NURS6531 Week 9 Discussion: Chronic Back Pain

Patients frequently present with complaints of pain such as chronic back pain. They often seek medical care with the intent of receiving drugs to manage the pain. Typically, for this type of pain, narcotic drugs are often prescribed. This can pose challenges for you as the advanced practice nurse prescribing the drugs.

While there is a process for evaluating back pain, it can be difficult to assess the intensity of a patient’s pain because pain is a subjective experience. Only the person experiencing the pain truly knows whether there is a need for drug treatments. This makes it important for you, as the prescriber, to watch for red flags and warning signs of abuse. In this Discussion, you explore the ethical implications of prescribing narcotics to patients with chronic back pain.

To prepare:

Review this week’s media presentation on evaluating back pain, as well as Chapter 15 of the Buttaro et al. text in the Learning Resources. Reflect on the evaluation process for a patient with a history of back pain.

Consider how you might evaluate a patient that presents with back pain. Think about potential red flags and warning signs of drug abuse.
Reflect on the ethical implications of prescribing narcotics for chronic back pain.
Think about what you would prescribe and why.
Post on or before Day 3 a description of how you might evaluate a patient who presents with back pain. Then, describe potential red flags and warning signs of drug abuse. Explain the ethical implications of prescribing narcotics for chronic back pain. Finally, explain what you would prescribe for patients and why.

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Week 9 Assignment

Assignment 1: Application– Chronic Kidney Disease

According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million adults in the United States have chronic kidney disease with millions of others at risk (National Kidney Foundation, 2012). Over time, this disorder will become progressively worse, and patients will eventually experience a loss of renal function. Early detection and prevention is key for patients with this disorder.

For this reason, it is important for you, as the provider, to be aware of various signs, symptoms, and risk factors of chronic kidney disease. In this Assignment, you explore the disorder including the role that patient history, physical exams, and diagnostics play in diagnosis and treatment.

To prepare:

Review Chapter 149 in Part 13 of the Buttaro et al. text in this week’s Learning Resources. Reflect on the clinical presentation of chronic kidney disease.

Think about how you might diagnose a patient with chronic kidney disease. Consider the role that patient history, physical exams, and diagnostics play in diagnosis.
Reflect on potential treatment options for chronic kidney disease including the implications of prescribed drugs.
Consider the following patient factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, and behavior. Think about how these factors might impact the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease.

To complete:

Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

Describe the clinical presentation of chronic kidney disease.
Explain how you might diagnose a patient with chronic kidney disease including the role that patient history, physical exams, and diagnostics play in diagnosis.
Explain implications of potential treatment options for this disease including prescribed drugs.
Describe how patient factors might impact the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease.

Assignment 1: Application – Chronic Kidney Disease (Due)

By Day 7

Submit Assignment:

Chronic Kidney Disease. This Assignment was presented in Week 8 and is due by Day 7 of Week 9.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

Please save your Assignment using the following naming convention: “WK9Assgn+lastname+first initial”.
Click the Week 9 Assignment link.
Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK9Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open. If you are submitting multiple files, repeat until all files are attached.
Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

NURS6531 Week 9 Discussion: Chronic Back Pain