, J., Nockels, K., Bostock, J., & Keshtkar, L. (2024). How does communication affect patient safety? Protocol for a systematic review and logic model.
BMJ Open
,
14
(5), e085312.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085312

Jun, K., & Lee, J. (2023). Transformational leadership and followers’ innovative behavior: Roles of commitment to change and organizational support for creativity.
Behavioral Sciences
,
13
(4), 320.
https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13040320

Kovacevic, M., Fisher, S., Faulkner, S., Kharasch, M., Fernandez, N., Luebeck, C., & Ahsan, A. (2024). Rounds redesign: Our experience in splitting interdisciplinary rounds.
Journal of Brown Hospital Medicine
,
3
(2).
https://doi.org/10.56305/001c.115837

Tsapnidou, E., Kelesi, M., Rovithis, M., Katharakis, G., Gerogianni, G., Dafogianni, C., Toylia, G., Fasoi, G., & Stavropoulou, A. (2024). Transformational leadership—quality achievements and benefits for the healthcare organizations: A scoping review.
Hospitals
,
1
(1), 87–103.
https://doi.org/10.3390/hospitals1010008
  NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example

 

NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example Instructions 

Assessment 3

Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal

Create a 2-4 page plan proposal for an interprofessional team to collaborate and work toward driving improvements in the organizational issue identified in the second assessment.

Collapse All

Introduction

When creating a project plan, it is important to be cognizant of the significant role that nurses play in strategizing about use of organizational human and financial resources within the organization.

Communication is the key component to beginning and finishing projects, such as a plan proposal. The ability to effectively communicate involves reaching a state of consciousness regarding how others think and feel about something—an awareness of human differences. In addition, being knowledgeable about what type technological advancements exist can greatly enhance a positive project outcome (Harris et al., 2023).

As you work on your assessment, consider the following: How do organizational leaders impact project successes, sustain practice change, and share evidence-based findings? Which technology might help you evaluate the project’s impact within a health care system?

You are encouraged to complete the Budgeting for Nurses activity before you develop the plan proposal. The activity consists of seven questions that will allow you to check your knowledge of budgeting basics and as well as the value of financial resource management. The information gained from completing this activity will promote success with the Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal. Completing this activity also demonstrates your engagement in the course, requires just a few minutes of your time, and is not graded.

Reference

Harris, J. L., Roussel, L. A., Dearman, C., & Thomas, P. (2023). 
Project planning and management: A guide for nurses and interprofessional teams 
(4th ed.) (pp. 9–10). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Professional Context

This assessment will enable you to describe a plan proposal that includes an analysis of best practices of interprofessional collaboration, change theory, leadership strategies, and organizational resources, including financial considerations, which can be used to solve the problem identified in the healthcare professional interview you conducted.

Overview

Having reviewed the information gleaned from your professional interview and identified the issue, you will determine and present a plan for an interdisciplinary intervention to address the issue. While you will not be expected to implement the plan during this course, the plan should be evidence based and realistic within the context of the issue and your interviewee’s organization.

The goal of this assessment is to clearly lay out the improvement objective for your interdisciplinary intervention. Be sure to build on the leadership, change, and collaboration research you completed in the previous assessment. Look for specific, real-world ways in which those strategies and best practices could be used to generate buy-in for the plan or improve the implementation of the plan.

Instructions

Use the context of the organization from your interview to develop a viable plan for an interdisciplinary team to address the issue you identified. Define a specific organizational or patient outcome based on the information gathered in your interview.

Using the 
Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Template [DOCX]
 will help you stay organized and concise. As you complete each section of the template, apply APA format to in-text citations for the evidence and best practices that inform your plan, as well as to the reference list at the end. (Because you’re using a template, a title page is optional.)

Be sure that your plan addresses the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the rubric carefully so you understand what is needed for a distinguished score.

Describe an objective and predictions for an evidence-based interdisciplinary plan to achieve a specific goal related to improving patient or organizational outcomes.

Explain a change theory and a leadership strategy, supported by relevant evidence, that is most likely to help an interdisciplinary team succeed in collaborating and implementing, or creating buy-in for, the project plan.NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example

Explain the collaboration needed by an interdisciplinary team to improve the likelihood of achieving the plan’s objective. Include best practices of interdisciplinary collaboration from the literature.

Explain organizational resources, including financial, needed for the plan to succeed and the impacts on those resources if the improvements described in the plan are not made.

Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.

Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references, exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.

Additional Requirements

Length of submission:
 Use the template. Remember that part of this assessment is to make the plan easy to understand and use, so it is critical that you are clear and concise. Most submissions will be 2–4 pages in length. Be sure to include a reference page at the end of the plan.

Number of references:
 Cite a minimum of three sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than 5 years old. See the 
Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) Program Library Guide
.

APA formatting:
 Make sure that in-text citations and reference list follow current APA style. See the 
APA Module
.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

Competency 1: Explain strategies for managing human and financial resources to promote organizational health.

Explain organizational resources, including financial, needed for a plan to succeed and the impacts on those resources if nothing is done to address the improvements sought by the plan.

Competency 2: Explain how interdisciplinary collaboration can be used to achieve desired patient and systems outcomes.

Explain the collaboration needed by an interdisciplinary team to improve the likelihood of achieving a plan’s objective. Include best practices of interdisciplinary collaboration from the literature.

Competency 3: Describe ways to incorporate evidence-based practice within an interdisciplinary team.

Describe an objective and predictions for an evidence-based interdisciplinary plan to achieve a specific goal related to improving patient or organizational outcomes.

Competency 4: Explain how change management theories and leadership strategies can enable interdisciplinary teams to achieve specific organizational goals.

Explain a change theory and a leadership strategy, supported by relevant evidence, that are most likely to help an interdisciplinary team succeed in collaborating and implementing, or creating buy-in for, the project plan.

Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly, evidence-based communication strategies to impact patient, interdisciplinary team, and systems outcomes.

Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.

Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references, exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.

 

 
Scoring Guide

Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.

Criterion 1

Describe an objective and predictions for an evidence-based interdisciplinary plan to achieve a specific goal related to improving patient or organizational outcomes.

Distinguished

Describes an objective and predictions for an evidence-based interdisciplinary plan to achieve a specific goal related to improving patient or organizational outcomes. NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example

 

 

 

 

 

Criterion 2

Explain a change theory and a leadership strategy, supported by relevant evidence, that are most likely to help an interdisciplinary team succeed in collaborating and implementing, or creating buy-in for, the project plan.

Distinguished

Explains a change theory and a leadership strategy, supported by relevant evidence, that are most likely to help an interdisciplinary team succeed in collaborating and implementing, or creating buy-in for, the project plan
. Provides real-world examples relevant to the health care organization that is the context for the plan.

 

Criterion 3

Explain the collaboration needed by an interdisciplinary team to improve the likelihood of achieving a plan’s objective. Include best practices of interdisciplinary collaboration from the literature.

Distinguished

Explains the collaboration needed by an interdisciplinary team to improve the likelihood of achieving a plan’s objective. Includes best practices of interdisciplinary collaboration from the literature
. Provides real-world examples relevant to the health care organization that is the context for the plan
.

 

Criterion 4

Explain organizational resources, including financial, needed for a plan to succeed and the impacts on those resources if nothing is done to address the improvements sought by the plan.

Distinguished

Explains organizational resources, including financial, needed for a plan to succeed and the impacts on those resources if nothing is done to address the improvements sought by the plan.
Provides real-world examples relevant to the care setting in which the plan will be implemented.

 

Criterion 5

Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.

Distinguished

Organizes content with a clear purpose. Content flows logically with smooth transitions using coherent paragraphs, correct grammar/punctuation, word choice, and free of spelling errors.

 

Criterion 6

Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references, exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.

Distinguished

Exhibits strict and flawless adherence to APA formatting of headings, in-text citations, and references. Quotes and paraphrases correctly. NURS FPX 4010 Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Capella Example

Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification Capella University – NURS-FPX4005: Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations

Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification

NURS-FPX4005: Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations

Interview Summary

In this assessment, I conducted a semi-structured interview with Maria N., who is a charge nurse in a 250-bed community hospital that provides acute, surgical and outpatient services. My approach was founded on an open-ended questioning strategy based on the guidelines of Xu et al. (2025) about qualitative interviews and served to make the discussion as flexible and comprehensive as possible. The responsibilities of Maria included organizing the daily patient flow, managing staffing, overseeing inter-unit communication, and serving as the interface between bedside nurses and the administrative staff. In the interview, she noted that the urgent problem at the organization is frequent delays in discharging patients as a result of failure to have consistent interdisciplinary communication among nursing, case management, and the medical team. These delays have also caused congestion in the emergency department, increased length of stay, and frustration by the staff members who feel silenced during handoff. She noted that the leadership had attempted to resolve this issue in the past, such as adopting standardized discharge checklist but this was not fully successful because it did not bring on board all the concerned departments. The other issue that Maria described is based on the idea that teamwork is appreciated, yet it never works in reality due to the hierarchical nature of communication, siloed working process, and interdisciplinary rounding. She presented several instances of her own experience including how there was an incomplete clinical update given to case managers, resulting in poorly coordinated discharge planning. The interview identified an organizational challenge that requires a more integrated and participatory approach towards discharge planning with evidence-based strategies that can reinforce communication and accountability across disciplines.

BUY HUMAN-WRITTEN PAPER HERE

Issue Identification

From the interview, the absence of effective communication and coordination in discharge planning is the core problem that can be addressed with an evidence-based interdisciplinary solution. This problem can be tackled with the help of an interdisciplinary solution since it involves several stakeholders that control various parts of the discharge process (Nasiri et al., 2022). Nurses offer clinical updates, physicians decide on medical preparedness, case managers organize services and therapists check functional requirements. Most of these roles do not sit well with each other, which leads to delays that have adverse patient outcomes and system flow. It is reasonable to use an interdisciplinary approach since it is already proven that discharge planning is highly efficient in cases of shared decision-making, real-time communication, and joint problem solving between different professionals in the healthcare setting. Isolated interventions will remain insufficient without a coordinated system, as witnessed in the organization’s past efforts, which failed to incorporate the views of key team members and their perspectives on the organization. Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification Capella University – NURS-FPX4005: Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations

Change Theories That Could Lead to an Interdisciplinary Solution

The Change Theory by Kurt Lewin is one of the theories of change that can be used in creating an interdisciplinary solution, and it incorporates the phases of unfreeze, change, and refreeze. The theory is heavily implemented in healthcare research and offers a systematic procedure to the implementation of organizational changes that necessitate the change in behavior and communication patterns (Barrow & Annamaraju, 2022). The model created by Lewin is especially applicable to the identified issue, as ensuring better discharge coordination will necessitate the disruption of old practice habits of siloed practices and the creation of new interdisciplinary routines that will undergo consistent reinforcement. For instance, one of the stages of unfreezing might include bringing in data regarding discharge delays in order to create awareness and inspire change. The changing phase might entail the establishment of interdisciplinary rounds every day with well-established roles for each team member. The refreezing phase would involve the implementation of the new process as a part of policy and the assessment of the continuing adherence. The literature source, like that of Barrow and Annamaraju (2022), is a reliable and up-to-date piece of evidence that can substantiate the idea of the applicability of Lewin in the healthcare environment because it is effective in enhancing sustainable collaboration and communication. The source is peer reviewed and provides an evidence-based guideline on the change implementation process. Due to the predictability and systemic quality of the discharge-planning problem, the Lewin theory fits the requirements of the organization perfectly and provides an effective roadmap to change.

Leadership Strategies That Could Lead to an Interdisciplinary Solution

One of the strategies that might help achieve discharge-planning improvements across disciplines is transformational leadership. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate teams by facilitating a collective purpose, promoting professional independence, and open communication (Ystaas et al., 2023). This method plays a significant role in addressing the issues that the interviewee raised regarding hierarchical barriers and lack of engagement among colleagues. According to Sulosaari et al. (2022), transformational leadership would allow nurse leaders and department managers to exemplify teamwork, encourage staff involvement in the decision-making process, and develop a culture where interdisciplinary contributions are equally considered. The provided articles are reliable and up-to date as they provided evidence-based peer-reviewed research demonstrating the validity of transformational leadership as an empirical method that enhances team performance, communication, and organizational commitment. The strategy is most applicable to the facility since the problem under consideration is one of behavioral change, team cohesion and morale, which can be positively influenced by a leadership style that focuses on relationships and empowerment. Transformational strategies allow the leader to create an environment where interdisciplinary discharge planning is not only accepted but also welcomed.

Collaboration Approaches for Interdisciplinary Teams

Structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds (SIBR) and Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation (SBAR)-based models are evidence-based collaboration practices that might enhance the nature of interdisciplinary discharge planning. It is evident from studies such as those by Heip et al. (2020) that SIBR improves teamwork and patient satisfaction through lessening length of stay and ensuring all disciplines meet simultaneously to discuss patient progress and plan discharge requirements. This practice would address fragmented patterns of communication that the interviewee has highlighted and create predictable communication avenues. Similarly, SBAR framework provides a universal means of delivering clinical data, improving the insufficient ambiguity and clarity between disciplines (Shrivastava et al., 2025). These articles are credible because they offer current evidence-based research to prove the usefulness and practicality of these strategies by demonstrating improved outcomes in hospitals that apply structured communication and collaboration strategies. The strategies are applicable to the identified issue because they directly address the main source of the problem, which is the inconsistent communication and disorganized participation. Structured interdisciplinary meetings and standardized tools of communication should be introduced to facilitate a shared vision of what discharge goals are, reduce unnecessary delays and result in a more integrated organizational culture.

Conclusion

The interview proved to be useful in establishing new knowledge about communication problems that affect discharge coordination and the need to implement a structured, evidence-based interdisciplinary approach. Having identified ineffective communication as one of the main issues, it is clear   sustainable change would require organizational change and teamwork enhancement supported by proven theories, management skills, and collaboration models. This data reveals that the application of The Change Theory by Lewin, the synthesis of transformational leadership, and the implementation of institutional- level collaboration tools such as SIBR and SBAR are capable to improve communication across disciplines thus improving patient care. These results provide good groundwork upon which an effective interdisciplinary improvement plan can be created to improve outcomes Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification Capella University – NURS-FPX4005: Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations.

 

References

Barrow, J. M., & Annamaraju, P. (2022, September 18).
Change management in health care
. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459380/

Heip, T., Hecke, A. V., Malfait, S., Biesen, W. V., & Eeckloo, K. (2020). The effects of interdisciplinary bedside rounds on patient centeredness, quality of care, and team collaboration.
Journal of Patient Safety
,
18
(1).
https://doi.org/10.1097/pts.0000000000000695

Nasiri, A., Akbari, A., & Jani, H. (2022). Challenges and implementation strategies of the discharge planning according to the nurses’ experiences: A qualitative study.
Modern Care Journal
,
19
(2).
https://doi.org/10.5812/modernc-121663

Shrivastava, S. R., Chong, S. V., & Bobhate, P. S. (2025). Facilitating effective communication through the adoption of SBAR tool in medical training.
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
,
14
(1).
https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1213_24

Sulosaari, V., Kosklin, R., & Munter, J. D. (2022). Nursing leaders as visionaries and enablers of action.
Seminars in Oncology Nursing
,
39
(1), 151365.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2022.151365

Xu, Z., Wang, Y., & Qian, Y. (2025). The design and application of in-depth interviews in primary care research.
Chinese General Practice Journal
,
2
(2), 100062.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgpj.2025.100062

Ystaas, L. M. K., Nikitara, M., Ghobrial, S., Latzourakis, E., Polychronis, G., & Constantinou, C. S. (2023). The impact of transformational leadership in the nursing work environment and patients’ outcomes: A systematic review.
Nursing Reports
,
13
(3), 1271–1290.
https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13030108 
 Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification Capella University – NURS-FPX4005: Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) Women’s Health – CONNECTING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

CONNECTING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: 25 points

Instructions: Read the assigned textbook chapters. Choose
ONE
diagnosis from the readings for the current body system. Fill out the assignment below by connecting essential knowledge of pathophysiology of the primary diagnosis / problem a patient would have coming to the APRN’s clinical practice. Include a well-developed physical examination, relevant diagnostic tests, pharmacotherapy, and treatment plan – ALL based on the pathophysiology of the disease.  Show the connection between the pathophysiologic process of the disease and the clinical manifestations and the pharmacotherapeutic treatment and plan.

It is required that at least 2 citations / 2 references (Ex. Rogers’ Textbook and Clinical Practice Guidelines) are used for this assignment. Points are included into the points listed for each section. A citation is required for the following sections: “Pathophysiology,” “Signs and Symptoms” (Body Systems; Subjective / HPI; Objective); “Labs and Diagnostics,” “Diagnosis” (Pathophysiology of differential diagnoses), and “Pharmacotherapy” (Plan, Guidelines, and SDoH).

 

DIAGNOSIS CHOSEN FROM THE READINGS IN ROGERS’ TEXTBOOK ON THIS BODY SYSTEM
:

(It is required that a different population must be chosen for each of the next assignments. For example, if you choose an adult disease for cardiovascular system, then you should choose a pediatric disease for pulmonary assignment and then choose women’s health for GI assignment Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) Women’s Health – CONNECTING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

 

Diagnosis: Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)(Women’s Health)

 

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PRIMARY MEDICAL CONCERN (Disease chosen – specific to the population)  (2 points)

 

 

 

 

GERD happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close well. This muscle is supposed to stop food and acid from coming back up from the stomach. In women, hormones like estrogen and progesterone (during pregnancy or hormone therapy) can make the LES weak (Sharma & Yadlapati, 2020). Also, extra pressure in the belly (from being overweight or pregnant) can make GERD worse. If acid keeps coming up, it can hurt the esophagus and cause problems like esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus.

 

HOW WOULD YOU TEACH THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO THE PATIENT AND/OR FAMILY (1 point)

I would explain to the patient that GERD is when the valve (LES) between the esophagus and stomach does not close tightly. This allows stomach acid to move up and cause burning in the chest. I will use pictures and easy words to help the patient understand.

 

 

 

 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

 

BODY SYSTEMS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS MEDICAL PROBLEM
(2 points)

EXPLAIN HOW EACH SYSTEM YOU CHOSE IS AFFECTED – IT CAN BE A POSSIBLE COMPLICATION OF THE DISEASE. (Ex. Integumentary affected from diabetes related to a diabetic wound OR Neurologic system affected by diabetes related to vision changes). (Minimum 3 body systems)

 

 

Gastrointestinal System: The acid from the stomach irritates the esophagus and can cause inflammation or ulcers.

 

Respiratory System: Acid can go into the lungs and cause coughing, wheezing, or even infection.

 

Cardiovascular System) GERD does not harm the heart, but chest pain from GERD can feel like a heart problem

 

PRIORITY SUBJECTIVE SYMPTOMS / HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS (HPI)

(on SOAP notes – the S stands for subjective – which is information from the patient)

 

Align the subjective symptoms to the pathophysiology of the disease. These are the things that a patient may tell you if they have the disease. 
(2 points)

 

 

Start of symptoms: A few weeks ago, getting worse

 

Location: Burning pain in the chest, goes up to the throat

 

How long it lasts: After eating, about 30–60 minutes

 

What it feels like: Burning, sour liquid in mouth

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) Women’s Health – CONNECTING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

 

What makes it worse: Spicy foods, lying down, big meals

 

What helps: Antacids, sitting up

 

Treatment tried: Over-the-counter antacids

 

Pain level: Moderate to strong, hard to sleep

 

 

 

PRIORITY PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

OBJECTIVE SYMPTOMS

(on SOAP notes – the O stands for objective – which is information from the provider)

 

Align the examination / findings to the body systems that affected.  (Minimum 2 systems)

(2 points)

 

You should build a “clinical picture” for each symptom to start ruling in or out diagnoses. In other words, viral pharyngitis vs strep vs tonsillitis vs epiglottitis, etc.

 

 

 

 

General look: Slightly overweight, mild pain

 

Mouth and throat (HEENT): Bad breath, no sore throat

 

Heart: Normal sounds, no problem

 

Lungs: Wheezing sometimes when lying down

 

Stomach (GI): Tender in the upper belly, no serious signs

 

Endocrine: Normal

 

Arms/Legs (Extremities): Normal

 

Skin, muscles, blood, and urinary systems: All normal

 

 

MAKING THE CONNECTION:

Patho-Clinical Manifestations

Write a paragraph explaining how the subjective and objective findings are linked to the pathophysiology of the disease. 
(150-300 words) (2 points)

 

 

 

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring-like muscle between the esophagus and stomach, becomes weak or relaxes inappropriately, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. This backflow, or acid reflux, irritates the esophageal lining and leads to common symptoms such as heartburn and chest discomfort. When this happens frequently, it can cause inflammation, erosion, or other damage to the esophageal tissue (Sharma & Yadlapati, 2020). In women, hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy or menopause, can further weaken the LES, making reflux more likely. Additionally, the pressure from the growing uterus during pregnancy can worsen symptoms. GERD can also affect the respiratory system; when stomach acid reaches the throat or airways, it may cause chronic cough, wheezing, or a feeling of tightness in the chest. Upper abdominal pain, especially after meals or when lying down, indicates irritation in both the stomach and lower esophagus. Without proper management, GERD may lead to complications such as esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus.

 

 

LABS / DIAGNOSTIC TESTING

 

LAB AND DIAGNOSTIC FINDINGS THAT MAY BE ABNORMAL

 

List the appropriate tests / labs (minimum 2) and explain the normal / abnormal result and how the lab test helps the APRN differentiate this diagnosis from others on the differential list.
(1 points)

 

EGD (Endoscopy): Shows if the esophagus is red, swollen, or damaged. Normal is healthy pink tissue. Bad is red, ulcers, or white patches.

 

24-Hour pH Test: Measures how often acid goes up into the esophagus. Normal is pH above 4 most of the time. Bad is pH below 4 many times a day Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) Women’s Health – CONNECTING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE.

 

 

 

MAKING THE CONNECTION:

Patho-Diagnostic Tests / Labs

Write a paragraph explaining how the labs and/or diagnostic tests are linked to the pathophysiology of the disease. 
(150 – 300 words) (2 points)

 

Diagnostic tests are important to understand how serious GERD is and how it affects the esophagus. An upper endoscopy, also called esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), helps the provider see the lining of the esophagus and look for signs of acid damage, such as redness, swelling, or open sores (Chhabra & Ingole, 2022). This test shows if GERD has already caused inflammation or injury inside the esophagus. Another useful test is the esophageal pH monitoring, which measures how much acid is present in the esophagus over a 24-hour period. If the test shows high acid levels, it means the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is not closing properly. This proves that acid is flowing back into the esophagus from the stomach. These test results help confirm the diagnosis of GERD and show how strong or weak the LES is. With this information, the healthcare provider can choose the right treatment plan, such as medications or lifestyle changes, to prevent further acid damage and improve symptoms.

DIAGNOSIS (ASSESSMENT)
(on SOAP notes – the A stands for assessment – which is the diagnosis)

 

2 POSSIBLE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES (DD) (1 point)

 

 

1.      Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)

2.      Chest Pain from Muscles or Stress

 

EXPLAIN THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE 2 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES

(2 points)

 

1.      PUD: Happens when the lining of the stomach or small intestine is damaged by acid. It can be from H. pylori or medicines like NSAIDs. Pain is usually in the stomach but not always with acid going up the esophagus.

2.      Chest Pain from Stress or Muscles: Happens from tight muscles or anxiety. Not from acid. Pain can feel like GERD but is not helped by antacids.

PHARMACOTHERAPY / NON-PHARMACOTHERAPY / PLAN

 

PLAN

(on SOAP notes – the P stands for plan)

(2 points)

 

 

 

EDUCATION (DISEASE, DIET, LIFESTYLE, ACTIVITY):

Avoid spicy and greasy foods, eat small meals, stay upright after eating, sleep with head raised, lose weight if needed.

MEDS:
Omeprazole 20–40 mg once a day for 8 weeks.

 

FURTHER TESTING:
EGD if symptoms do not get better in 8 weeks or if there are serious signs like trouble swallowing Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) Women’s Health – CONNECTING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

 

FOLLOW-UP:
Return in 8 weeks or sooner if worse

CLINICAL GUIDELINE FOR THIS DISEASE:

Look up the most recent clinical guidelines of the disease you have chosen and add the link to the guidelines here.

(1  point)

 ACG clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (Katz et al. 2021)

https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538

 

MAKING THE CONNECTION:

Patho-Pharm

Write a paragraph explaining how the pharmacotherapy (medications) is linked to the pathophysiology of the disease.
  (150-300 words) (2 points)

 

GERD occurs when acid from the stomach damages the lining of the esophagus. This happens because the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is weak and does not close well, allowing acid to move upward. Medications like omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), help by reducing the amount of acid the stomach makes. PPIs block the acid-producing pumps in the stomach lining, giving the esophagus time to heal and stopping the burning pain (Chhabra & Ingole, 2022). With less acid, there is also less chance of damage and inflammation. Omeprazole is often taken once daily and works best when used regularly. Other medications, such as antacids and H2 blockers, provide fast relief but do not last as long as PPIs. While antacids neutralize acid already in the stomach, and H2 blockers reduce acid for a few hours, PPIs are preferred for long-term control. All of these medicines help by targeting acid, which is the main cause of symptoms and injury in GERD.

 

 

SOCIAL DETEREMINANTS OF HEALTH (SDoH)

Identify one SDoH that could affect a patient with this disease. Explain how it would affect the individual and the disease process AND explain your plan – as the provider – to maneuver treatment with the SDoH concern
.  (150-300 words)
(2 points)

 

Low income can make GERD worse because people with limited money often eat cheaper, unhealthy foods that trigger acid reflux, like fried or processed meals. They might not afford healthy groceries, medications, or regular doctor visits. Without health insurance, they may skip treatment or delay care until symptoms become severe. Stress from financial hardship can also increase stomach acid and make symptoms worse. As the provider, I would recommend affordable treatment options such as generic omeprazole, which is low-cost and available over the counter. I would use simple, clear language to explain the condition and treatment to make sure the patient understands. I would also suggest home remedies, like eating smaller meals, avoiding spicy food, and staying upright after meals. If needed, I would connect the patient with free or low-cost community resources, including food banks, health clinics, or prescription assistance programs. The goal is to give care that respects the patient’s financial situation while still improving health outcomes.

THIS ASSIGNMENT ALIGNS WITH THE FOLLOWING COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1.Apply the model of homeostasis to the understanding of the theoretical/empirical basis of physiologic regulation and pathophysiologic phenomena of the human body

Describe abnormal physiological disorders in the human population.

Examine the interaction between genetics and environmental factors in the development of a given disorder

Distinguish the signs, symptoms, and diagnostic test results associated with disorders affecting the human population

Integrate the cultural, socioeconomic, gender, and age-related differences in the pathophysiologic response and treatment associated to disease or injury.

6.Interpret physiologic function and pathophysiologic dysfunction in the context of preparing to make competent clinical decisions in an advanced practice role

 

References

Chhabra, P., & Ingole, N. (2022). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Highlighting diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28563

Katz, P. O., Dunbar, K. B., Schnoll-Sussman, F. H., Greer, K. B., Yadlapati, R., & Spechler, S. J. (2021). ACG clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(1), 27-56. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538

Sharma, P., & Yadlapati, R. (2020). Pathophysiology and treatment options for gastroesophageal reflux disease: Looking beyond acid. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1486(1), 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14501 Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) Women’s Health – CONNECTING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay

Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer in the world and develops in the epidermis layer of the skin (McDaniel & Steele, 2024). Although BCC has a low metastatic potential, it can be very destructive, disfiguring, and functionally deficient at the time of diagnosis, without timely treatment. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, genetic predisposition, environmental inducers of the disease, and long-term interaction among other factors contribute highly to the development of the disease. Since BCC may not manifest similarly in all skin tones, advanced practice nurses need to be aware of these variations in order to diagnose them promptly, minimize inequities, and achieve better outcomes. The color difference shown by the Fitzpatrick Color Chart provides a visual representation of the six different skin types, from very fair to heavily pigmented. This scale is essential in dermatology since it informs clinicians on how disease like BCC will appear in different ways owing to varying levels of melanin as well as pigmentation patterns Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay.

Pathophysiology and Disruption of Homeostasis

The pathophysiology of BCC is indicative of a breakdown of the homeostasis in the skin with an imbalance between cell multiplication, DNA repair and apoptotic control. In normal tissue, the keratinocytes react to the UV damage by repairing their DNA or by apoptosis in cases where the damage is irreversible (Didona et al., 2020). The UV radiation that is persistent in BCC overwhelms these defenses and cause mutations especially in the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. Continuous activation and prolonged proliferation of keratinocytes is caused by mutations in PTCH1, a tumor suppressor gene that suppresses the pathway (Dainese-Marque et al., 2024). Further defects in Suppressor of Fused (SUFU) and p53 also destabilize cellular regulation. Such genetic mutations enable the cells to avoid apoptosis and divide out of control to form slow-growing but invasive lesions typical of BCC. This dysregulation is supported by physiologic changes like chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and defective immune surveillance, which increase the susceptibility of the skin to carcinogenesis. The interactions between genes and the environment are also important in that, people with inherited diseases, like Gorlin syndrome are prone to BCC and develop tumors without much UV exposure, where lifestyle aspects such as tanning bed use, occupational exposure to sun, smoking, and frequent skin trauma significantly alter the risk factor (Shraim et al., 2023).

ORDER AN ESSAY HERE

Clinical Manifestations

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has a wide range of appearances in the Fitzpatrick skin types (I- VI) and this difference can play a big role in identification and diagnosis. Lesions are usually seen as pearly or translucent papules with visible telangiectasias, rolled borders and occasionally central ulceration in lighter types of skin (I-III). Such typical characteristics are more noticeable in pale or fair skin, and they are therefore easy to identify at an early stage (Naik & Desai, 2022). BCC can be less pronounced in olive to moderate brown colour (types IV to V) in the form of firm, shiny nodules or slightly pigmented plaques, which may be tan, brown, or violaceous. BCC in severely pigmented skin (type VI) has the tendency to appear as a coloured lesion instead of the usual pearly papule, and telangiectasias may not be easy to see. Rather, the lesions can either be dark brown to black with smooth and slightly elevated surface that can be easily confused with harmless conditions like seborrheic keratoses, dermatofibromas or even scarred tissue, as shown in figure 1 below.

Figure 1

The Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale

Darker skin tones pose more diagnostic problems because they have lesser contrast between lesion and background skin, abnormal pigmentation patterns, and less evident vascularity. Since BCC is less prevalent in Fitzpatrick types V-VI, clinicians might be less prone to the index of suspicion, which leads to a higher risk of a delayed diagnosis or a false diagnosis of benign hyperpigmented lesions (Alghamdi et al., 2023). Dermoscopy is important in all types of skin but it proves especially useful in distinguishing pigmented BCC lesions in dark skins, including maple-leaf-like areas, spoke-wheel structures, blue-gray ovoid nests, and arborizing vessels which are otherwise hard to visualize. In cases where the lesions are unclear, biopsy is the conclusive diagnostic procedure. More precise diagnosis should be aided by particular instruments like dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy, and optical coherence tomography, which can allow improved visualization of those features that cannot be observed when the skin is examined through the surface observation alone (Federico et al., 2025). To avoid care disparities, the clinicians should be provided with training on identifying certain subtle and atypical presentations.

Treatment and Population Considerations

The basal cell carcinoma treatment is informed by the size of the lesion, subtype, anatomic site, the characteristics of the patient, and recurrence risk. The most common treatment is surgical excision, which is usually curative. High-risk tumors, cosmetically sensitive areas of the face, and recurrent lesions can be treated using Mohs micrographic surgery due to real time histologic margin control and maximizing tissue saving (Naik & Desai, 2022). Topical therapies (imiquimod or 5-fluorouracil) and modalities (cryotherapy or photodynamic therapy) can be used as effective alternatives in case of superficial lesions. Radiation treatment is normally used in patients not in a position to undergo surgery. Systemic hedgehog pathway inhibitors like vismodegib or sonidegib are offered in the case of advanced or metastatic BCC to specifically treat tumors by interfering with the molecular processes of tumor growth (Lear et al., 2023).

The responses to treatment and options differ greatly among patient populations. Elderly individuals can have comorbidities that make surgical procedures difficult or slow down the recovery process (Bergman et al., 2025). Women also approach care sooner as they are more involved with skin check whereas men do it later in life, which adds up to bigger and more invasive tumours. The socioeconomic disparities affect access to dermatologic care, access to sunscreen, and early diagnosis. Individuals of darker skin complexion often have delayed diagnoses with low clinical suspicion, scanty coverage in public health on cancer risks in their communities, and a provider bias that has been acquired through the underrepresentation of darker skin in medical teaching resources. Social determinants of health like income, occupation, geographic location, and health literacy have a strong impact on disease progression and outcomes especially to individuals who have a job in the outside environment, lack insurance cover or live far away from specialty services Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay.

Education provided to patients needs to be culturally specific and responsive to their skin color, personal beliefs, and literacy levels. Effective education strategies should focus on highlighting that every skin tone can be susceptible to carcinogenesis caused by UV and it should be clarified what BCC can present in various degrees of pigmentation, as well as promoting regular skin check-ups (Nicoara et al., 2025). It is necessary to provide visual examples of BCC in a variety of skin tones, use plain language, provide culturally relevant explanation, and use multilingual material. Advanced practice nurses are crucial in eliminating the knowledge gaps, encouraging the prevention behaviors, and influencing balanced clinical decision-making by integrating the physiologic and pathophysiologic factors.

Conclusion

Basal cell carcinoma is a complicated interaction of impaired physiologic homeostasis, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors. The expression can be very diverse, depending on the skin color, hence close, culturally sensitive and evidence-based assessment methods are imperative to prevent additional delays in diagnosis. With the incorporation of understanding of pathophysiology, the variety of clinical manifestations, the risk factors unique to the population, and social determinants of health, advanced practice nurses will be in a better position to offer diagnoses that are more precise, provide specific treatment, and offer equitable care. Inclusive patient education and better inclusion of skin color in dermatologic training also contribute to early detection and higher outcomes of BCC among all patients Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay.

References

Alghamdi, N., Algamdi, B., Alsaati, A. A., & Nemer, A. (2023). Palmar basal cell carcinoma in darker skin tone patient: A case study.
Acta Dermato Venereologica
,
103
, adv13345–adv13345.
https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v103.13345

Bergman, L., Holmgren, A. G., Nilsson, U., Amirpour, A., Conte, H., & Eckerblad, J. (2025). The bumpy road to recovery: older adults’ experiences during the first year after hip replacement surgery – a longitudinal qualitative study.
BMC Geriatrics
,
25
(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06155-6

Dainese-Marque, O., Garcia, V., Andrieu-Abadie, N., & Riond, J. (2024). Contribution of keratinocytes in skin cancer initiation and progression.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
,
25
(16), 8813–8813.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168813

Didona, D., Paolino, G., Bottoni, U., & Cantisani, C. (2020). Non melanoma skin cancer pathogenesis overview.
Biomedicines
,
6
(1), 6.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines6010006

Federico, S., Cassalia, F., Mazza, M., Fiore, P. D., Ferrera, N., Malvehy, J., Trilli, I., Rivas, A. C., Cazzato, G., Ingravallo, G., Ardigò, M., & Piscazzi, F. (2025). Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma EssayAdvancements in diagnosis of neoplastic and inflammatory skin diseases: Old and emerging approaches.
Diagnostics
,
15
(16), 2100–2100.
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15162100

Lear, J. T., Morris, L. M., Ness, D. B., & Lewis, L. D. (2023). Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Hedgehog pathway inhibitors used in the treatment of advanced or treatment-refractory basal cell carcinoma.
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
,
16
(12), 1211–1220.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17512433.2023.2285849

McDaniel, B., & Steele, R. B. (2024, March 13).
Basal cell carcinoma
. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482439/

Naik, P. P., & Desai, M. B. (2022). Basal cell carcinoma: A narrative review on contemporary diagnosis and management.
Oncology and Therapy
,
10
(2).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40487-022-00201-8

Nicoara, D., Pop, I. C., Muntean, M. V., Ilies, R. A., Nan, R., & Achimas-Cadariu, P. A. (2025). The role of prevention and early detection in skin tumors: Correlation between educational level and tumor stage at diagnosis.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
,
14
(20), 7321.
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207321

Shraim, R., Farran, M. Z., He, G., Karsaj, J. M., Zgaga, L., & McManus, R. (2023). Systematic review on gene–sun exposure interactions in skin cancer.
Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine
.
https://doi.org/10.1002/mgg3.2259
 Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay

 

Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay

Disease: Basal Cell Carcinoma

 

Title Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay page in APA format

Introduction and pathophysiology

Apply the model of homeostasis to explain the theoretical and empirical basis of physiologic regulation disruption in your chosen disorder (Course  Objective 1)

Describe the abnormal physiological processes occurring in the human population affected by this disorder (Course Objective 2)

Examine the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors (UV exposure, allergens, pathogens, lifestyle factors) in the development of the disorder (Course Objective 3)

 

Clinical Manifestations

Distinguish and analyze the signs, symptoms, and diagnostic test results associated with the disorder (Course Objective 4)

Provide detailed description of how the disorder appears across different skin tones (Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI), including high-quality images or detailed descriptions when images are unavailable

Discuss potential diagnostic challenges and considerations when assessing patients with varying skin pigmentation

Address how clinical presentation may be missed or misdiagnosed in patients with darker skin tones

Include discussion of any specialized diagnostic tools or techniques required

 

Treatment and Population Considerations

Integrate cultural, socioeconomic, gender, and age-related differences in pathophysiologic response and treatment associated with the disorder (Course Objective 5)

Discuss evidence-based treatment approaches, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions

Interpret physiologic function and pathophysiologic dysfunction in the context of clinical decision-making for advanced practice nursing (Course Objective 6)

 

Continued

 

Address health disparities and barriers to care that may affect different populations

Include consideration of social determinants of health that may impact disease  progression and treatment outcomes

Discuss patient education strategies that are culturally appropriate and accessible

Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay

 

Reference page in APA format – references cannot be older than 5 years

Must have at minimum 4 references that include: the textbook, recent peer reviewed journal article, and clinical guidelines for treatment.

OBJECTIVE:

Identify the differences of disease processes of the integumentary system based on skin tone types and variations. Provide students with an understanding of diverse presentations of disease based on skin tone.

MEETS COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Apply the model of homeostasis to the understanding of the theoretical/empirical basis of physiologic regulation and pathophysiologic phenomena of the human body (Aligns with program outcome 1). (Application)

Describe abnormal physiological disorders in the human population. (Aligns with Program Outcome 1). (Knowledge)

Examine the interaction between genetics and environmental factors in the development of a given disorder (Aligns with Program Outcomes 1, 2). (Comprehension)

Distinguish the signs, symptoms, and diagnostic test results associated with disorders affecting the human population (Aligns with Program Outcomes 1, 3) (Analysis)

Integrate the cultural, socioeconomic, gender, and age-related differences in the pathophysiologic response and treatment associated to disease or injury. (Aligns to program outcomes 2, 4). (Synthesis) Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay

Interpret physiologic function and pathophysiologic dysfunction in the context of preparing to make competent clinical decisions in an advanced practice role (Aligns with program outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4). (Application)

 

DELIVERABLES:

Paper that is at minimum 3 pages in length (title page, body (3 pages), and a reference page – Integumentary Basal Cell Carcinoma Essay

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Your First and Last Name

Instructor’s Name

Course Name and Code

Institution

Date

Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Social media has seen much transformation in the last decade, shaping how children and adolescents socialize, communicate, and construct their sense of identity. Platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok are deeply ingrained in the social fabric of their users’ lives, shaping the norms of belonging, beauty, and popularity. Although social media continues to facilitate self-expression, connection, and creativity, research reveals that it could have significant psychological costs. The rates of adolescent self-harm, anxiety, and depression have sharply increased in parallel with the increased use of smartphones and social media. Health professionals, educators, and parents are presenting questions on whether this digital immersion directly contributes to or is merely correlated with mental health problems. Although social media can promote self-expression and social connection, evidence demonstrates that comparison-driven, unregulated, and excessive use significantly contributes to mental health issues among children and teenagers, thereby demanding careful mitigation through collaborative strategies that include parental engagement, policy reforms, and digital literacy education.

Empirical evidence and mechanisms for social media use and adolescent mental health

There is a consistent pattern in clinical epidemiological research indicating that heavy social use correlates with increased mental health concerns among children and adolescents. A large-scale review of findings from randomized and longitudinal studies published by CMAJ suggests that the use of smartphones and social media may contribute to the rising burden of suicidality, self-harm, and mental distress among youths (“Smartphones, Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health”).  Similarly, a study published in 2024 by the US National Library of Medicine reveals that adolescents who spend more than three hours on social media daily exhibit double the risk of mental health issues compared to those who use less than one hour daily (“Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youth”). Although these studies are correlational, they reveal a consistent relationship between dose and response, as an increase in usage results in deteriorating mental health.

The mechanism underlying the observed pattern in the dose-response relationship is multifaceted. A significant factor in the relationship is social comparison. Children and adolescents are susceptible to peer belonging and feedback during their developmental stages. They often internalize feelings of failure and inadequacy when they encounter idealized portrayals of others on the internet. As revealed by Alluhidan et al., adolescents’ use of social media is akin to a “mirror that distorts reality” (“Teen Talk: The Good, the Bad, and the Neutral of Adolescent Social Media Use”). They are constantly exposed to the curated lives of others, and this amplifies the pressure they face to conform and look perfect, especially among girls who report more appearance-related anxiety.

Another significant factor in the relationship is cyberbullying. Research reveals that children who experience cyberbullying are more likely to develop symptoms of social withdrawal, post-traumatic stress, and depression (“Exploring Adolescents’ Perspectives on Social Media and Mental Health”). Victims of online harassment can have the harassment follow them around the clock, making them feel that they cannot escape from the situation, something not found in traditional bullying contexts. A Pew Research Center report published in 2023 reveals that 59% of the teenagers in the USA have experienced some form of cyberbullying, with higher reports reported among LGBTQ+ youth and girls (“Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health”).

Yet another significant factor in the relationship is sleep disturbance. Fear of missing out, blue-light exposure, and nighttime scrolling disrupt circadian rhythms and delay sleep onset. Poor sleep, in turn, is linked to diminished coping capacity and heightened emotional reactivity. The US Surgeon General issued an advisory on social media use, emphasizing that social media use among youth has consistently had an adverse effect (“Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence”). Additionally, social media use has displaced health-protective behaviors, including academic engagement, in-person friendships, and exercise. The time spent online replaces time that would otherwise reinforce emotional stability and resilience.

Complexities and moderating factors

The discussed findings are compelling, indicating that the relationship between social media and mental health is complex; however, there is no indication that this relationship is deterministic. Some adolescents get genuine benefits from online interactions, such as the 2023 study reported in the
Journal of Adolescent Health
, which reported that adolescents who use social media for more than five hours every day have elevated depression scores, while moderate users with about one to two hours of daily use report increased peer support and social connectedness (“Associations Between Social Media Use, Psychological Well-Being, and Psychopathology”). As such, the purpose and quality of social media engagement matter as much as quantity.

Moreover, offline variables mediate the psychological effects of social media, including variables like socioeconomic context, peer quality, and parental involvement. Youth who enjoy strong, stable self-esteem and strong family support appear less vulnerable to the negative aspects of social media. Conversely, youths who already experience marginalization, social anxiety, or loneliness are more likely to compulsively use social media and experience harm. This is a bidirectional dynamic in which preexisting distress predicts problematic use, which in turn worsens distress, thus illustrating that causality flows in both directions (Orben and Przybylski 1095).

There is evidence that intentional use of social media can foster resilience. For marginalized teens, the online space offers community validation and information on coping with mental illness and discrimination (“Role of Social Media as a Resource for Mental Health”). For youth in socially and geographically isolated regions, digital communities can be a lifeline of peer connection. Therefore, the challenge is not to demonize social media, but to design structures that maximize the psychological benefits of social media while minimizing exposure to harm.

Counterarguments and rebuttals

Those who argue against research results indicating that social media causes mental health problems argue that the evidence presented is largely correlational and lacks definitive causality. They contend that adolescents face a broad array of stressors, including climate anxiety, economic insecurity, and academic competition, and these may independently explain the rise in youth depression. Additionally, they highlight the methodological limitations of self-report surveys that are prone to social desirability and recall bias effects. Some of them even posit that social media is a scapegoat for the generational anxieties about technology (Odgers 4).

Although these critiques raise valid methodological concerns, the cumulative weight of quasi-experimental and longitudinal research undermines the notion that social media plays a neutral role. Twenge and colleagues analyzed more than 500,000 adolescents across 37 countries, and determined that increased digital media use predicted higher depressive symptoms and lower happiness two years later, even when controlling for baseline mental health (Twenge et al. 348). Such temporal sequencing strengthens the causal inference. Moreover, the scale of exposure, millions of youth spending seven hours or more daily online, means that even modest effect sizes translate into substantial public health consequences.

Yet another counterclaim is that adolescents are more open-minded about their mental health struggles than adolescents in the past. This leads to higher reporting than true prevalence. However, self-harm and suicide statistics, revealed by objective indicators and not reliant on self-report, have sharply increased, suggesting genuine worsening rather than diagnostic inflation (“Smartphones, Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health”). While greater awareness increases reporting, the concurrent escalation in clinical symptoms cannot be dismissed as a mere artifact.

Implications and pathways forward

The evidence presented indicates that the responsibility for mitigating harm must be shared among policymakers, clinicians, educators, families, and individuals. Parents and guardians should encourage digital hygiene, model balanced technology use, promote offline hobbies, and set limits on screen time. Media literacy should be taught in schools, with a focus on critical interpretation of digital content and emotional regulation online. This is based on the awareness that adolescents who discuss social media risks with adults are significantly less likely to develop depressive symptoms (Pew Research Center). Open dialogue is a protective mechanism.

Clinicians, particularly pediatric and psychiatric providers, should incorporate digital behavior assessment into their routine screening for children and adolescents. This would involve inquiring about the platforms used, the time spent, and the emotional responses to online experiences. At the structural level, the online platforms should be regulated, holding social media companies accountable for algorithmic designs that promote addictive engagement and harmful content. A 2023 recommendation by the Surgeon General suggested that there should be greater transparency in algorithmic data and the development of safety standards for adolescent users. There is need for the designs to be modified for risk mitigation, including having built-in screen-time reminders, nighttime restrictions, and moderating content targeting harmful communities (“Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence”).

Conclusion

One must accept that the relationship between social media and youth mental health is complex, yet unmistakably consequential. Interdisciplinary evidence reveals that emotionally charged, unsupervised, and excessive social media use contributes to self-harm, depression, and anxiety among adolescents. Mechanisms, including sleep deprivation, cyberbullying, social comparison, and displacement of healthy activities, explain these outcomes. Although there are positive uses of social media, such as information sharing and community building, the balance of data shows that harm outweighs benefit when use exceeds healthy thresholds. Consequently, there is a need for collective responsibility with parents guiding balanced used, educators teaching digital resilience, clinicians integrating digital assessments, and policymakers enforcing ethical platform designs. A coordinated intervention is required to ensure social media serves as a tool for connection rather than a source of psychological distress.

Works Cited

Alluhidan, Abdulmalik, et al. “Teen Talk: The Good, the Bad, and the Neutral of Adolescent Social Media Use.”
arXiv
, 4 Sept. 2024,
www.arxiv.org/abs/2409.02358
.

“Associations Between Social Media Use, Psychological Well-Being, and Psychopathology.”
Journal of Adolescent Health
, vol. 74, no. 4, 2024,
www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X%2824%2900825-5/fulltext

“Exploring Adolescents’ Perspectives on Social Media and Mental Health.”
National Library of Medicine
, 2023,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9902994/

“Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youth.”
National Library of Medicine
, 2024,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10476631/

Orben, Amy, and Andrew K. Przybylski. “The Association Between Adolescent Well-Being and Digital Technology Use.”
Nature Human Behaviour
, vol. 3, 2019, pp. 109–116.

Odgers, Candice. “Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown.”
American Psychologist
, vol. 76, no. 2, 2021, pp. 279–290.

“Role of Social Media as a Resource for Mental Health.”
National Library of Medicine
, 2023,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10297428/

“Smartphones, Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health.” Canadian Medical Association Journal, vol. 192, no. 6, 2020, pp. E136–E141, www.cmaj.ca/content/192/6/e136

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence
. 2023,
www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf
.

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA

Your argumentative essay will be on a topic from the list of options below. Consider your audience for this paper to be your peers. The essay should be between 3 ½ and 4 pages (850 to 1,000 words) in length, not including the Works Cited page. It should be double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font and must meet the following criteria:

An introduction, a minimum of 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion

A clearly articulated thesis in the introduction of the paper; the thesis must state the claim, position, or stance that your essay will prove

4 cited sources

At least 4 quotes from your sources

Topic sentences that focus the discussion in each body paragraph

Examples, details, statistics, explanations, and other researched evidence in the body paragraphs that clearly support the claim of your thesis

Counterarguments (at least one but preferably more than one) and refutations that show you understand the complexity of your argument and can accurately acknowledge the views of the opposition and refute them

Clear connections between ideas from paragraph to paragraph and within paragraphs (transition words and phrases)

Proper MLA style format in the in-text citations, and in the Works Cited page (Review the template and instructional video for creating the MLA format)

Works Cited page listing a minimum of 4 sources

Standard usage, grammar, and mechanics

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

You will submit your final draft through the Turn-it-in drop box designated for this purpose in the course. Please be aware that although Turn-it-in does allow for similarities for quotations up to 24% of your paper, any similarity above 24% is considered too high for an original paper and will be flagged as plagiarism.

You can get help with your paper at any of the campus writing centers (see the link in the course with this information), and you can also receive online help via SmartThinking, the online tutoring service provided by the College. This service is available by clicking on SmartThinking in the left-hand menu bar of the course under Tools & Resources.

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Choose any
one
of the following 16 topics (Note reference resources at the end of the topic list):

Environmental Topics

Research the status of sea level rise in South Florida today and the ways in which it is being addressed through State processes. Make an argument that the solutions today are
or
are not sufficient. Here is a link to a web page that will help you get started with your research:
https://sealevelrise.org/states/florida/
.

Research the effects of the environment on human health. Does the health of the environment affect the health of the human beings within it? Make an argument that supports your answer. Start your research by reading this article:
https://orionmagazine.org/article/beyond-the-patient/
.

How is biodiversity important to a thriving planet? What are the dangers of the high rate of species extinction that the planet is facing? What are the proposed solutions to this problem and how effective will they be? Start your research by reading this article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/05/06/one-million-species-face-extinction-un-panel-says-humans-will-suffer-result/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.98fc33bfad58
. For example, the World Wildlife Federation predicts that elephants will be extinct by 2040, well within the lifetime of many of us:
https://www.afrik21.africa/en/africa-wwf-believes-that-african-elephants-will-be-extinct-by-2040-if-nothing-is-don/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20environmental%20NGO,killed%20for%20its%20ivory%20tusks.&text=World%20Wildlife%20Fund%20(WWF)%20figures,elephants%20in%20Africa%20are%20chilling
.

Are electric vehicles better for the environment? Start your research by reading this article from
Forbes
magazine:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/05/20/are-electric-vehicles-really-better-for-the-environment/#5609f23876d2
.

Is vegetarianism better for the environment? Start your research by reading this article from
The Guardian
:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/vegetarianism-save-planet-environment
and this article from the
Washington Post
:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/18/being-a-vegetarian-might-make-you-feel-environmentally-superior-why-that-may-be-wrong/

 

Social Media Topics

Does use of social media contribute to mental health issues among children and teens?

Does social media empower grassroots movements and marginalized voices. or does it simply create “slacktivism” with little real-world impact?

Should social media platforms be more strictly regulated to protect user privacy, or do users bear the responsibility for their own online safety?

Has social media improved our ability to stay connected or has it weakened meaningful face-to-face interactions?

Does social media negatively impact self-esteem and body image, particularly among teenagers and young adults, or can it foster positive self-expression and community?

 

Artificial Intelligence Topics

Can artificial intelligence truly create original works of art, music, and literature, or are these outputs merely imitations of human creativity?

Will AI enhance the educational experience and provide personalized learning, or will it replace the critical role of human teachers?

Can AI truly create original works of art, music, and literature, or are these outputs merely imitations of human creativity?

Should AI be used in military operations considering the ethical implications?

Can AI truly enhance healthcare outcomes, or does it risk dehumanizing patient care?

Does the rise of AI pose a threat to job security, or will it create new opportunities in the workforce?

 

Here are some more instructions for the paper:

Your MLA paper assignment in this module will consist of the following sections:

Engaging introduction that DEMONSTRATES the issue you are arguing about and leads to a powerful thesis with clear position.

Body paragraphs with clear arguments and research that supports your claims, a paragraph that provides counterarguments for the opposition, and a strong conclusion that reiterates your claim.

The list of at least FOUR references formatted in MLA style at the end of the paper on a Works Cited page.

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

 
 

Directions

Submit your Works Cited page for your Documented Argument Essay in MLA

Here are some guidelines to remember: 

Your Works Cited page should have a minimum of four entries, meaning four sources. At least two of your sources should come from the MDC databases.

Formatting for Works Cited page:

Center the words Works Cited one inch from the top of the page.

Double space within and between entries–no extra spaces between entries.

Every line after the first for each source is indented (hanging indentation)

Sources are listed in alphabetical order.

Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

You can use one of the citation builders to create the entry: Easy Bib, Citation Machine, or another that you find reliable and helpful. HOWEVER, remember that these don’t always provide you with the correct spacing and indentation, and you may have to tweak those in your paper.

 

Your Reference page will be graded according to the following criteria: 

Centered heading that says Works Cited   10 points

Alphabetical listing of sources                     10 points

Correct spacing and indentation                 20 points

Correct information in each entry               20 points

At least 4 sources

(at least 2 from the MDC databases)        40 points

(all sources can be from the databases)

Please note that you can list more than four sources. Four is the minimum and must adhere to the above guidelines.

 You should also use the MDC databases and may use Google Scholar as well. Make sure all articles are from credible sources.

Use this dropbox to submit 
four 
articles you are considering for your paper. If the article is from the database, submit the full-text attachment of the article. If the article comes from a Website, submit the link to the site. Essay Assignment 2: Documented Argument in MLA – Does Social Media Use Contribute to Mental Health Issues among Children and Teens?

Remember that you must include at least 2 articles from the MDC databases.

Evaluation of the Drugs.com mHealth Application Essay

General Instructions

Mobile health, also known as mHealth, is the secure use of mobile digital wireless technologies to support health. Awareness and skillful use of mHealth applications (apps) are key to advancing health outcomes.

Use the table below to identify the mHealth app for this assignment based on the first letter of your first name. For example, if your first name is Gilda then your assigned app is Medscape. My Name starts with R

First letter of your first name

mHealth app for Assignment

A-E

MDCalc

F-J

Medscape

K-O

The Chief Complaint

P-S

Drugs.com

T-Z

SingleCare

Use the 
Google Play Store
for Android devices or the 
Apple iTunes App Store
 for Apple devices to search for the assigned medical application in the table above.

Download the app to a mobile device (smartphone or tablet). The apps are free and do not require purchase to complete this assignment.

Include the following sections:

Application of Course Knowledge
: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.

Name of the app
: Identify the name of the app.

Author
: Describe who created, developed, or maintains the app.

Endorsement
: Identify whether the app is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration, another government agency, or endorsed by an academic institution or medical professional organization. Discuss the implications (or lack) of endorsement.

Aesthetics
: Discuss whether the information is displayed in a way that is easy to navigate. Is it easy to use? Can you use it without instructions? Explain.

Purpose
: Describe the intended purpose or use of the app.

Clinical decision-making
: Discuss the influence of the app on clinical decision-making.

Safety
: Is there potential for client harm? Explain.

Privacy/security
: Identify if the app has a privacy statement or setting. Is there a clear privacy policy stating information will be encrypted and not shared with third parties? Does the app share information on social networks? Are users notified in the event of a breach of privacy and health information? Explain.

User
: Explain for whom is the app intended (providers, clients, or others).

Credibility
: Discuss the credibility of the sources of information and how credibility is verified.

Relevance
: Discuss how current the information is in the app. When was the last update? Is the content consistent with evidence-based literature or best practices/standards of care? Explain.

Evaluation of the Drugs.com mHealth Application Essay

Evaluation of the Drugs.com mHealth Application

Shortened as mHealth, ‘Mobile Heath’ and related applications have become indispensable tools in the healthcare sector today. In addition to revolutionizing care delivery, the application has enabled users to access critical information about their health securely and quickly (
de Barros et al., 2021
). Different apps are inexistence offering diverse applications to their users. This paper provides a detailed evaluation of the
Drugs.com app, its application, usability credibility and its use in clinical decision-making.

The assigned app is ‘Drugs.com’. Drugsite Trust developed and maintained the app
.
This organization is dedicated to providing accessible, accurate, and comprehensive drug information. According to Drugs.com (2019), the organization draws its data from the FDA, National library of medicine and the American formulary services, which has greatly improved the quality and reliability of the information provided.

Regarding endorsement, the app does not possess a specific license from the FDA but instead draws its data from reputable sources such as the FDA (
Arora et al., 2020
). The lack of official endorsement by the government may affect trust from some users; however, using credible and reliable sourced information such as the FDA has helped compensate for the gap.

The user experience factor drove the app developers. Navigation is easy with a clean and easy-to-use interface, allowing users to search for drug side effects easily. Integrations without needing extensive instructions. On the other hand, the app layout is pleasing, with easy-to-access categories, enabling users to access information quickly.

The primary purpose of the
Drugs.com app is to provide easily accessible and reliable information about drugs and tools for managing medication. Key features include drug lookup, identifier, personal medication records, and medication interaction checker. The multiple services offered by the app enable users, patients, and care providers to make informed decisions about medication use, effectiveness and safety (Arora et al., 2020).

Concerning decision-making, the app significantly aids both patients and care providers in accessing drug information, side effects, interactions, and dosage guidelines. However, it should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice; end users are encouraged to liaise with their care providers for personalized guidance Evaluation of the Drugs.com mHealth Application Essay.

Despite being a reliable application in the health sector, there is potential for client harm whereby users rely solely on the app without consulting professional care providers, hence the potential for misuse. In terms of privacy and security, the app entails a detailed and comprehensive privacy policy, hence ensuring users’ data is protected and encrypted for third-party sharing without consent. It does not share users’ details on other platforms, such as social networks, with users sent notifications in case of bleach. These measures denote the app’s commitment to ensuring privacy and security as demanded by the evolving mHealth sector needs.

The primary users of the app include healthcare providers, pharmacists and consumers who all need detailed and reliable information about drugs. The app is designed to be accessed by professionals and the public, and the information and tools offered are presented in a way that suits diverse end users. In terms of the app’s credibility, the app’s credibility is enhanced with the information sourced from credible agencies and databases such as the FDA. More so, it provides citations for its sources and information, making it easy for users to verify.

Lastly, the
Drugs.com app is frequently updated, making recent and other critical changes. The frequent updates have increased the app’s relevance and trust levels among its users, with information provided aligning with evidence-based practices and the latest standards of care. The app also displays recent updates, improving users’ trust and transparency (de Barros et al., 2021).

In summary, Drugs.com is a mHealth app offering a comprehensive platform for users to access reliable drug information. Its user-friendly interface, ease of use, and frequently updated data make it a trusted app among its users, which varies between healthcare providers, pharmacists and patients or consumers. It’s a source of decision-making regarding the use of medications and related management, resulting in improved health outcomes.

References

Arora, S., Yttri, J., & Nilse, W. (2020). Privacy and Security in Mobile Health (mHealth) Research. 
Alcohol research : current reviews
, 
36
(1), 143–152.

de Barros, K. A. A. L., Martins, M. A. P., Praxedes, M. F. D. S., & Ribeiro, A. L. P. (2021). Effectiveness and usability of mobile health applications for medication adherence in patients with heart failure: a systematic review protocol. 
JBI evidence synthesis
, 
19
(10), 2777–2782.
https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00399

Drugs.com. (2019).
Drug Index A to Z
. Drugs.com; Drugs.com.
https://www.drugs.com/drug_information.html 
 Evaluation of the Drugs.com mHealth Application Essay

Healthcare Errors Quality

Include the following sections
:

Application of Course Knowledge
: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.

Do you recommend criminalizing healthcare errors as an effective approach to holding healthcare providers accountable for their mistakes? Why or why not?

How can healthcare providers balance the goal of high-quality care with the potential risks and consequences of errors?

Are current legal and regulatory frameworks adequate to address healthcare errors? If so, why? If not, what changes are necessary to ensure the regulations best serve clients and providers?

 

Healthcare Errors Quality

Criminalizing healthcare errors is an area of contention. On the one hand, criminalizing such errors ensures accountability and discipline among the care providers. They are able to reduce aspects of negligence and perfectly improve the quality of care.  On the other hand, the aspects of criminalizing healthcare errors create a culture of defensiveness and fear among care workers and that can affect open communication and learning. This is because by criminalizing errors the nurses will tend to hide the mistakes and profiles while at work. This will reduce transparency since most of the acre providers will work under fear (Singh et al., 2024). However, there is a need to criminalize healthcare errors since this helps in better learning and skills improvements for care providers.

Healthcare providers are able to balance the goal of high-quality care with the risk of errors by ensuring they gain more skills via continuous education, adhering to quality assurance measures, using evidence-based practice, applying open communication, and advocating for care safety (Miziara, 2022) Healthcare Errors Quality .

The current legal and regulatory frameworks are fully adequate for addressing healthcare errors. This is because there are policies and regulations for every care issue and practice and the outcomes are well weighed out.  The issue is errors occur due to poor coordination, communication, and learning that leave gaps in the care providers. In addition, when the care providers are able to apply the aspects of teamwork in addressing errors. The only thing required is for the care providers to adhere to the current legal and regulatory practices in achieving the most ideal model of care (Rodziewicz et al., 2024).

Moving forward there is a need to ensure there is a balance in criminalizing healthcare errors. This is to mean that there are errors that need to be criminalized while others should be used as a learning process. Also, legal and regulatory frameworks should be perfectly applied in reducing the extent of errors.

References

Miziara, I. D., & Miziara, C. S. M. G. (2022). Medical errors, medical negligence, and defensive medicine: A narrative review. 
Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
, 
77
, 100053.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100053

Rodziewicz, T. L., Houseman, B., Vaqar, S., & Hipskind, J. E. (2024). Medical Error Reduction and Prevention. In 
StatPearls
. StatPearls Publishing.

Singh G, Patel RH, Vaqar S. (2024). Root Cause Analysis and Medical Error Prevention. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570638/
  Healthcare Errors Quality

Staffing and compensation plan – Boeing

Description of the employee benefits offered.

The compensation plan for electrical engineers engaged by Boeing would include salaries and benefits. The salaries would rely on the electrical engineers’ salary scales annually published by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The scales take into account the individual’s functional expertise, job competency, qualifications, credentials, length of professional experience, and education background. Any negotiations for an increase in salary would be based on the latest published copy of the same scales. In addition to the salaries, the employees will enjoy four other benefits. First, the retirement benefit presented as an employer-sponsored 401k plan. This is a defined contribution plan that allows the employees to save for retirement by contributing 5% of their salaries while Boeing matches half of their contribution with 2.5%. The collected amount is then invested with the specific benefits amount tied to the returns on investment (Ozbiglin, Groutsis & Harvey, 2014). Secondly, medical insurance for the employee and dependents, which covers the prescription medication, hospital rooms, and surgeon and physician fees. The insurance would also include optical and dental care as part of the overall benefits coverage. Boeing will pay for 60% of the medical insurance premium with the employee paying 40% as a percentage of the monthly cost. Thirdly, disability insurance to replace part or all of the income personnel lose when unable to complete job tasks owing to injury or illness. Fourthly, life insurance that offers protection to the family in case an employee dies. The family act as beneficiaries who receive benefits as indicated by the policy. Fifthly, paid time off that cover vacation leave, sick leave and holidays. Finally, fringe benefits that are presented as non-cash payments intended to attract and retain talented personnel to include non-production bonuses, child-care, flexible medical and tuition assistance (Crawley, Swailes & Walsh, 2013).

References

Crawley, E., Swailes, S. & Walsh, D. (2013).
Introduction to international human resource management
. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ozbiglin, M., Groutsis, D. & Harvey, W. (2014).
International human resource management
. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Epic Systems Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Essay

General Instructions

Electronic health records (EHRs) provide a database for an individual’s healthcare data during healthcare encounters and the ability to exchange health information electronically. Consider an EHR with which you have had experience.

Include the following sections:

Application of Course Knowledge
: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.

Identify one EHR with which you have experience as a nurse. Provide the name of the system and the practice environment in which it was used.

Describe three key features of the system that supported positive client or organizational outcomes.

Describe one concern with the system specific to the organization. Discuss the impact of the concern and how it can be addressed.

Epic Systems Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Essay

 

Epic Systems Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Essay

Electronic Health Records

Application of Course Knowledge

There is one particular example of an Electronic Health System (EHS) that I am familiar with working as a nurse and that system is called Epic Systems. I use this platform in my current practice amongst other hospital and outpatient settings (Mullner, 2021). Epic is a comprehensive, centralized support for many facets of patient care documentation, and communication among healthcare providers.

Key Features Supporting Positive Outcomes

Patient Chart Integration is one key feature supporting positive outcomes. Epic provides a single patient chart integrating lab results, imaging, medication history, provider notes. By removing the need for cross referencing to various systems, this reduces the time to decision making and continuity of care for the patient Epic Systems Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Essay.

Another one is Interoperability, this interoperability between Epic that enables healthcare providers to securely swap patient data across EHRs — the choice provider for the pursuit — improve patient care by enabling healthcare providers to coordinate care for patients that have ongoing, complex needs (Kok et al., 2016). This feature enables providers in a patient’s care to access the most current data.

Lastly, Clinical Decision Support (CDS) of the HER is another key support. The Epic CDS tool also alerts and reminds of critical issues (potential drug interactions, missed preventive screenings, allergy checks, etc). Timely guidance of this feature is offered to minimize errors and helps enhance patient outcomes Epic Systems Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Essay.

Concerns and Impact

A big concern about Epic in my organization is the provider ‘click fatigue’, where you have to click and navigate through screens to complete documentation. Such can be inefficient, professional frustration and burnout, as well. The complexity of the system itself also slows down care. To solve this, the organization could invest in tailored training sessions around how to optimize workflow efficiency and dig through built in shortcuts and customizable templates within Epic. Other possible means by which the user experience could be refined and the even greater administrative burden on nursing staff could be reduced, is through regular feedback sessions with the nursing staff.

References

Kok, O. M., Basoglu, N., & Daim, T. U. (2016). Adoption factors of electronic health record systems. 
Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management
, 189-249. 
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17975-9_8

Mullner, R. (2021). Health services data: The centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) claims records. 
Electronic health records (EHRs) basics.
, 1-16. 
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7673-4_5-1 
  Epic Systems Electronic Health Records (EHRs) Essay

CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation

Identify potential barriers for this specific population and how to overcome those barriers to support a healthy lifestyle.

Describe how population health outcomes can improve when educating about this LHI.

Above are the two topics I need slides on. Two slides for each topic with one reference each between years 2020-2025. I do not need a cover page as this is a group project and that is already made.

CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation

Barriers to a Healthy Lifestyle for Persons (13+) Who Know Their HIV Status – CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation

Stigmatization and discrimination on HIV patients.

Psychological distresses (such as depression and anxiety)

Limited availability of health care or health support.

Socioeconomic disparities (housing, employment)

Lack of health literacy regarding HIV management.

Misunderstandings on the cultural and community levels.

CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation

(Yuvaraj et al., 2020)

Persons aged 13 and older who are aware of their HIV status often face numerous challenges in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Stigma and discrimination are prevalent and they restrain people to seek care or to respond/ disclose their status. A significant portion of them has multiple co-morbid mental health conditions that might remain unignored, which makes it even more difficult to stay on treatment. The lack of access to medical care also limits the capacity to access routine care, particularly in underserved communities. Social differences and disadvantages, including unreliable homes and jobless status limit their ability to make health a priority. Moreover, lack of good health literacy and misinformation on HIV issues may cause poor decision making (Yuvaraj et al., 2020). Beliefs in society and culture can also disagree with medical advice. A solution should not be overlooked in addressing adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), transmission, and wellness over the long term because of these obstacles.

GET ASSIGNMENT HELP HERE

Strategies to Overcome Barriers – CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation

Normalize HIV through public education campaigns

Make mental health care an aspect of HIV treatment environment

Increase access to care through the use of mobile clinics and telehealth

Offer worker and housing schemes

Training of culturally competent providers

Youth-based outreach and peer support

(Luquis & Pérez, (Eds.) 2021)

To overcome barriers for individuals aged 13 and older who know their HIV status, a multi-layered strategy is essential. To begin, HIV needs to be mainstreamed and the stigma has to be shut down through the means of public health education. The delivery of mental health services with HIV care will enable comprehensive assistance of patients. Accessibility can be enhanced by use of mobile clinics and telehealth to reach people that are in rural or low-service regions. Root socioeconomic causes of very poor health and nonadherence can be handled with employment or housing programs (Luquis & Pérez, (Eds.) 2021). It is necessary to train the healthcare providers in culturally competent care to ensure that they are able to attend to the variations met within this group of people. Finally, youth-specific outreach and peer-led support groups can help young people remain in care, and in particular, where they can see success stories that make them feel related and safe to discuss issues with them.

 

How Population Health Outcomes Improve Through LHI Education – CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation

Raises the levels of HIV testing and early diagnoses rates

Prevents and brings awareness to reduce transmission

Encourages patient compliance with drugs and viral control

Increases the awareness of U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable)

Reduces stigma by means of informed communities

Enhances more healthier sex and reproduction decisions

(Gbaja-Biamila et al., 2024)

Educating the population about the Leading Health Indicator (LHI) of knowing one’s HIV status significantly enhances public health outcomes. Properly informed individuals have high chances of having an examination test and hence, diagnosed earlier to access care. The rise of awareness also gives a spread of safe sexual behavior and less transmission of HIV. The realization of the necessity of regular drug intake increases the rate of viral suppression, making the further spreading less likely (Gbaja-Biamila et al., 2024) CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation. The teaching of the U=U concept in public generates awareness of the concept, which reinforces the fact that persons with undetectable viral loads cannot pass the virus sexually. Misinformation and stigma are the major obstacles to care which are countered through education. Lastly, it makes people, and particularly, young people and other disadvantaged groups, more capable of making informed and healthier choices about their lives, and enhances both individual and societal health.

 

Population Benefits of Targeted HIV Status Education (13+ years) – CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation

Promotes the communication between parents and their peers on HIV.

Lessens healthcare inequality with at-risk youngsters.

Empowers school-based and community-intervention activities.

Strengthens services and social network relationships.

Allows care and case management connection.

Builds resilience through knowledge and empowerment.

(Goldstein et al., 2023)

Specifically aimed education about the level of HIV among young people (aged 13 and above) leads to individual and community safety. It establishes a path to successful communication among the youth themselves, with their families and peers- establishing the safer environments to talk about and offer assistance. Education will help close the gaps in care access due to inequities within high-risk populations such as LGBTQ+ youth and in communities of color. When community support programs are included in the school-based interventions, the interventions provide uniform messaging and resources. Education is also enhancing social connectivity as the state of being isolated is minimized, and healthy relations are encouraged (Goldstein et al., 2023). Also, once the youth is aware of their status and the healthcare system, they will find it easier to avail of support services such as counseling and treatment services. Finally, youths are empowered in education, developing resilience that brings about improved long-term results.

 

References

Gbaja-Biamila, T., Obiezu-Umeh, C., Nwaozuru, U., Rosenberg, N. E., Igbokwe, M., Oladele, D., … & Iwelunmor, J. (2024). Awareness of, willingness to use, and experiences with Pre-exposure prophylaxis among youth in Nigeria. BMC health services research, 24(1), 1128.

Goldstein, M., Archary, M., Adong, J., Haberer, J. E., Kuhns, L. M., Kurth, A., … & Zanoni, B. C. (2023). Systematic review of mHealth interventions for adolescent and young adult HIV prevention and the adolescent HIV continuum of care in low to middle income countries. AIDS and Behavior, 27(Suppl 1), 94-115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-022-03840-0

Luquis, R. R., & Pérez, M. A. (Eds.). (2021). Cultural competence in health education and health promotion. John Wiley & Sons.

Yuvaraj, A., Mahendra, V. S., Chakrapani, V., Yunihastuti, E., Santella, A. J., Ranauta, A., & Doughty, J. (2020). HIV and stigma in the healthcare setting. Oral Diseases, 26, 103-111. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2020.539174 CLC – Healthy People Preventative Education Presentation