NURS4006 Topics in Clin Nursing
Week 1 Discussion
Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases
As presented in this week’s readings, many individuals acquire infections in the community as well as during treatment in the hospital. As a nurse, it is important to know what is going on in the world. In addition to reading scholarly literature, reading the paper and watching the news helps to keep a nurse aware of what is going on currently. In addition, many organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) track current health trends and post updates on their websites, along with Fact Sheets to help educate, prevent, and treat new and re-emerging diseases. These Fact Sheets are made to be short and easy to read so that health care professionals and patients are more likely to read and understand the information.
For this Discussion, you will examine an emerging or re-emerging disease and the nurse’s role in prevention and management of the disease. Locate an article in a newspaper, in a lay magazine, or on an organizational website that discusses an emerging or re-emerging infectious disease that is currently affecting your community. Reflect on the article you selected and think about how the emerging or re-emerging disease might affect nursing practice.
By Day 3
Respond to the following:
Briefly summarize the article you selected and provide the reference. Then, address the following:
What implications does the disease have for nursing practice?
How does the emergence of this disease affect your personal practice?
Why do you think that this disease is emerging/re-emerging?
What is the nurse’s role in preventing and managing the impact of infectious diseases both from the patient and nurse perspective?
Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.
Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference list is required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).
By Day 7
Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question (support with evidence if indicated).
Respond with a comment that asks for clarification, provides support for, or contributes additional information to two or more of your colleagues’ postings.
Post a Discussion entry on three different days of the week. Refer to the Discussion Rubric found in the Course Information and Grading Criteria area.Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.
NURS4006 Topics in Clin Nursing
Week 2 Discussion
Providing Genetic Nursing Care to Patients With Chronic Illnesses
There are several chronic health problems with genetic/genomic components that plague the population. These health problems are very difficult and challenging diseases to manage. Evidenced-based nursing practice must include genetic and genomic information when planning patient care. Nurses, through their knowledge and support, play an important role in positive patient outcomes when managing the challenges of these genetically linked diseases.
For this Discussion, you will consider applications of various topics to genetics and genomics. Review the Resources focusing on the application of genetics and genomics to nursing
Choose one of the following subtopics:
Pharmacogenomics and chronic illnesses
Genomics in patient assessment
Genetically competent care for those with chronic illnesses
Note: A different subtopic relating to genetics and genomics may be chosen with Instructor approval.
Locate at least one scholarly journal article that discusses your subtopic.
By Day 3
Respond to the following:
Identify your subtopic and provide a brief summary of your journal article on how this topic relates to nursing practice.
What is the nurse’s role in providing care in relation to your subtopic and the overarching theme of advocacy?
What ethical implications should be considered with regard to genetics and genomics for nursing practice? Why?
Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.
Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference list is required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).
By Day 7
Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question (support with evidence if indicated).
Respond with a comment that asks for clarification, provides support for, or contributes additional information to two or more of your colleagues’ postings.
Post a Discussion entry on three different days of the week. Refer to the Discussion Rubric found in the Course Information and Grading Criteria area.
Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.
NURS4006 Topics in Clin Nursing
Week 3 Discussion
Psychological Complications Resulting From Illnesses and Injuries
The nurse’s role goes far beyond that which is expected. Nurses are the main communicators between patients, doctors, and family, and they care for more than just physical ailments. Often, nurses are presented with difficult situations where being an advocate becomes paramount to the healing of the patient. One of the issues that patients with acute and chronic illnesses or extended hospitalization face is a tendency to become depressed. The nurse’s role in this situation requires more than just attention to the physical problem. Another situation where a nurse may need to shift his or her care is when a patient presents with a suspicious injury or illness. In addition to considering the legal and ethical responsibilities of the nurse, he or she must consider the psychological undertones that may be present.
For this Discussion, you will consider delicate situations that nurses often face and analyze the implications of these situations. Reflect on a patient care situation in which you have encountered one of the following:
A suspicious illness or injury
Depression resulting from illness or injury
Then, locate at least one scholarly journal article related to your patient care situation that offers strategies for managing the circumstances.
By Day 3
Respond to the following:
Explain your patient encounter, highlighting the challenges the situation presented, and briefly summarize the contents of your journal article.
What strategies did you employ to help handle the situation? What other strategies could you have used?
How did you advocate for the patient in the situation?
What are some of the legal and ethical implications that need to be considered when providing care for patients with illnesses or injuries resulting from depression or suspicious illnesses or injuries?
Note: Avoid using personal information (e.g., names, facility name, etc.) in your post.
Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.
Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference list is required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).
By Day 7
Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question (support with evidence if indicated).
Respond with a comment that asks for clarification, provides support for, or contributes additional information to two or more of your colleagues’ postings.
Post a Discussion entry on three different days of the week. Refer to the Discussion Rubric found in the Course Information and Grading Criteria area.
Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.
NURS4006 Topics in Clin Nursing
Week 4 Discussion
Nurse/Patient Empowerment
As a nurse, you are the individual who has the ability to empower patients in the decision-making process pertaining to their health care. In addition, you are in a unique position to empower your nursing colleagues to improve job satisfaction and use performance indicator data from dashboards to effect social change.
In this week’s Resources, you examined both the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) and the key role nurses play as advocates for patient rights. To assist nurses in being better prepared for this role, programs such as Patient Care Partnership provide guidance.
For this Discussion, you will analyze the use of quality improvement data and discuss how this data can help empower both patients and nurses. Review the Patient Care Partnership information presented in this week’s Learning Resources. In addition, reflect on the media presentation and the information shared by Ms. Manna on patients’ rights.
By Day 3
Respond to the following:
What are the best strategies the nurse can employ to empower patients and support patients’ rights to improve quality of care? (Some considerations to keep in mind may include: providing information on effectiveness, risks, and benefits of alternative treatments.)
In what ways can NDNQI data from dashboards or quality improvement data be used to support nurse empowerment in practice?
How has your institution empowered the nursing staff through the use of quality improvement data?
Provide an example of how you have personally empowered either a patient or a fellow nurse.
Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.
Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference list is required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).
By Day 7
Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question (support with evidence if indicated).
Respond with a comment that asks for clarification, provides support for, or contributes additional information to two or more of your colleagues’ postings.
Post a Discussion entry on three different days of the week. Refer to the Discussion Rubric found in the Course Information and Grading Criteria area.
Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.
NURS4006 Topics in Clin Nursing
Week 5 Discussion
Holistic Care and Treatments
The use of complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of cancer patients, terminal patients, and many other types of patients is steadily increasing. The Resources also contain much information about the various alternative therapies currently being used.
For this Discussion, you will consider alternative therapies and discuss the challenges associated with them.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review the Resources pertaining to alternative therapies.
Select one of the following areas where alternative therapies are being used:
Cancer treatment
Cancer symptom management
End-of-life care
Palliative care
Find at least one scholarly journal article discussing alternative therapies in your chosen subtopic.
By Day 3
Respond to the following:
Identify at least one challenge associated with the nurse’s role in providing alternative therapies for patient care.
Explain how the nurse might integrate the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) approaches in your chosen subtopic and discuss the ethical issues nurses may face.
What are the main elements you would include in a teaching plan for nurses on the use of CAM in your chosen subtopic?
What is the shared role of the nurse and patient in developing care plans?
Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.
Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference list is required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).
By Day 7
Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question (support with evidence if indicated).
Respond with a comment that asks for clarification, provides support for, or contributes additional information to two or more of your colleagues’ postings.
Post a Discussion entry on three different days of the week. Refer to the Discussion Rubric found in the CourseInformation and Grading Criteria area.
Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.
NURS4006 Topics in Clin Nursing
Week 6 Discussion
Promoting Safety and Quality
In the article “Managing to Improve Quality: The Relationship Between Accreditation Standards, Safety Practices, and Patient Outcomes,” the authors discuss the growing trend by medical insurance companies to eliminate reimbursement for Never Events. As these types of mistakes should be easily preventable, hospitals have developed protocols to lessen or extinguish the occurrence of these events. In addition, The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have developed core measures to guide health care providers’ efforts in improving patient safety and the quality of care delivered.
Health care organizations have developed strategic agendas to help meet these standards and reduce the incidence of Never Events. Nurses significantly influence the overall quality of health care provided and play a pivotal role in improving patient outcomes.
For this Discussion, you will consider the standards that are in place for nurses and how they can be used to improve quality of care.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review the information at the Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services websites on the core measures and standards presented in this week’s Resources.
Consider the nurse’s role in supporting the organization’s strategic agenda as it relates to improving clinical outcomes.
Conduct an Internet search for either a Never Event or a core measure, and select one to address in your post.
By Day 3
Respond to the following:
How has the emphasis on quality of care, patient safety, and clinical care outcomes been impacted by specific standards emanating from TJC and/or CMS? Cite your selected core measure or Never Event in your response.
What is the impact of the nurse’s role in clinical outcomes for the organization?
Discuss nurse-specific challenges in influencing change in quality improvement.
How does this influence the ability of the organization to achieve its strategic agenda?
Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.
Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference list is required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).
Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question (support with evidence if indicated).
By Day 7
Respond with a comment that asks for clarification, provides support for, or contributes additional information to two or more of your colleagues’ postings.
Post a Discussion entry on three different days of the week. Refer to the Discussion Rubric found in the Course Information and Grading Criteria area.
Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.