Writing Homework Help

I need an explanation for this Nursing question to help me study.

Module 1 Discussion

Health screenings can help to detect diseases or health disorders, even before a patient begins to show signs or symptoms, and can be the difference between life and death. With early detection, education, and lifestyle changes, disease risks can be reduced, or more effectively treated (National Institutes of Health [NIH], 2017). Health and disease screenings include bloodwork and urine samples, to more involved diagnostic measures like tissue sampling, x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs (NIH, 2017).

Our 65-year-old patient presents to us after no medical contact with a primary care physician for over ten years. Her past medical history is insignificant in that she has no previously diagnosed diseases, and is, in her opinion healthy. Her family medical history provides no possible clue to any genetic disorders and family risk since she is adopted. Even though her exam is unremarkable, her lack of participation with a health care provider for the past ten years means we have some time to make up with her. As a new patient, I would first run a complete lab work-up on her as well as at least a yearly blood pressure check. This can be used as our baseline as she currently has nothing within a reasonable time frame to compare to.

Some of the other diagnostic screenings I would recommend for our patient would include: breast cancer screening; pap smear; osteoporosis screening; colorectal screening; infectious disease screening; lung cancer screening; skin screening; dental, hearing and eye exams; and getting her immunizations up to date. Breast cancer screenings begin with educating the patient on how to perform a self-breast exam, which the patient can perform at home on a regular basis. Breast exams in the doctor’s office should be performed on a yearly basis, and mammograms should be done every two years for women who are 50 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). Pap smears can detect cervical or vaginal cancer, and women over the age of 65 should still be screened, especially if their family history is unknown. If a woman no longer has a cervix, and no history of cancer, she may stop getting pap smears (HealthLine, 2019). Osteoporosis screenings, or a DEXA scan, measures bone mass, which is an indicator of bone strength. Regular bone scans for women are recommended after age 65 (HealthLine, 2019). Up until age 75, you should be screened yearly for colorectal cancer. This can be done by a fecal occult blood test or a fecal immunochemical test every year. Colonoscopies should be performed every 10 years beginning at age 50 (MedLinePlus, n.d.). Infectious disease screening includes hepatitis C screening, which can be ordered with the original lab work-up that was previously mentioned. Lung cancer screenings can be performed with a low dose CT, and should be done every year over age 55, especially if the patient has risk factors (MedLinePlus, n.d.). Skin cancer screenings should be done every year. This can be done at the yearly exam, or in a dermatologist office. Any time there is a newly identified spot or mole, it should be brought to the attention of the health care provider (HealthLine, 2019). Dental, hearing and eye exams should all be performed twice a year, every 2-3 years, and every year respectively. Vaccinations that the patient should be brought up to date on would include a tetanus booster every ten years (HealthLine, 2019). The other vaccines I would recommend for her are influenza, varicella, and pneumonia (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], n.d.).

The health care provider should always provide information to the patient about the reasons why the screenings are recommended, but also provide them with the benefits and the risks involved when choosing specific screening tests to have done, and how often (NIH, 2017). Explaining the reasons behind the screening and the procedures used can help the patient make a more informed decision about whether to proceed with the screening or not. They should also be made aware that if they are at risk for certain health conditions, due to lifestyle choices or family history, they may want to have some screenings done more frequently (NIH, 2017).

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). What is breast cancer screening? https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/scree…

HealthLine. (2019, October 15). The health tests seniors need. https://www.healthline.com/health/senior-health-te…

MedLinePlus. (n.d.). Health screenings for women age 65 and older. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007463.htm

National Institutes of Health. (2017, March). To screen or not to screen? The benefits and harms of screening tests. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2017/03/screen-or-not…

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Immunization highlights. Adults age 65 and older. https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/who-and-when/adul…