Assignment 1: Gastrointestinal Tract: Disorders of Motility
Jamie is a 3-month-old female who presents with her mother for evaluation
of “throwing up.” Mom reports that Jamie has been throwing up pretty
much all the time since she was born. Jamie does not seem to be sick. In fact,
she drinks her formula vigorously and often acts hungry. Jamie has normal soft
brown bowel movements every day and, overall, seems like a happy and contented
baby. She smiles readily and does not cry often. Other than the fact that she
often throws up after drinking a bottle, she seems to be a very healthy, happy
infant. A more precise history suggests that Jamie does not exactly throw
up—she does not heave or act unwell—but rather it just seems that almost every
time she drinks a bottle she regurgitates a milky substance. Mom thought that
she might be allergic to her formula and switched her to a hypoallergenic
formula. It didn’t appear to help at all, and now Mom is very concerned.
Cases like these are not uncommon. The mother was concerned and thinking
her daughter may have an allergy; she changed to a different formula. However,
sometimes babies have immature GI tracts that can lead to physiology reflux as
they adapt to normal life outside the uterus. Parents often do not consider
this possibility, prompting them to change formulas rather than seeking medical
care. As in the case study above, GI alterations can often be difficult to
identify because many cause similar symptoms. This same issue also arises with
adults—adults may present with symptoms that have various potential causes.
When evaluating patients, it is important for the advanced practice nurse to
know the types of questions he or she needs to ask to obtain the appropriate
information for diagnosis. For this reason, you must have an understanding of
common GI disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic
ulcer disease (PUD), and gastritis.
To Prepare
· Review this week’s media presentation on the
gastrointestinal system.
· Review Chapter 35 in the Huether and McCance text.
Identify the normal pathophysiology of gastric acid stimulation and production.
· Review Chapter 37 in the Huether and McCance text.
Consider the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic
ulcer disease (PUD), and gastritis. Think about how these disorders are similar
and different.
· Select a patient factor different from the one you
selected in this week’s Discussion: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or
behavior. Consider how the factor you selected might impact the pathophysiology
of GERD, PUD, and gastritis. Reflect on how you would diagnose and prescribe
treatment of these disorders for a patient based on this factor.
· Review the “Mind Maps—Dementia, Endocarditis,
and Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)” media in the Week 2 Learning
Resources. Use the examples in the media as a guide to construct a mind map for
gastritis. Consider the epidemiology and clinical presentation of gastritis.
To Complete
Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:
· Describe the normal pathophysiology of gastric acid
stimulation and production. Explain the changes that occur to gastric acid
stimulation and production with GERD, PUD, and gastritis disorders.
· Explain how the factor you selected might impact
the pathophysiology of GERD, PUD, and gastritis. Describe how you would
diagnose and prescribe treatment of these disorders for a patient based on the
factor you selected.
· Construct a mind map for
gastritis. Include the
epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation, as well as the
diagnosis and treatment you explained in your paper.
***Example of Mind Map is attached. Please include the above contructed
mind map in paper***
