Week 5: Assessment of Head, Neck, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
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Week 5 Overview and Case assignments
Aimee Danielle Kirkendol
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Week 5: Assessment of Head, Neck, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
Emily, age 15, is brought to your clinic complaining of chills, aches, and a sore throat. Without any testing, consider all of the possible diagnoses. It could be a cold, the flu, bronchitis, or even something more serious, such as meningitis or mononucleosis. Assessing the actual cause will involve much more than simple visual inspection. Some conditions are so subtle that they require the use of special instruments and tests in addition to a trained eye and ear.
This week, you will explore how to assess the head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, and throat. Whether dealing with a detached retina, sinusitis, meningitis, or even cough, advanced practice nurses need to know the proper assessment techniques in order to form accurate diagnoses.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Apply assessment skills to diagnose eye, ear, and throat conditions
Apply concepts, theories, and principles relating to health assessment techniques and diagnoses for the head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, and throat
Assignment 1: Case Study Assignment: Assessing the Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
To Prepare
By Day 1 of this week, you will be assigned to a specific case study for this Case Study Assignment. Please see the “Course Announcements” section of the classroom for your assignment from your Instructor.
Also, your Case Study Assignment should be in the Episodic/Focused SOAP Note format rather than the traditional narrative style format. Refer to Chapter 2 of the Sullivan text and the Episodic/Focused SOAP Template in the Week 5 Learning Resources for guidance. Remember that all Episodic/Focused SOAP Notes have specific data included in every patient case.
Week 5 Discussion forum Assignments
Case 1: Last Names Starting with A-M
Case 2: Last Names Starting with N-Z
CASE STUDY 1: Focused Nose Exam
Richard is a 50-year-old male with nasal congestion, sneezing, rhinorrhea, and
postnasal drainage. Richard has struggled with an itchy nose, eyes, palate, and ears for
5 days. As you check his ears and throat for redness and inflammation, you notice him
touch his fingers to the bridge of his nose to press and rub there. He says he’s taken
Mucinex OTC the past 2 nights to help him breathe while he sleeps. When you ask if
the Mucinex has helped at all, he sneers slightly and gestures that the improvement is
only minimal. Richard is alert and oriented. He has pale, boggy nasal mucosa with clear
thin secretions and enlarged nasal turbinates, which obstruct airway flow but his lungs
are clear. His tonsils are not enlarged but his throat is mildly erythematous.
CASE STUDY 2: Focused Throat Exam
Lily is a 20-year-old student at the local community college. When some of her friends
and classmates told her about an outbreak of flu-like symptoms sweeping her campus
during the past 2 weeks, Lily figured she shouldn’t take her 3-day sore throat lightly.
Your clinic has treated a few cases similar to Lily’s. All the patients reported decreased
appetite, headaches, and pain with swallowing. As Lily recounts these symptoms to
you, you notice that she has a runny nose and a slight hoarseness in her voice but
doesn’t sound congested.
CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT: ASSESSING THE HEAD, EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT
Nurses conducting assessments of the ears, nose, and throat must be able to identify the small differences between life-threatening conditions and benign ones. For instance, if a patient with a sore throat and a runny nose also has inflamed lymph nodes, the inflammation is probably due to the pathogen causing the sore throat rather than a case of throat cancer. With this knowledge and a sufficient patient health history, a nurse would not need to escalate the assessment to a biopsy or an MRI of the lymph nodes but would probably perform a simple strep test.
Most ear, nose, and throat conditions that arise in non-critical care settings are minor in nature. However, subtle symptoms can sometimes escalate into life-threatening conditions that require prompt assessment and treatment.
In this Case Study Assignment, you consider case studies of abnormal findings from patients in a clinical setting. You determine what history should be collected from the patients, what physical exams and diagnostic tests should be conducted, and formulate a differential diagnosis with several possible conditions.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
TO PREPARE
By Day 1 of this week, you will be assigned to a specific case study for this Case Study Assignment. Please see the “Course Announcements” section of the classroom for your assignment from your Instructor.
Also, your Case Study Assignment should be in the Episodic/Focused SOAP Note format rather than the traditional narrative style format. Refer to Chapter 2 of the Sullivan text and the Episodic/Focused SOAP Template in the Week 5 Learning Resources for guidance. Remember that all Episodic/Focused SOAP Notes have specific data included in every patient case.
With regard to the case study you were assigned:
Review this week’s Learning Resources and consider the insights they provide.
Consider what history would be necessary to collect from the patient.
Consider what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be appropriate to gather more information about the patient’s condition. How would the results be used to make a diagnosis?
Identify at least five possible conditions that may be considered in a differential diagnosis for the patient.
THE ASSIGNMENT
Use the Episodic/Focused SOAP Template and create an episodic/focused note about the patient in the case study to which you were assigned using the episodic/focused note template provided in the Week 5 resources. Provide evidence from the literature to support diagnostic tests that would be appropriate for each case. List five different possible conditions for the patient’s differential diagnosis and justify why you selected each.
BY DAY 6 OF WEEK 5
Submit your Assignment.
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Before submitting your final assignment, you can check your draft for authenticity. To check your draft, access the Turnitin Drafts from the Start Here area.
To submit your completed assignment, save your Assignment as WK5Assgn1+last name+first initial.
Then, click on Start Assignment near the top of the page.
Next, click on Upload File and select Submit Assignment for review.
Rubric
NURS_6512_Week_5_Assignment_1_Rubric
NURS_6512_Week_5_Assignment_1_Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeUsing the Episodic/Focused SOAP Template: · Create documentation or an episodic/focused note in SOAP format about the patient in the case study to which you were assigned. · Provide evidence from the literature to support diagnostic tests that would be appropriate for your case.
50 to >44.0 pts
Excellent
The response clearly, accurately, and thoroughly follows the SOAP format to document the patient in the assigned case study. The response thoroughly and accurately provides detailed evidence from the literature to support diagnostic tests that would be appropriate for the patient in the assigned case study.
44 to >38.0 pts
Good
The response accurately follows the SOAP format to document the patient in the assigned case study. The response accurately provides detailed evidence from the literature to support diagnostic tests that would be appropriate for the patient in the assigned case study.
38 to >32.0 pts
Fair
The response follows the SOAP format to document the patient in the assigned case study, with some vagueness and inaccuracy. The response provides evidence from the literature to support diagnostic tests that would be appropriate for the patient in the assigned case study, with some vagueness or inaccuracy in the evidence selected.
32 to >0 pts
Poor
The response incompletely and inaccurately follows the SOAP format to document the patient in the assigned case study. The response provides incomplete, inaccurate, and/or missing evidence from the literature to support diagnostic tests that would be appropriate for the patient in the assigned case study.
50 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome· List five different possible conditions for the patient’s differential diagnosis, and justify why you selected each.
35 to >29.0 pts
Excellent
The response lists five distinctly different and detailed possible conditions for a differential diagnosis of the patient in the assigned case study, and provides a thorough, accurate, and detailed justification for each of the five conditions selected.
29 to >23.0 pts
Good
The response lists four or five different possible conditions for a differential diagnosis of the patient in the assigned case study and provides an accurate justification for each of the five conditions selected.
23 to >17.0 pts
Fair
The response lists three to five possible conditions for a differential diagnosis of the patient in the assigned case study, with some vagueness and/or inaccuracy in the conditions and/or justification for each.
17 to >0 pts
Poor
The response lists two or fewer, or is missing, possible conditions for a differential diagnosis of the patient in the assigned case study, with inaccurate or missing justification for each condition selected.
35 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization: Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused–neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction are provided that delineate all required criteria.
5 to >4.0 pts
Excellent
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion are provided that delineate all required criteria.
4 to >3.0 pts
Good
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are stated, yet are brief and not descriptive.
3 to >2.0 pts
Fair
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%–79% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment are vague or off topic.
2 to >0 pts
Poor
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time. No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion were provided.
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting – English writing standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation
5 to >4.0 pts
Excellent
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.
4 to >3.0 pts
Good
Contains a few (1 or 2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
3 to >2.0 pts
Fair
Contains several (3 or 4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
2 to >0 pts
Poor
Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.
5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, running heads, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list.
5 to >4.0 pts
Excellent
Uses correct APA format with no errors.
4 to >3.0 pts
Good
Contains a few (1 or 2) APA format errors.
3 to >2.0 pts
Fair
Contains several (3 or 4) APA format errors.
2 to >0 pts
Poor
Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors.
5 pts
Total Points: 100
LEARNING RESOURCES
Required Readings
Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2019). Seidel’s guide to physical examination: An interprofessional approach (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Chapter 11, “Head and Neck”
This chapter reviews the anatomy and physiology of the head and neck. The authors also describe the procedures for conducting a physical examination of the head and neck.
Chapter 12, “Eyes”
In this chapter, the authors describe the anatomy and function of the eyes. In addition, the authors explain the steps involved in conducting a physical examination of the eyes.
Chapter 13, “Ears, Nose, and Throat”
The authors of this chapter detail the proper procedures for conducting a physical exam of the ears, nose, and throat. The chapter also provides pictures and descriptions of common abnormalities in the ears, nose, and throat.
Dains, J. E., Baumann, L. C., & Scheibel, P. (2019). Advanced health assessment and clinical diagnosis in primary care (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Credit Line: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Diagnosis in Primary Care, 6th Edition by Dains, J.E., Baumann, L. C., & Scheibel, P. Copyright 2019 by Mosby. Reprinted by permission of Mosby via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Chapter 15, “Earache”Download Chapter 15, “Earache”
This chapter covers the main questions that need to be asked about the patient’s condition prior to the physical examination as well as how these questions lead to a focused physical examination.
Chapter 21, “Hoarseness”Download Chapter 21, “Hoarseness”
This chapter focuses on the most common causes of hoarseness. It provides strategies for evaluating the patient, both through questions and through physical exams.
Chapter 25, “Nasal Symptoms and Sinus Congestion”Download Chapter 25, “Nasal Symptoms and Sinus Congestion”
In this chapter, the authors highlight the key questions to ask about the patients symptoms, the key parts of the physical examination, and potential laboratory work that might be needed to provide an accurate diagnosis of nasal and sinus conditions.
Chapter 30, “Red Eye”Download Chapter 30, “Red Eye”
The focus of this chapter is on how to determine the cause of red eyes in a patient, including key symptoms to consider and possible diagnoses.
Chapter 32, “Sore Throat”Download Chapter 32, “Sore Throat”
A sore throat is one most common concerns patients describe. This chapter includes questions to ask when taking the patient’s history, things to look for while conducting the physical exam, and possible causes for the sore throat.
Chapter 38, “Vision Loss”Download Chapter 38, “Vision Loss”
This chapter highlights the causes of vision loss and how the causes of the condition can be diagnosed.
Note: Download the six documents (Student Checklists and Key Points) below, and use them as you practice conducting assessments of the head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
Document: Episodic/Focused SOAP Note Exemplar Download Episodic/Focused SOAP Note Exemplar(Word document)
Document: Episodic/Focused SOAP Note Template Download Episodic/Focused SOAP Note Template(Word document)
Document: Midterm Exam Review Download Midterm Exam Review(Word document)
Shadow Health Support and Orientation Resources
Shadow Health. (2021). Welcome to your introduction to Shadow Health Links to an external site.. https://link.shadowhealth.com/Student-Orientation-Video
Shadow Health. (n.d.). Shadow Health help desk Links to an external site.. Retrieved from https://support.shadowhealth.com/hc/en-us
Shadow Health. (2021). Walden University quick start guide: NURS 6512 NP students Download Walden University quick start guide: NURS 6512 NP students. Links to an external site.https://link.shadowhealth.com/Walden-NURS-6512-Student-Guide
Document: DCE (Shadow Health) Documentation Template Download DCE (Shadow Health) Documentation Templatefor Focused Exam: Cough (Word document)
Use this template to complete your Assignment 2 for this week.
Required Media
Assessment of the Head, Neck, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat – Week 5 (29m)
Online media for Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination
It is highly recommended that you access and view the resources included with the course text, Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination. Focus on the videos and animations in Chapters 10, 11, and 12 that relate to the assessment of the head, neck, eyes, ears, nose, and throat. Refer to the Week 4 Learning Resources area for access instructions on https://evolve.elsevier.com/.
Geeky Medics. (2020, June 5).Fundoscopy (Ophthalmoscopy) Links to an external site. – OSCE guide [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVuP5Td23AQ&feature=youtu.be
Health4TheWorld Academy Videos Channel. (2020, February 15).Paranasal sinus imaging Links to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TQBtdbEY-I
University of Iowa Ophthalmology. (2016, December 19).Fluorescein staining of the cornea Links to an external site.. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/198695974
Credit Line: University of Iowa Ophthalmology. (n.d.). Fluorescein staining of the cornea [Video file]. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/198695974. The author(s) and publishers acknowledge the University of Iowa and EyeRounds.org for permission to reproduce this copyrighted material.
Note: Approximate length of this media program is 25 seconds.
Optional Resources
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