Assignment: i-Human Case Study: Evaluating and Managing Musculoskeletal Conditions

Patients frequently present with complaints of pain, such as chronic back pain. They often seek medical care with the intent of receiving drugs to manage the pain. Typically, for this type of pain, narcotic drugs are often prescribed. This can pose challenges for you as the advanced practice nurse prescribing the drugs. While there is a process for evaluating back pain, it can be difficult to assess the intensity of a patient’s pain since pain is a subjective experience. Only the person experiencing the pain truly knows whether there is a need for drug treatments.

For this Case Study Assignment, you will analyze an i-Human simulation case study about an adult patient with a musculoskeletal condition. Based on the patient’s information, you will formulate a differential diagnosis, evaluate treatment options, and create an appropriate treatment plan for the patient.

Photo Credit: SCIEPRO / Science Photo Library / Getty Images

To prepare:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources. Consider how to assess, diagnose, and treat patients with musculoskeletal conditions. 
• Access i-Human from this week’s Learning Resources and review this week’s i-Human case study. Based on the provided patient information, think about the health history you would need to collect from the patient. 
• Consider what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be appropriate to gather more information about the patient’s condition. Reflect on how the results would be used to make a diagnosis. 
• Identify three to five possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient. 
• Consider the patient’s diagnosis. Think about clinical guidelines that might support this diagnosis. 
• Develop a treatment plan for the patient that includes health promotion and patient education strategies for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.