Week 5 -Assignment 1
Discussion
Select one of the two questions from the discussion questions
listed below. By Week 5, Day 3, respond to the selected discussion question and
submit your response to this Discussion Area.
Be sure to respond to the question using the lessons and
vocabulary found in the reading. Justify your answers using examples and
reasoning. Support your answers with examples and research and cite your
research using APA format.
Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your
classmates as early in the week as possible. Respond to at least two of your
classmates’ posts. Participate in the discussion by asking a question,
providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with a rationale,
challenging an aspect of the discussion, or indicating a relationship between
two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion.
Discussion Question 1
GF is a forty-one-year-old woman who arrives for her first
visit at the clinic. She reports that she has been feeling sad and depressed,
with crying spells, trouble sleeping, increased appetite, impaired
concentration, and fatigue. She has experienced depression in the past but was
able to overcome the symptoms without medication. Upon physical exam, she
appears to be poorly groomed and with minimal facial expression. She is slow to
respond to questions. She admits to being very anxious and worried about
“everything.” She denies any current suicidal ideation. However, she expresses
concerns about the future and that it may not be an improvement. She has tried
over-the-counter medications to help with sleep, but they have not been
effective. Answer the following questions:
What additional information would you like before making a
decision about what to do with GF?
What approach would you suggest for this patient? Which of
her symptoms would concern you and require intervention?
Does she need to be referred to another provider, or can she
be managed in a primary care setting?
Are there any nonpharmacological strategies that might be
appropriate for her?
For medications, include dosages and schedules. Include
highlights of patient teaching and/or lifestyle alterations. Support your
decisions with at least one reference to a published clinical guideline and one
peer-reviewed publication.
Discussion Question 2
ST is a twenty-five-year-old male who presents to the clinic
with a major complaint of insomnia. He has been experiencing problems sleeping
for the past month. He has been “borrowing” medication from his mother and
friends, such as diazepam and alprazolam, and he finds that these are helpful
in allowing him to sleep. He was also diagnosed with asthma at the age of ten.
He has been using an inhaler, as needed, but he cannot recall the name of the
inhaler. He is currently working part-time through a temporary agency, and he
has not been able to find any full-time work. Answer the following questions:
What additional information would you like to obtain from
ST?
What are the possible reasons for his insomnia?
What are the possible strategies you can use to help him
with the insomnia?
