NURS 6630 Case Study An African American Child Suffering From Depression Essay
Sample Answer for NURS 6630 Case Study An African American Child Suffering From Depression Essay Included After Question
Assignment: Assessing and Treating Pediatric Patients With Mood Disorders
When pediatric patients present with mood disorders, the process of assessing, diagnosing, and treating them can be quite complex. Children not only present with different signs and symptoms than adult patients with the same disorders, they also metabolize medications much differently. Yet, there may be times when the same psychopharmacologic treatments may be used in both pediatric and adult cases with major depressive disorders. As a result, psychiatric nurse practitioners must exercise caution when prescribing psychotropic medications to these patients. For this Assignment, as you examine the patient case study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat pediatric patients presenting with mood disorders.
To prepare for this Assignment:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources, including the Medication Resources indicated for this week.
- Reflect on the psychopharmacologic treatments you might recommend for the assessment and treatment of pediatric patients requiring antidepressant therapy.
The Assignment: 5 pages
Examine Case Study: An African American Child Suffering From Depression. You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this patient. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.
At each decision point, you should evaluate all options before selecting your decision and moving throughout the exercise. Before you make your decision, make sure that you have researched each option and that you evaluate the decision that you will select. Be sure to research each option using the primary literature.
Introduction to the case (1 page)
- Briefly explain and summarize the case for this Assignment. Be sure to include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision making when prescribing medication for this patient.
Decision #1 (1 page)
- Which decision did you select?
- Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
- Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
- What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
- Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Decision #2 (1 page)
- Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
- Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
- What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
- Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Decision #3 (1 page)
- Why did you select this decision? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
- Why did you not select the other two options provided in the exercise? Be specific and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
- What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources (including the primary literature).
- Explain how ethical considerations may impact your treatment plan and communication with patients. Be specific and provide examples.
Conclusion (1 page)
Summarize your recommendations on the treatment options you selected for this patient. Be sure to justify your recommendations and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature.
Note: Support your rationale with a minimum of five academic resources. While you may use the course text to support your rationale, it will not count toward the resource requirement. You should be utilizing the primary and secondary literature.
By Day 7
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Next week, you will build on your assessment and treatment skills as you examine patients presenting with bipolar disorders.
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A Sample Answer For the Assignment: NURS 6630 Case Study An African American Child Suffering From Depression Essay
Title: NURS 6630 Case Study An African American Child Suffering From Depression Essay
Therapy for Pediatric Clients with Mood Disorders An African American Child Suffering From Depression
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The client is an 8-year-old African American male who arrives at the ER with his mother. He is exhibiting signs of depression.
- Client complained of feeling “sad”
- Mother reports that teacher said child is withdrawn from peers in class
- Mother notes decreased appetite and occasional periods of irritation
- Client reached all developmental landmarks at appropriate ages
- Physical exam unremarkable
- Laboratory studies WNL
- Child referred to psychiatry for evaluation
MENTAL STATUS EXAM
Alert & oriented X 3, speech clear, coherent, goal directed, spontaneous. Self-reported mood is “sad”. Affect somewhat blunted, but child smiled appropriately at various points throughout the clinical interview. He denies visual or auditory hallucinations. No delusional or paranoid thought processes noted. Judgment and insight appear to be age-appropriate. He is not endorsing active suicidal ideation, but does admit that he often thinks about himself being dead and what it would be like to be dead.
You administer the Children’s Depression Rating Scale, obtaining a score of 30 (indicating significant depression)
RESOURCES
- Poznanski, E., & Mokros, H. (1996). Child Depression Rating Scale–Revised. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Decision Point One
Select what you should do:
Begin Zoloft 25 mg orally daily

Begin Paxil 10 mg orally daily

Begin Wellbutrin 75 mg orally BID
Decision Point One
Begin Zoloft 25 mg orally daily
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE
- Client returns to clinic in four weeks
- No change in depressive symptoms at all
Decision Point Two
Select what you should do next:
Increase dose to 37.5 mg orally daily

Increase dose to 50 mg orally daily

Change to Prozac 10 mg orally daily
Decision Point One
Begin Paxil 10 mg orally daily
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE
- Client returns to clinic in four weeks
- Reduction in The Children’s Depression Rating Scale by 5 points overall, but with complaints of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Decision Point Two
Select what you should do next:
Decrease dose for 7 days then return to previous 10 mg day dose

Increase dose to 20 mg orally daily

Change to Prozac 10 mg orally daily
ecision Point One
Begin Wellbutrin 75 mg orally BID
RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE
- Client returns to clinic in four weeks
- Child is unable to fall asleep at night
Decision Point Two
Select what you should do next:
Change from immediate release to extended release 150 mg orally daily in the morning

Give second dose of the day at 1:00 pm in the afternoon

Change to Lexapro 10 mg orally daily
A Sample Answer 2 For the Assignment: NURS 6630 Case Study An African American Child Suffering From Depression Essay
Title: NURS 6630 Case Study An African American Child Suffering From Depression Essay
According to the National Institution of Mental Health, approximately 9% of children and adolescents from age 12 years to age 17 years, are diagnosed with depression each year (Lamy & Erickson, 2018). Despite the negative impact of depression on the patient’s life, only a few individuals seek medical attention, which worsens the condition in the majority of the population. However, thanks to evidence-based practice for the current pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions available in the management of depressive disorders among children and adolescents (Bitsko et al., 2022). The purpose of this discussion is to illustrate the clinical decision-making on the most appropriate drug of choice for the treatment of an African American male patient with depression based on pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic factors.
The provided case study demonstrates an 8-year-old African American male patient with symptoms of depression. The patient is positive for loss of appetite, feeling sad, being irritable and withdrawn, even from his peers at school. Upon conducting a mental status examination, the patient acknowledges that he often thinks about death and how it would feel like to be dead. He however denies a history of suicidal attempts. The patient recorded a score of 30 on the Children’s Depression Rating Scale (CDRS), which led to the diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Other than the patient’s symptoms, CDRS scores, and diagnosis of MDD, additional factors which might affect the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic process of drugs administered include his African American race and his age. These factors will affect the choice of drug for this patient.
Decision #1
Selected Decision and Rationale
Initiate Zoloft 25mg once daily. Previous evidence demonstrates great effectiveness in the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Zoloft in the management of depression among children below the age of 18 years (Mullen, 2018). The mode of action of this medication is through neuronal inhibition of serotonin (5HT) uptake in the central nervous system. The drug has a desirable safety profile, which led to its approval by the FDA for the management of depressive disorders among pediatric patients except for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (Kupfer, 2022). However, due to the risks of suicidal ideation and suicidality among children, close monitoring of the patient and the use of low doses (25mg) are recommended. Studies show great adherence and tolerance of the medication by most pediatric patients as the drug undergoes first-pass metabolism in the liver with reduced side effects.
Paxil could not be considered at this point, as studies show that the drug is associated with increased side effects and high risks of suicidality among children as compared to Zoloft (Hetrick et al., 2021). As such, the drug is only recommended when there is no other alternative for children above the age of 10 years.
Wellbutrin is also not recommended for children below the age of 18 years due to its increased risk of seizure (Lamy & Erickson, 2018). As such, the drug is only recommended for use as send option, when the first drug is ineffective, or if the patient has depression with comorbid ADD.
Expected Outcome
The patient is expected to report at least 50% remission of symptoms within the next 4 weeks. His CDRS scores are expected to reduce to less than 20 (Mullen, 2018). He is also expected to be more joyful and engage with his peers appropriately within this time.
Ethical Consideration
Since the patient is below the age of 18 years, her parents or caregivers have legal responsibilities for making decisions concerning his health (Hetrick et al., 2021). As such, the PMHNP must educate the patient’s parents on the diagnosis, and available treatment options before deciding on which drug to go with.
Decision #2
Selected Decision and Rationale
The second intervention is to increase the dose of Zoloft from 25mg to 50mg once daily. The patient displayed great adherence and compliance to the initial intervention, as no side effects were reported. However, no changes in the patient’s symptoms were realized which calls for dose increment to attain optimal therapeutic levels (Bitsko et al., 2022). Clinical guidelines recommend a dose increment of Zoloft by 25mg every week from an initial dose of 25mg once daily to attain the optimal threshold (Kupfer, 2022). This helps reduce the risks of side effects and toxicity.
Increasing the Zoloft dose to 37.5mg is inadequate as no changes will be experienced (Hetrick et al., 2021). The patient may also end up losing trust in the PMHNP and refuse to take the medication, even when the optimum dosage has not been attained, compromising the entire treatment process.
Changing the drug to Prozac was also not appropriate as the patient had already displayed great tolerance and adherence to Zoloft (Mullen, 2018). Prozac is also associated with increased risks of suicidal ideation which is inappropriate for the patient given the history of suicidal ideation.
Expected Outcome
Within the next 4 weeks, the patient is expected to report back to the clinic with at least 50% remission of symptoms, with the increased dose (Bitsko et al., 2022). His CDRS scores as mentioned earlier are expected to reduce to less than 20. He is also expected to sleep and eat well and engage with her peers in school.
Ethical Consideration
Legal and ethical guidelines require clinicians to prevent harm and promote the health of the patient (Lamy & Erickson, 2018). As such, this intervention to maintain the same drug and increase the dose was necessary since the patient displayed great tolerance and adherence to the medication. Changing the regime could otherwise harm the patient.
Decision #3
Selected Decision and Rationale
The last decision was to maintain the dose of Zoloft at 50mg orally once daily and continue monitoring the patient for progress. This decision was based on the outcome reported by the patient’s mother from the initial intervention. The patient displayed great compliance and adherence to the medication which lead to more than 50% remission of depressive symptoms with no side effects reported. Studies show that when the optimal dose of Zoloft has been attained, the drug will take between 6 to 8 weeks for the complete remission of depressive symptoms (Mullen, 2018). As such, it was necessary to maintain the dose to avoid side effects and monitor the patient’s progress for a better outcome.
Increasing the Zoloft dose to 75mg was not necessary as this would otherwise have led to the occurrence of side effects like increased agitation. Consequently, studies show that at high doses, Zoloft can increase the risks of suicidality among children below the age of 18 years (Kupfer, 2022).
Changing the treatment regimen to an SNRI was also not appropriate, as this would only compromise the patient’s compliance and adherence, leading to side effects. Previous evidence also demonstrates increased incidences of suicidal ideation with the use of SNRIs as compared to SSRIs like Zoloft (Bitsko et al., 2022).
Expected Outcome
Based on the previous outcome, the patient is expected to report even further remission of depression symptoms over the next four weeks. He should display a CDRS score of less than 10 (Mullen, 2018). He should improve in school performance and play with peers more frequently.
Ethical Consideration
The PMHNP is required to observe the legal and ethical obligation of promoting the patient’s well-being and preventing harm (Lamy & Erickson, 2018). As such, the nurse needs to make decisions that are well supported by the patient’s parents, based on positive outcomes as displayed by previous interventions.
Conclusion
Depression is a common mental illness reported among pediatric patients. Despite limited evidence supporting the use of antidepressants, several studies have proven their effectiveness and reduced risks of side effects in the management of depression among children such as SSRIs like Zoloft (Lamy & Erickson, 2018). As such, for the pediatric patient in the provided case study, the first intervention for the management of depression was to administer Zoloft 25mg once daily and monitor the patient for dose adjustment aiming at attaining the optimal dose (Mullen, 2018). The other two medications were not appropriate for the patient as Paxil is known to increase the risks of suicidal ideation, while Wellbutrin is not recommended for patients under the age of 18 years (Hetrick et al., 2021). The second intervention was to increase the dose of Zoloft to 50mg once daily, based on the reported outcome from the initial intervention (Hetrick et al., 2021). The patient displayed great adherence and tolerance to the medication which called for no change of regimen. Increasing the dose to 37.5 mg was not appropriate as a similar effect would have been realized.
The last intervention was to maintain the dose at 50 mg once daily as the patient displayed great tolerance and compliance to the medication with no side effects. Increasing the dose to 75 mg once daily would lead to side effects while changing the regimen to an SNRI would compromise patients’ compliance and increase the risks of suicidal ideation (Bitsko et al., 2022). Given that the patient is a minor, several ethical considerations were to be considered by the PMHNP. For instance, the patient’s parents have a legal obligation of deciding the health of her child hence the need to be adequately informed about the diagnosis and the treatment options (Kupfer, 2022). The PMHNP also has the legal obligation of promoting the health of the child and prevent harm.
References
Bitsko, R. H., Claussen, A. H., Lichstein, J., Black, L. I., Jones, S. E., Danielson, M. L., … & Meyer, L. N. (2022). Mental health surveillance among children—the United States, 2013–2019. MMWR supplements, 71(2), 1. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.su7102a1
Hetrick, S. E., McKenzie, J. E., Bailey, A. P., Sharma, V., Moller, C. I., Badcock, P. B., … & Meader, N. (2021). New generation antidepressants for depression in children and adolescents: a network meta‐analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (5). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013674.pub2
Kupfer, D. J. (2022). The pharmacological management of depression. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience.
https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2005.7.3/dkupfer
Lamy, M., & Erickson, C. A. (2018). Pharmacological management of behavioral disturbances in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care, 48(10), 250-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2018.08.015
Mullen, S. (2018). Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents. Mental Health Clinician, 8(6), 275-283. https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2018.11.275
Name: NURS_6630_Week4_Assignment_Rubric
| Excellent
Point range: 90–100 |
Good
Point range: 80–89 |
Fair
Point range: 70–79 |
Poor
Point range: 0–69 |
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| Introduction to the case (1 page)
Briefly explain and summarize the case for this Assignment. Be sure to include the specific patient factors that may impact your decision making when prescribing medication for this patient. |
Points Range: 9 (9%) – 10 (10%)
The response accurately, clearly, and fully summarizes in detail the case for the Assignment. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the specific patient factors that impact decision making when prescribing medication for this patient. |
Points Range: 8 (8%) – 8 (8%)
The response accurately summarizes the case for the Assignment. The response accurately explains the specific patient factors that impact decision making with prescribing medication for this patient. |
Points Range: 7 (7%) – 7 (7%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely summarizes the case for the Assignment. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the specific patient factors that impact decision making with prescribing medication for this patient. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 6 (6%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely summarizes the case for the Assignment, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the specific patient factors that impact decision making with prescribing medication for this patient. |
|
| Decision #1 (1–2 pages)
• Which decision did you select? |
Points Range: 18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the decision selected. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the decision selected. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided fully support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
The response accurately explains the decision selected. The response explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the decision selected. The response accurately explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response. The response accurately explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response. The response accurately explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the decision selected. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the decision selected. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided may support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the decision selected. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the response, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients, or is missing. Examples provided do not support the decisions and responses provided, or is missing. |
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| Decision #2 (1–2 pages)
• Which decision did you select? |
Points Range: 18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the decision selected. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the decision selected. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided fully support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
The response accurately explains the decision selected. The response explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the decision selected. The response accurately explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response. The response accurately explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response. The response accurately explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the decision selected. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the decision selected. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided may support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains in detail the decision selected. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the response, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients, or is missing. Examples provided do not support the decisions and responses provided, or is missing. |
|
| Decision #3 (1–2 pages)
• Which decision did you select? |
Points Range: 18 (18%) – 20 (20%)
The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the decision selected. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the decision selected. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that fully support the response. The response accurately and clearly explains in detail how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided fully support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
The response accurately explains the decision selected. The response explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the decision selected. The response accurately explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response. The response accurately explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that support the response. The response accurately explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the decision selected. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the decision selected. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the response. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients. Examples provided may support the decisions and responses provided. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 13 (13%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely explains in detail the decision selected. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the decision was selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains why the other two responses were not selected, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the decision selected, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains the outcome the student was hoping to achieve with the selected decision, with specific clinically relevant resources that do not support the response, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains how ethical considerations impact the treatment plan and communication with patients, or is missing. Examples provided do not support the decisions and responses provided, or is missing. |
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| Conclusion (1 page)
• Summarize your recommendations on the treatment options you selected for this patient. Be sure to justify your recommendations and support your response with clinically relevant and patient-specific resources, including the primary literature. |
Points Range: 14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
The response accurately and clearly summarizes in detail the recommendations on the treatment options selected for this patient. The response accurately and clearly explains a justification for the recommendations provided, including clinically relevant resources that fully support the recommendations provided. |
Points Range: 12 (12%) – 13 (13%)
The response accurately summarizes the recommendations on the treatment options selected for this patient. The response accurately explains a justification for the recommendation provided, including clinically relevant resources that support the recommendations provided. |
Points Range: 11 (11%) – 11 (11%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely summarizes the recommendations on the treatment options selected for this patient. The response inaccurately or vaguely explains a justification for the recommendations provided, including clinically relevant resources that inaccurately or vaguely support the recommendations provided. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 10 (10%)
The response inaccurately and vaguely summarizes the recommendations on the treatment options selected for this patient, or is missing. The response inaccurately and vaguely explains a justification for the recommendations provided, including clinically relevant resources that do not support the recommendations provided, or is missing. |
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| Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization: Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused—neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction are provided that delineate all required criteria. |
Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion are provided that delineate all required criteria. |
Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are stated, yet they are brief and not descriptive. |
Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%–79% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time. No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion were provided. |
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| Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation |
Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors. |
Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1 or 2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. |
Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3 or 4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding. |
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| Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. | Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors. |
Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1 or 2) APA format errors. |
Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3 or 4) APA format errors. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors. |
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| Total Points: 100 | |||||
Name: NURS_6630_Week4_Assignment_Rubric