NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment paper.

How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. 

Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment paper.

How to Write the Body for NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded, in sentence sentence care. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

An Example NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment Follows:

Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders

Diagnosis and Rationale

Based on the patient’s symptoms, the likely diagnosis is cholecystitis. According to Jones et al. (2022), experiencing pain in the quadrant along with nausea and vomiting after eating strongly suggests a gallbladder pathology. Since D.C. does not have any risk factors related to gallstones, the symptoms point toward acute cholecystitis. This diagnosis is supported by the observed slightly elevated AST levels and leukocytosis, which suggest possible inflammation related to acute cholecystitis (Bloom, 2019). 

Additional confirmation may come from additional diagnostic indicators such as fever and a positive Murphy’s sign (Bloom, 2019). Imaging studies such as ultrasonography can be used to visualize the gallbladder for inflammation or the presence of stones to confirm the diagnosis (Jones et al., 2022). The differential diagnosis for this case includes biliary colic, pancreatitis, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, right-sided pneumonia or pleurisy, hepatic abscess, kidney stone or pyelonephritis, and hepatic artery aneurysm. Therefore, the clinical manifestation of the patient’s laboratory results supports the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.

Appropriate Drug Therapy Plan

The objectives of the pharmacological treatment plan for acute cholecystitis are pain relief, inflammation reduction, and infection control (Doherty et al., 2022). To ensure safety and compatibility, it is essential to personalize the approach based on the patient’s history and current medications. For pain management, Rivasi et al. (2022) recommend acetaminophen, which has analgesic properties without affecting blood pressure, making it suitable for patients with hypertension history. Therefore, prescribe 500 mg of acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours as needed. NSAIDs should be avoided as they can have adverse effects on renal function and blood pressure.

While corticosteroids might be prescribed for conditions, they are not recommended as the initial treatment for acute cholecystitis. Instead, it is crucial to focus on methods that do not primarily target inflammation (Jones et al., 2022). Ursodeoxycholic acid at a dose of 300 twice daily can help reduce inflammation and dissolve gallstones in cases of cholecystitis. Antibiotics such as ceftriaxone or ciprofloxacin may be prescribed based on allergies and local resistance patterns. These antibiotics effectively combat a wide range of pathogens commonly associated with infections (Markotic et al., 2020). The determination of whether to prescribe ceftriaxone 1 g intravenously once daily or ciprofloxacin 500 mg orally twice daily should be based on the severity of the infection and unique patient circumstances.

Justification of Drug Therapy Plan

Acetaminophen is used for pain management due to its safety profile in hypertensive patients, minimizing the risk of exacerbating blood pressure issues (Rivasi et al., 2022). This ensures optimal pain relief without compromising her overall cardiovascular health. Due to its ability to dissolve gallstones and possible anti-inflammatory properties, ursodeoxycholic acid is a preferred medication option that provides a focused therapeutic approach (Jones et al., 2022). This decision is based on the patient’s diagnosis of acute cholecystitis and the need to treat inflammation as well as complications from gallstones. 

Common pathogens linked to biliary infections are covered by antibiotic selection. Because of their broad-spectrum activity, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin can be administered intravenously or orally, providing flexibility depending on the patient’s clinical condition (Markotic et al., 2020). Safety, effectiveness, and focused intervention unique to this patient’s medical history, diagnosis, and prescribed medications are given top priority in the suggested drug therapy plan. It aims to ensure a comprehensive care approach that addresses unique aspects of acute cholecystitis while ensuring regular monitoring and medication adjustments crucial for optimizing therapeutic outcomes.

The suggested medication regimen is tailored to the patient’s medical background, diagnosis, and current prescribed drugs. It focuses on safety, effectiveness, and precise treatment to tackle the distinct characteristics of acute cholecystitis in this person, ensuring a thorough and individualized approach to care. Continuous monitoring and modification of medications will be important for maximizing treatment results.

Now that we can effectively manage gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders, in the next assignment, which is week 5 discussion of NURS 6521, we will learn diabetes and drug treatment.

NURS 6521 Week 4 Assignment References

Bloom, A. (2019, October 20). Cholecystitis: Practice essentials, background, pathophysiology. Medscape.com. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/171886-overview

Doherty, G., Manktelow, M., Skelly, B., Gillespie, P., Bjourson, A. J., & Watterson, S. (2022). The need for standardizing diagnosis, treatment and clinical care of cholecystitis and biliary colic in gallbladder disease. Medicina, 58(3), 388. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58030388

Jones, M. W., Genova, R., & O’Rourke, M. C. (2022). Acute cholecystitis. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459171/#:~:text=Acute%20cholecystitis%20is%20inflammation%20of

Markotic, F., Grgic, S., Poropat, G., Fox, A., Nikolova, D., Vukojevic, K., Jakobsen, J. C., & Gluud, C. (2020). Antibiotics for adults with acute cholecystitis or acute cholangitis or both. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd013646

Rivasi, G., Menale, S., Turrin, G., Coscarelli, A., Giordano, A., & Ungar, A. (2022). The effects of pain and analgesic medications on blood pressure. Current Hypertension Reports, 24(10). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-022-01205-5

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When approaching a 500-word essay, it’s essential to understand the nuances of this compact form of writing. These frequently asked questions will guide you through the process of crafting a concise and impactful essay.

How many pages is a 500-word essay typically?

A 500-word essay usually spans about one page if single-spaced or two pages when double-spaced, with standard margins and a 12-point font size.

Can you provide examples of a well-structured 500-word essay?

Certainly, to see the structure and flow of a well-written essay, you might want to take a look at a student’s writing guide that provides insights and examples.

Are there specific formatting guidelines for a 500-word essay?

Formatting guidelines typically involve using a legible font like Times New Roman or Arial, size 12, with double-spacing and one-inch margins on all sides. Check any specific requirements your instructor might have provided.

What are some effective strategies for writing a personal essay of 500 words?

For a personal essay, focus on a singular event or characteristic, ensuring your ideas are clear and you reflect on the significance of the subject matter. Use concise language and powerful imagery to maximize impact.

What topics are suitable for a concise 500-word essay?

Choose topics you can thoroughly address within the word limit, such as a personal anecdote, a critical analysis of a poem, or a focused argument on a singular point or issue.

How much time should you allocate to write a 500-word essay effectively?

Depending on your familiarity with the topic and writing proficiency, allocate anywhere from one to several hours for planning, drafting, and revising to ensure a well-presented essay.