You are a Family Nurse Practitioner working in a community health center. You are seeing a 14-year-old adolescent patent for an annual visit. The patient’s mother is also present during the visit and notes that the patient’s grades in school have been declining. Her son is also hanging out with a group of kids that she has concerns about. The mother has concerns for what is going on with her son. Answer the following questions using course resources (texts) and two other evidence-based sources (current guidelines and/or scholarly articles that are within a 3-5 year time frame). What are the components of an annual exam for an adolescent patient? Is the mother required to be present during your exam? Describe 1 health promotion idea that you would discuss with your middle adolescence patient. Why is this idea important? What are some screening tools that might be of importance in this situation? (hint: do you suspect drug or alcohol abuse here?)

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS

Components of an annual exam for an adolescent patient

It’s that time of year again – time for your adolescent’s annual exam! Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect during the visit. We’ll go over everything from vaccinations to sexual health to mental health. And of course, we’ll answer any questions you may have along the way.

General History and Physical Examination

A physical examination for an adolescent patient should include a thorough inspection of the body, including the skin, head, neck, chest, and abdomen. The examination should also include auscultation of the heart and lungs and palpation of the abdomen. The examiner should also assess the patient’s range of motion and flexibility.

Growth and Development

During an annual exam for an adolescent patient, the doctor will assess the patient’s growth and development. This includes monitoring the patient’s height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). The doctor will also assess the patient’spubertal development. Pubertal development is a normal process that happens during adolescence, when the body begins to produce sex hormones. The doctor will ask about the patient’s menstrual cycle and sexual activity. The doctor may also perform a physical examination of the patient’s breasts and genitals.

Immunizations

An adolescent patient’s annual exam should include a review of their immunization status. This is important because it helps to ensure that the patient is up-to-date on all recommended vaccines. It is also a good opportunity to discuss any new vaccines that may be recommended for the coming year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adolescents receive the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine as well as the meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine. They also recommend that patients aged 11-12 years old receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Additional vaccines may be recommended based on the adolescent’s age, health status, risk factors, and travel plans.

It is important to note that some states have requirements for school-aged children regarding certain immunizations. Be sure to check with your state’s requirements before your child’s next school year.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

When it comes to annual exams for adolescent patients, one of the most important components is sexual and reproductive health. This includes topics like contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and sexual assault.

Contraception is an important topic to discuss with adolescent patients, as they may be sexually active or thinking about becoming sexually active. It’s important to provide information about all of the different contraceptive options available, as well as their pros and cons. This can help patients make informed decisions about their sexual activity and reduce their risk of unintended pregnancy.

STIs are another important topic to discuss with adolescent patients. It’s important to provide information about how STIs are transmitted, as well as how to prevent them. Patients should also be encouraged to get tested for STIs if they think they may have been exposed to one.

Finally, sexual assault is a sensitive but important topic to discuss with adolescent patients. It’s important to provide information about what constitutes sexual assault, as well as how to prevent it from happening. Patients should also be encouraged to seek help if they have been the victim of sexual assault.

Mental and Behavioral Health

Mental and behavioral health are an important part of an adolescent’s overall health. An annual exam is a good time to check in with your adolescent patient about their mental and emotional wellbeing.

During the exam, be sure to ask about any changes in mood or behavior, as well as any thoughts of self-harm or suicide. It’s also important to ask about drug and alcohol use, as well as sexual activity and contraception.

If you are concerned about your adolescent patient’s mental or behavioral health, be sure to refer them to a specialist for further evaluation and treatment.

Substance Abuse

As adolescents mature, they are more likely to experiment with substances like alcohol and drugs. It is important for health care providers to screen adolescent patients for substance abuse during their annual exams.

To screen for substance abuse, health care providers should ask adolescent patients about their use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Patients should be asked how often they use these substances, how much they use when they do use them, and whether they have ever experienced any negative consequences as a result of their substance use.

Health care providers should also perform a physical exam to look for signs of substance abuse. They may check the patient’s body for needle marks or other injection sites, track changes in weight or appearance, and listen to the heart and lungs for evidence of damage from drug use.

If an adolescent patient screens positive for substance abuse, referral to a treatment program is warranted. Treatment programs provide counseling and other services to help patients stop using substances and avoid future problems associated with substance abuse.