Category: Nursing

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).

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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

Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Example

General Instructions

This week, you will discuss how the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) impacts quality and safety.

Include the following sections
:

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

Describe one practice area in which MIPS could be used to improve the quality of care related to your anticipated 
future
practice
 setting as a Nurse Practioner. Do not discuss your current practice setting.

Discuss two ways MIPS could positively impact the practice area Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Example.

Describe the role of MIPS in supporting the financial viability of healthcare providers and organizations and client health outcomes.

Examine how advanced practice nurses can contribute to the development and refinement of MIPS quality measures to ensure that they are valid, reliable, and meaningful for clients and providers.

Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Example

Practice Area for MIPS Application

In my anticipated future practice as a Nurse Practitioner in the mental health care setting, the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) can be effectively utilized to enhance the quality of care for patients suffering from mental health disorders. By implementing MIPS, mental health practitioners can establish standardized quality measures focusing on critical aspects such as patient engagement, treatment adherence, and overall patient satisfaction (Bond et al., 2022). This structured approach would help monitor the effectiveness of various interventions, reduce stigma, and improve access to mental health services.

Positive Impacts of MIPS on Mental Health Practice

As a result, MIPS could benefit mental health practice in numerous aspects, mainly patient involvement and data-driven transformations. First, MIPS promotes ensuring patients’ perspectives and views on their outcomes and satisfaction level that may enhance patient involvement in the treatment management procedures. Increased participation improves treatment compliance and positive mental health (Gettel et al., 2022). Second, the data collection and analysis facilitated by MIPS help mental health providers to monitor different indices, including therapeutic outcomes and rates of readmissions to hospital, and thus apply evidence-based treatments that enable the expansion of access to high-quality and safe care.

Role of MIPS in Financial Viability and Client Health Outcomes

MIPS is indispensable for the sustainability of healthcare providers and organizations and for enhancing clients’ well-being. MIPS also encourages healthcare organizations to improve the quality of services dispensed by increasing reimbursement rates for services provided, creating positive payment shocks for superior participant firms (Gettel et al., 2022). This emphasis on quality care not only keeps the financials of a healthcare organization healthy by eradicating expensive costs like readmission rates, but also preserves the clients’ lives for a sustainable future Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Example.

Contribution of Advanced Practice Nurses to MIPS Quality Measures

MIPS quality measures constitute an essential aspect in Devine & Nugent’s model of advanced vision whereby advanced practice nurses (APNs), including Nurse Practitioners, have a central role in developing and fine-tuning MIPS quality measures in terms of their validity, reliability, and meaningfulness. Given the vast experience of clinicians providing mental health services, APNs are in a position to define quality indicators that would effectively capture value and results for patients with mental disorders (Otero et al., 2024). Nurse Practitioners (NPs) can engage different stakeholders within the healthcare system to support their proposed measures, including other health measures related to mental health hurdles (Bond et al., 2022). Additionally, through sharing their feedback on the current quality measures or standards derived based on their practice encounters, APNs can contribute to sharper calibration of the existing measures, thus embracing the quality metrics that have the potential of improving the quality of care, as well as the experiences patients undergo within the healthcare system.

References

Bond, A. M., Schpero, W. L., Casalino, L. P., Zhang, M., & Khullar, D. (2022). Association between individual primary care physician merit-based incentive payment system score and process and patient outcomes measures.
JAMA
,
328
(21), 2136.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.20619

Gettel, C. J., Han, C. R., Canavan, M. E., Bernheim, S. M., Drye, E. E., Duseja, R., & Venkatesh, A. K. (2022). The 2018 Merit-based Incentive Payment System: Participation, Performance, and Payment Across Specialties.
Medical Care
,
60
(2), 156–163.
https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001674

Otero, S. P., Diaz, A. L., Hemal, K., Boyd, C. J., Lee, W.-Y., & Karp, N. S. (2024). Merit-Based Incentive Payment System: How Are Plastic Surgeons Performing?
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
, 10.1097/PRS.0000000000011455.
https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000011455 
 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Example

Project Milestone: Data Plan – Analyzing Synthetic Patient Data for Clinical Insights – Assessing the Influence of Age on Hospital Readmissions Using Synthetic Patient Data

Overview

This milestone assignment allows you to receive feedback on your data plan before proceeding with your midterm paper. While this assignment is optional and not graded, completing it will provide valuable guidance to strengthen your final midterm submission.

Purpose

The purpose of this milestone is to help you:

Refine your research question from Discussion Assignment 2 (ASSIGNMENT ATTACHED)

Identify appropriate variables from the dataset for your analysis

Develop a preliminary plan for data analysis

Receive constructive feedback before investing significant time in your midterm paper

Instructions

Research Question Selection (1 paragraph)

Select one research question from the options you developed in Discussion Assignment 2

Refine your question to ensure it is clear, focused, and answerable using the provided dataset

Briefly explain why you selected this particular question and its relevance to nursing informatics and healthcare quality

Variable Selection (1-2 paragraphs)

Identify the specific variables from the dataset you plan to include in your analysis

For each variable, provide:

The exact name of the variable as it appears in the dataset

The type of variable (categorical, continuous, etc.)

A brief explanation of why this variable is relevant to your research question

Identify your dependent (outcome) and independent (predictor) variables

Proposed Data Analysis Plan (1-2 paragraphs)

Describe the descriptive statistics you plan to calculate

Identify any measures of association or simple statistical tests you plan to perform

Explain how these analyses will help you address your research question

Note any potential data quality issues you anticipate and how you plan to address them

Submission Format

Please submit your Data Plan as a 1-2 page document (double-spaced, 12pt font) with the following sections clearly labeled:

Research Question

Variable Selection

Proposed Data Analysis Plan

Example Structure

Research Question:

Is there an association between polypharmacy (5+ medications) and emergency department utilization among patients in the dataset? Project Milestone: Data Plan – Analyzing Synthetic Patient Data for Clinical Insights – Assessing the Influence of Age on Hospital Readmissions Using Synthetic Patient Data

Variable Selection:

Dependent variable: EmergencyVisits (continuous) – This represents the number of emergency department visits and will serve as my outcome variable to measure healthcare utilization.

Independent variable: TotalMedications (continuous) – This will be recoded into a binary variable (Polypharmacy: Yes/No) where 5+ medications = Yes.

Covariates:

Age (continuous) – Included because older patients may have more medications and higher ED utilization

ChronicConditionCount (continuous) – Included to account for disease burden

InsuranceType (categorical) – Included because insurance coverage may influence both medication access and ED utilization patterns

Proposed Data Analysis Plan:

I will first calculate descriptive statistics for all variables, including means and standard deviations for continuous variables (EmergencyVisits, Age, ChronicConditionCount) and frequencies for categorical variables (Polypharmacy, InsuranceType). I will then compare the mean number of emergency visits between patients with and without polypharmacy using an independent samples t-test. If the data are not normally distributed, I will use a non-parametric alternative like the Mann-Whitney U test. I will also create a contingency table to examine the relationship between polypharmacy and high ED utilization (defined as 2+ visits) and perform a chi-square test to assess this association.

Feedback Process

Your instructor will provide feedback on:

The clarity and feasibility of your research question

The appropriateness of your selected variables

The suitability of your proposed statistical analyses

Suggestions for strengthening your approach for the midterm paper

 

Project Milestone: Data Plan – Analyzing Synthetic Patient Data for Clinical Insights – Assessing the Influence of Age on Hospital Readmissions Using Synthetic Patient Data

Assessing the Influence of Age on Hospital Readmissions Using Synthetic Patient Data

Patient Age and Hospital Readmissions

Research Question

Does patient age influence the likelihood of hospital readmission within 30 days?

The research question that will be answered in this study will be to determine any relationship between the age of the patient and 30-day readmission to the hospital. I have chosen this question because readmission to hospitals is one of the most important quality indicators in healthcare and is frequently related to the insufficiency of discharge plans or the absence of proper follow-ups. One of the well-known factors that affect the complexity of recovery and care is age, particularly in older adults. This question is especially applicable in nursing informatics to the development of predictive models and clinical decision support systems that are proactive in identifying the high-risk patients. Knowledge of this relationship can aid in the optimization of the discharge process and the facilitation of specific intervention strategies, which will eventually enhance the quality of healthcare and lower expenses.

Variable Selection

I will apply the following variables of the synthetic patient dataset to analyze this research question:

Age

Name of variable in the data: Age

Type: Continuous

Age is the first independent variable and a possible predictor of readmission. Patients with age-related issues usually experience more comorbidities and functional limitations that can put them at risk of readmission.

30-Day Readmission

Name of variables in dataset: Readmission30Days

Type: Categorical (Binary: Yes/No)

Justification: This is the dependent variable. It specifically deals with the research finding: was the patient readmitted back to a hospital within 30 days of being discharged? There will be a binary classification in order to analyze the probability that can be attributed to various groupings of age.

Chronic Conditions Count

Name of the variable in the dataset: ChronicConditionCount

Type: Continuous

Justification: This was used as a covariate since patients with multiple chronic conditions would have a high risk of developing complications during the post-discharge period, regardless of age. By controlling this, one isolates the effect of age.

Discharge Destination

Name of variable in data: DischargeDestination

Type: Categorical such as home, skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation

Rationale: The place of discharge can be a risk factor for readmission. Such as readmission rates may be lower in patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities as compared to those discharged to home.

Insurance Type

Name of variable in data set: InsuranceType

Type: Categorical such as Medicare, Medicaid, private, etc.

Rationale: Type of insurance might have an impact on access to post-discharge facilities and post-discharge care, which can affect the readmission outcomes. This inclusion will be used to control the socioeconomic factors.

Overall, the dependent variable will be Readmission30Days, whereas the primary independent variable will be Age. To enhance the validity of the analysis, other covariates are ChronicConditionCount, DischargeDestination, and InsuranceType. Project Milestone: Data Plan – Analyzing Synthetic Patient Data for Clinical Insights – Assessing the Influence of Age on Hospital Readmissions Using Synthetic Patient Data

Data Analysis Plan Proposed

I will start by performing a descriptive statistic of all the variables. I will compute means, standard deviations, and ranges of continuous variables (age, chronic condition count). I will compute frequencies and percentages in the case of categorical variables (Readmission30Days, DischargeDestination, InsuranceType).

To determine the correlation between age and readmission, I will apply the logistic regression analysis because the outcome variable, readmission, is binary (Miswan et al., 2021). Age shall be handled as a continuous predictor. Some of the covariates that will be controlled in the logistic regression model include the number of chronic conditions, discharge destination, and type of insurance.

I will also carry out a bivariate analysis prior to the regression. Specifically: Chi-square test to test the unadjusted relationship of age groups (e.g., <65 vs. >=65) and readmission.  A t-test or a Mann-Whitney U test to compare the mean age of readmitted and non-readmitted groups based on the assumptions of normality.  The possible data quality problems can be; the lack of values in Readmission30Days (or Age), which I will evaluate through frequency checks. In case of a low level of missing data, I will apply listwise deletion, and in case of a high level of missing data, I will take the case of multiple imputation (Woods et al., 2024).  Outliers in age like unrealistic ages such as 120+ will be considered and possibly rejected.

Such analyses will assist in establishing whether age is a factor in the risk of 30-day readmission independent of clinical and demographic characteristics. The findings will justify specific interventions in the discharge planning and transitional care, particularly among the elderly.

References

Miswan, N. H., Chan, C. S., & Ng, C. G. (2021). Hospital readmission prediction based on improved feature selection using grey relational analysis and LASSO. Grey Systems: Theory and Application, 11(4), 796-812.
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/gs-12-2020-0168/full/html

Woods, A. D., Gerasimova, D., Van Dusen, B., Nissen, J., Bainter, S., Uzdavines, A., … & Elsherif, M. M. (2024). Best practices for addressing missing data through multiple imputation. Infant and Child Development, 33(1), e2407.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/icd.2407

 

Project Milestone: Data Plan – Analyzing Synthetic Patient Data for Clinical Insights – Assessing the Influence of Age on Hospital Readmissions Using Synthetic Patient Data

Analyzing Synthetic Patient Data for Clinical Insights

Based on the synthetic patient dataset and guided by the Module materials, I will develop three potential research questions aimed at identifying patterns that can support clinical decision-making and population health initiatives.

Research Question

Does patient age influence the likelihood of hospital readmission within 30 days?

The key variables

Independent: Age

Dependent: Readmission within 30 days

Rationale

Age is a known risk factor for readmission. Quantifying this relationship can help target high-risk age groups for follow-up care.

Clinical Relevance

The insights can help support discharge planning and early intervention strategies, particularly for geriatric patients, aligning with quality improvement outcomes such as reduced readmission rates.

Research Question

Is there a difference in the average length of stay based on the discharge destination, such as home or a skilled nursing facility?

The key Variables

Independent: Discharge Destination

Dependent: Length of Stay

Rationale

This relationship can reveal patterns in patient acuity and recovery needs.

Clinical Relevance

The results can guide nursing assessments and resource allocation for discharge planning and care transitions, which is consistent with data-driven quality improvement.

Research Question

Does the type of insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Private, affect the frequency of emergency department visits? Project Milestone: Data Plan – Analyzing Synthetic Patient Data for Clinical Insights – Assessing the Influence of Age on Hospital Readmissions Using Synthetic Patient Data

The key Variables

Independent: Insurance Type

Dependent: Number of ED visits

Rationale

Emergency department utilization patterns may reflect access to preventive care and socioeconomic barriers.

Clinical Relevance

Understanding payer-based disparities can inform policy interventions and resource planning to improve equity, which aligns with healthy community planning.

These questions demonstrate how understanding variable measurement levels, such as distinguishing nominal from ratio data, directly informs data analysis strategy. Following Pruinelli et al.’s (2020) roadmap, such exploratory questions form the basis for evidence-based practice and strategic population health interventions.

References

Pruinelli, L., Johnson, S. G., Fesenmaier, B., Winden, T. J., Coviak, C., & Delaney, C. W. (2020). An applied healthcare data science roadmap for nursing leaders: A workshop development, conceptualization, and application. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 38(10), 484-489. Project Milestone: Data Plan – Analyzing Synthetic Patient Data for Clinical Insights – Assessing the Influence of Age on Hospital Readmissions Using Synthetic Patient Data

TANIC Self-Assessment Nursing example

Address the discussion questions below by using your self-appraisal proficiency/competency skill ratings identified on the TANIC Self-Assessment.

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

Discuss how your perceived proficiency level in informatics compared to your TANIC Self-Assessment responses.

Describe two competencies identified as strengths.

Describe two competencies identified as growth opportunities.

Describe at least two strategies to enhance your competencies.

Identify resources to support your selected strategies.

Screenshot of Tanic Self assessment you can use as guide reference to answer questions

 

TANIC Self-Assessment Nursing example 
 

TANIC Self-Assessment

Comparing Perceived Proficiency with TANIC Self-Assessment Results

Initially, I viewed my informatics skills as generally proficient, particularly in areas like navigating electronic health records (EHRs) and managing patient data securely. However, the TANIC self-assessment highlighted areas where I am competent but could further develop my skills, especially in advanced data interpretation and the integration of clinical decision support systems (Kinnunen et al., 2023). This reflection on my perceived proficiency versus the TANIC results clarified the need for targeted growth in higher-level informatics tasks, showing where additional knowledge and practice could enhance my effectiveness in leveraging technology for patient care.

GET A HUMAN-WRITTEN PAPER HERE

Strength Competencies

Two of my competencies identified as strengths through the TANIC assessment are basic computer literacy and data security knowledge. Basic computer literacy, including software navigation and technical troubleshooting, is a strong point due to frequent use in my daily tasks. Additionally, data security skills are a strength, as I consistently follow best practices to protect patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA guidelines. These skills enable me to maintain efficiency and security in my documentation and digital communication practices, supporting safe and reliable care.

Growth Opportunities

Two competencies identified for improvement include data-driven decision-making and advanced health information technology (HIT) skills. Although I am competent in basic data interpretation, using data analytics for clinical decision-making is an area for growth (Almarwani, 2024). Additionally, while I understand EHR basics, I could benefit from more advanced knowledge of HIT tools, such as clinical decision support systems and interoperability features, to enhance my workflow and patient care. Focusing on these competencies will strengthen my ability to make informed decisions based on comprehensive data insights.

Strategies to Enhance Competencies

I will engage in structured learning and apply skills in practical settings to improve my competencies and abilities in applying informatics skills. Enrolling in advanced informatics courses focused on data-driven decision-making and HIT systems will build my foundational knowledge (Almarwani, 2024). Additionally, I plan to participate in simulation exercises and hands-on practice with case studies, allowing me to apply new skills directly in realistic clinical scenarios. These strategies will enable me to integrate informatics tools more effectively into my practice.

Resources to Support Strategies

Key resources to support these strategies include membership in the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) for access to webinars, networking opportunities, and up-to-date informatics research. Furthermore, online platforms like Coursera and edX offer flexible, competency-specific courses in health informatics and data security. These resources will provide both the theoretical knowledge and practical applications needed to support my competency development in informatics.

References

Almarwani, A. M. (2024). Evaluation of the nursing informatics competency among nursing students: A systematic review.
Nurse Education in Practice
,
78
, 104007.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.104007

Kinnunen, U.-M., Kuusisto, A., Koponen, S., Ahonen, O., Kaihlanen, A.-M., Hassinen, T., & Vehko, T. (2023). Nurses’ informatics competency assessment of health information system usage: A cross-sectional survey.
CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing
,
41
(11), 869.
https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000001026