clinical experience

Describe your clinical experience for this week. • • • • • Did you face any challenges, any success? If so, what were they? Describe the assessment of a patient, detailing the signs and symptoms (S&S), assessment, plan of care, and at least 3 possible differential diagnosis with rationales. Mention the health promotion intervention for this patient. What did you learn from this week’s clinical experience that can beneficial for you as an advanced practice nurse? Support your plan of care with the current peer-reviewed research guideline. 38 year-old female seen in clinic with complaints of irritation to her right eye. Patient stated that one of her children had pink eye last week. Upon assessment vital signs were: Blood pressure 126/74 Respiratory Rate 19 Temp 98.1 O2 Sat 99% on Room air Wt. 135 lbs Ht. 5’6 Patient denies any current medical history Patient signs and symptoms: patient has redness and irritation to right eye, conjunctiva is pink Diagnosis: Bacterial conjunctivitis Possible Differential Diagnosis: bacterial keratitis, anterior uveitis, acute-closure glaucoma The apprehension that I was presented with during clinicals last week I did not experience this week. My preceptor allowed me a bit of latitude to assess patients. This assisted me in understanding how to effectively diagnose patients and understand how to critically think as an Advance Practice Nurse. While interviewing patients, I realized that my communication could use some improvement. For example, I found that I needed to take time to allow the patient to respond to more open-ended questions. Going forward, I plan to give the patient more time to freely express healthcare concerns. Yeu, E., & Hauswirth, S. (2020). A Review of the Differential Diagnosis of Acute Infectious Conjunctivitis: Implications for Treatment and Management. Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 14, 805-813. https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S236571