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NURS 6540 Week 6 Discussion: Patient Presentation of Dementia, Delirium, and Depression
NURS 6540 Week 6 Discussion: Patient Presentation of Dementia, Delirium, and Depression
Week 6 discussion
Discussion: Patient Presentation of Dementia, Delirium, and
Depression
With the prevalence of dementia, delirium, and depression in
the growing geriatric population, you will likely care for elderly patients
with these disorders. While many symptoms of dementia, delirium, and depression
are similar, it is important that you are able to identify those that are
different and properly diagnose patients. A diagnosis of one of these disorders
is often difficult for patients and their families. In your role as the
advanced practice nurse, you must help patients and their families manage the
disorder by facilitating necessary treatments, assessments, and follow-up care.
Consider the patient presentations in the following case studies. What distinct
symptoms or factors would lead you to a diagnosis of dementia, delirium, or
depression?
NURS 6540 Week 6 Discussion: Patient Presentation of Dementia, Delirium, and Depression
Case Study 1
HPI: Mrs. Mayfield is a 75-year-old woman who is brought to the
emergency room by the police at 11 p.m. She was found wandering and confused in
a local neighborhood. The police were called when Mrs. Mayfield tried to use
her key on a neighbor’s door. When confronted by the police she became abusive,
confused, and frightened and looked very pale and agitated. The police could
not establish her correct address and they subsequently brought her to the
emergency room.
Review of Symptoms (ROS): Unable to obtain at this time.
Objective Data:
PE:
VS: Pulse 96 and regular; B/P 150/90; Axillary temperature
99°F.
General: She appears clean and well nourished, with no signs
of injury, trauma, or neglect.
Her physical exam is unremarkable except –
Neuro: No gross focal neurological signs, but she is only
intermittently cooperative. Her mental status fluctuates and a full
neurological evaluation is not possible at this time.
Psych: A & O x 1 to person only. She has episodes of
agitation and alternating withdrawal/somnolence. During the examination, it
takes several attempts to gain Mrs. Mayfield’s attention to answer questions,
but once focused, she rambles on in a disorganized and incoherent way.
Case Study 2
CC: “irritable and forgetful”
HPI: Mrs. White, a 78-year-old married woman, is brought to
the office of her primary care provider by her husband because of increasing
forgetfulness and irritability over the past 3 months. Mr. White claims that
his wife has had problems for several years now, but has just gotten “worse in
her memory” in the past few months. She recently misplaced her purse and
accused her son of stealing it.
On three occasions, she left the stove on and boiled a pot
dry, nearly causing a fire. She recently put a container of ice cream into the
washing machine instead of into the freezer and her husband did not discover it
for more than a week. Mrs. White claims her family wants to take her money and
leave her with nothing. “No matter what they say, there is nothing wrong with me,”
she states.
Past Medical History (PMH) includes: hypothyroidism, treated
with Synthroid, and successful treatment of breast cancer approximately 15
years prior. She also takes over-the-counter ibuprofen for chronic lower back
pain and occasional Benadryl to help her sleep at night.
Objective data: Her physical examination is within normal
limits.
Case Study 3
HPI: Mr. George is a 72-year-old male who has lived alone
since his wife died approximately 1 year ago. He has lived in the same house
for 45 years. He is brought in by his son who is concerned that his father has
lost more than 35 pounds over the past year. Mr. George admits to not eating
well because “I don’t know how to cook for myself.”
PMH: He has been in good health with the exception of hypertension,
which is well controlled.
Social history: He spends most of his time watching sports
on television. He occasionally drinks one or two cans of beer when he is
watching TV. He does go to his son’s house to visit with his grandchildren
about once a week, and he says he enjoys that. He does not receive any social
services, he still drives but only in the daytime, and he does not participate
in any other leisure activities.
Objective data: His physical examination is normal. He
responds correctly to questions, although he appears to have a flat affect.
To prepare:
Review Chapters 6–8 of the Holroyd-Leduc and Reddy text.
Select one of the three case studies. Reflect on the way the
patient presented in the case study you selected, including whether the patient
might be presenting with dementia, delirium, or depression.
Think about how you would further evaluate the patient based
on medical history, current drug treatments, and the patient’s presentation.
Consider whether you would modify drug treatments, use additional assessment
tools, and/or refer the patient to a specialist.
By Day 3
Post an explanation of whether you suspect the patient in
the case study you selected is presenting with dementia, delirium, or
depression and why. Then, explain how you would further evaluate the patient in
the case study based on medical history, current drug treatments, and the way
the patient presented. Include whether you would modify drug treatments, use
additional assessment tools, and/or refer the patient to a specialist.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different
days in one or more of the ways listed below. Respond to colleagues who
selected a different case study than you did.
Suggest additional tools for assessing the patients in the
case studies your colleagues’ selected.
Offer and support an alternative perspective based on your
own experience and additional research.
Validate an idea with your own experience and additional
literature search.
Grading Rubric Guidelines
Performance Category | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
Scholarliness
Demonstrates achievement of scholarly inquiry for professional and academic decisions. |
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Performance Category | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
Application of Course Knowledge –
Demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and/or apply principles and concepts learned in the course lesson and outside readings and relate them to real-life professional situations |
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Performance Category | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Interactive Dialogue
Replies to each graded thread topic posted by the course instructor, by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT, of each week, and posts a minimum of two times in each graded thread, on separate days. (5 points possible per graded thread) |
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Summarizes what was learned from the lesson, readings, and other student posts for the week. |
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Minus 1 Point | Minus 2 Point | Minus 3 Point | Minus 4 Point | Minus 5 Point | |
Grammar, Syntax, APA
Note: if there are only a few errors in these criteria, please note this for the student in as an area for improvement. If the student does not make the needed corrections in upcoming weeks, then points should be deducted. Points deducted for improper grammar, syntax and APA style of writing. The source of information is the APA Manual 6th Edition |
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0 points lost | -5 points lost | ||||
Total Participation Requirements
per discussion thread |
The student answers the threaded discussion question or topic on one day and posts a second response on another day. | The student does not meet the minimum requirement of two postings on two different days | |||
Early Participation Requirement
per discussion thread |
The student must provide a substantive answer to the graded discussion question(s) or topic(s), posted by the course instructor (not a response to a peer), by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT of each week. | The student does not meet the requirement of a substantive response to the stated question or topic by Wednesday at 11:59 pm MT. |