PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2 – Step-by-Step Guide
The first step before starting to write the PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2 Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation And Patient Case Presentation, Video Case Presentation, 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 paper.
How to Research and Prepare for PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2
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 paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.
How to Write the Introduction for PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2
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 paper.
How to Write the Body for PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2
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 PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2
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 PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2
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 PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2
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 PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2 Follows:
NRNP/PRAC 6635 Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation Template
Mental health disorders pose various threats to populations and can significantly affect their quality of life. They can be precipitated by environmental changes such as trauma or other life experiences. These disorders can be managed through extensive patient evaluation for accurate diagnosis and to determine their underlying causes and help them accordingly. The DSM V criteria are vital the accurate diagnosis, elimination of differentials, and patient management. Assessment and evaluation also help determine any factors contributing to the problem and allow the healthcare provider to manage it. This paper analyzes the psychiatric health of a patient going through much stress due to her husband’s drinking and evaluates differential diagnoses for the patient.
CC (chief complaint): ” I am having a lot of stress and terrible anxiety because of my husband’s drinking.”
HPI: A 40-year-old female came to the hospital. She complains of sadness, loss of interest in her hobbies, increased weight due to stress eating, problems initiating and remaining asleep, lack of energy, inattentiveness, guilt, frequent crying, frustration, and irrational fear regarding her children’s husband, work, and children’s. The symptoms have increased over the last few years. She believes in her ability to handle the problems and has never sought medical or psychiatric help single-handedly until recently, when these symptoms overpowered her.
The primary source of stress is her husband, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 12 years ago. They have been married for 11 years. The diagnosis led him to change jobs and miss work frequently, worsening her husband’s stress and resulting in heavy drinking. The husband is currently undergoing an intensive outpatient program, which has helped him escape heavy drinking, which the client is happy about.
Past Psychiatric History:
· General Statement: No history of a diagnosed psychiatric illness; it is her first psychiatric visit
· Caregivers (if applicable): N/A
· Hospitalizations: The patient has never been hospitalized
· Medication trials: No history of medication trial involvement
· Psychotherapy or Previous Psychiatric Diagnosis: No history of psychiatric/mental health illness
Substance Current Use and History: Denies any current or past substance use.
Family Psychiatric/Substance Use History: The client denies any familial diagnosis of psychiatric illnesses. The client’s husband had an alcohol drinking problem that recently stopped after IOP and the client’s request. The client is happy about that and is now stressed due to her husband’s absence from work.
Psychosocial History: Has one sibling, grew up in Media, studied in Philadelphia, and lives in Media. Her first job was at QVC and in anthropology. She currently works in transportation project development, where she has worked for fifteen years. The client expresses dissatisfaction with her current job because it is not her dream job. She keeps the job because of the flexibility and benefits. She is married to her husband of eleven years, and they have two twins who will join preschool soon. Her primary source of social support is her parents and in-laws, who live nearby.
Medical History:
· Current Medications: None
· Allergies: NKFD
- Reproductive Hx: Sexually oriented to the opposite gender, married, has two five-year-old twin boys. Denies current or hx of STDs
ROS:
· GENERAL: The patient reports some unconfirmed weight gain due to stress eating, weakness, and fatigue most of the time.
· HEENT: Head: Denies any injuries, headaches, or hair loss. Eyes: Denies pain, itchiness, dryness, or visual problems. Ears: Denies pain, balance problems, drainage, or hearing problems. Throat: Denies pain swallowing, dry through, or voice changes
· SKIN: Denies itchy skin, dryness, rashes, lesions, or discoloration
· CARDIOVASCULAR: Denies any chest pain, pressure, palpitations, or edema
· RESPIRATORY: Denies coughing, congestion, or SOB
· GASTROINTESTINAL: Patient reports increased appetite and subsequent stress eating. Denies nausea or vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea
· GENITOURINARY: Denies hx of STDs or UTIS, burning on urination, hesitancy, urgency, order, or urine coloration. She denies any changes in bowel movement.
· NEUROLOGICAL: Denies loss of sensations or tingling sensations, headache, or
· MUSCULOSKELETAL: Patient denies joint, muscle or back pain or stiffness and reports retained ability to perform activities of daily living.
· HEMATOLOGIC: Denies bruising and blood clotting problems
· LYMPHATICS: Denies lymph nodes enlargement of spleen excision
· ENDOCRINOLOGIC: Denies heat or cold intolerance, excess thirst, or excess urination
Physical exam: BP: 135/82, P: 76, T: 98F, RR:18, Pain: N/A
Diagnostic results: N/A
Assessment
Adjustment disorder is a short-term illness precipitated by sudden stressful life changes that an individual cannot cope with (Kalauskas & Quero, 2020). These sudden stressful life changes include work-related issues such as losing a job, losing loved ones, and marriage and relationship issues, which lead to impairment. The patient expresses her concerns, which are her husband’s heavy drinking (which subsided recently after her request and beginning IOP) and frequent absence from work.
Symptoms of the condition include anhedonia, anxiety, insomnia, headache, anger, loss or increased appetite, and suicidal thoughts (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The patient’s presentation meets the DSM V diagnostic criteria for Chronic Adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety due to the symptoms of the depressed mood and persistence for over six months. Kazlauskas and Quero (2020) note that a classic case of adjustment disorder is COVID-19, which has affected families’ integrity, people, lost jobs, and fear for individuals’ health, leading to increased global adjustment disorder prevalence.
Adjustment disorder occurs in men and women of all ages, and treatment is brief to help realign the patient’s ability to cope with life stresses (Sadock et al., 2015). Psychotherapy and medications are the mainstay treatment. Treatment entails psychotherapy and medications. Medications can either be antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, depending on the patient’s presenting symptoms. Treatment response is higher when psychotherapy is used alongside medications than individual treatment.
Mental Status Examination: The patient is alert, well-oriented, cooperative, and has coherent speech. The patient has a depressed mood and appears goal-directed but mildly distracted. The patient has full insight into the condition and seeks help to manage her excessive worries. The patient’s judgment is intact, and she denies any suicidal ideations or behavior. She identifies ineffective coping mechanisms because she does not seek help but believes in her ability to handle her problems. The patient reports stress eating and increased appetite.
Differential Diagnoses:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD is characterized by fear and worries without any obvious reason or specific course. The patient cannot identify a course for irrational fear. According to DSM V criteria, GAD is diagnosed when the patient has fear, nervousness, restlessness, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, insomnia, or worry regularly and severe in some days, without a specific course, for more than six months (American Psychiatric Association, 2022; Ströhle et al., 2018). The patient presents with a majority of these symptoms, such as poor concentration, depression, and depressive symptoms, and her fears are directed to a specific course: her husband’s diagnosis, drinking problem, and frequent absence from work., thus ruling out the diagnosis.
- Major Depressive Disorder
Environmental stressors related to family and work can precipitate the disorder, although in most cases, the condition is idiopathic. Patients with major depressive disorder from environmental factors have ineffective coping mechanisms resulting in depression. The patient is going through stressful events, and the diagnosis is possible for this patient. MDD is a severe mood disorder that can markedly affect the quality of life and performance of the patient’s daily living activities.
A diagnosis of MDD is confirmed when at least five symptoms, such as consistent low mood, hopelessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, worthlessness, self-guilt, suicidal thoughts, inattentiveness, restlessness, psychomotor retardation, and anhedonia, last for more than two weeks (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The patient reports normal functioning at home and workplace and is only stressed by her husband’s situation. Kennedy (2020) also notes that the DSM V criteria for MDD diagnosis require that these symptoms must be affecting the patient’s daily functioning at work and social life, which has not been met for this patient, thus ruling out the diagnosis.
- Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar II Disorder is a common mood disorder characterized by combined major depression and hypomania. Thus, a diagnosis of major depression and a hypomania episode is necessary for the diagnosis of the disease, according to the DSM V. For this patient, she has no presentations of mania, ruling out the condition. For this client coming to the clinic for the first time, it is important to delay the diagnosis and initiate symptomatic management for at least six months to allow time for monitoring and evaluation to ensure accurate diagnosis and management of the patient.
Reflections: Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment allows the care provider to gather extensive patient information to inform their diagnosis and management. The patient’s assessment was patient-focused, emphasizing recovery and quality of life. An extensive review of the patient’s history and current presentations increased the possibility of accurate diagnosis and subsequent management. The assessment also follows evidence-based guidelines, hence its reliability. I agree with the adjustment disorder assessment from the patient’s presentation and history. Careful analysis of the symptoms and their interrelatedness with the preceptor improved my understanding and enhanced my ability to pay attention to patient presentation details.
I have also appreciated the importance of understanding how the conditions present due to the major similarities and differences in psychiatric disorders. The comprehensive psychiatric assessment has also helped me appreciate the DSM V in diagnosing mental health illnesses and their management. Differential diagnosis help ensure the diagnosis selected is the most appropriate for the patient, prevents misdiagnosis, and prevents delayed treatment, which causes increased patient deterioration. When managing mental illness patients, maintaining ethical standards such as respect for autonomy and confidentiality are also essential considerations in developing a working relationship that leads to effective management (Sadocks et al., 2015).
PRAC 6635 Week 5 Assignment 2 References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
Kazlauskas, E., & Quero, S. (2020). Adjustment and coronavirus: How to prepare for COVID-19 pandemic-related adjustment disorder worldwide? Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(S1), S22–S24. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000706
Kennedy, S. H. (2022). Core symptoms of major depressive disorder: relevance to diagnosis and treatment. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2008.10.3/shkennedy
Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2015). Kaplan and Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Ströhle, A., Gensichen, J., & Domschke, K. (2018). The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 115(37), 611. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611
Another week of writing is coming up next in NRNP 6635 week 7 assignment, which offers another case presentation, for which you will prepare a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.
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.
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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.
