Advanced Practice Care of Adults Across the Lifespan NURS 6531 Week 9 Assignment

Week 9 Topic: Evaluation and Management of Musculoskeletal Conditions
Main Graded Assignment: i-Human Case Study: Evaluating and Managing Musculoskeletal Conditions
(or Episodic Visit: Musculoskeletal Focused Note / Focused SOAP Note in some sections)
Due: By Day 7 of Week 9
Point Value: Typically 100 points (part of Application Assignments / i-Human or SOAP note category)
Standard Verbatim Prompt / Instructions (consistent across sections):
Assignment: i-Human Case Study: Evaluating and Managing Musculoskeletal Conditions
Throughout this course, you will complete case study simulation assignments with virtual i-Human patients presenting a variety of medical conditions. This week, you will complete an i-Human case study on a patient presenting with a musculoskeletal condition.
To Prepare

Review the Learning Resources for this week on the evaluation and management of musculoskeletal conditions.
Review the i-Human Patients Case Player Student Manual as needed.

Assignment
As you interact with this week’s i-Human patient, complete the assigned case study. For guidance on using i-Human, refer to the i-Human Graduate Programs Help link within the i-Human platform.
Complete and submit your Assignment in i-Human. This includes:

Taking a focused history.
Performing a focused physical examination.
Ordering appropriate diagnostic tests (e.g., X-rays, MRI, labs).
Developing a differential diagnosis (typically 3–5 possibilities with rationale).
Selecting the primary diagnosis (with ICD-10 code).
Creating a comprehensive management plan that includes:
Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions (with specific recommendations, dosing, and rationale).
Patient education (e.g., activity modification, physical therapy, weight management).
Follow-up plan and referrals (e.g., to orthopedics, rheumatology, or PT if needed).
Health promotion and prevention strategies (e.g., fall prevention in older adults).

Submit your completed i-Human Case Study (including the Performance Summary and your Management Plan).
Looking Ahead Note (standard):
You should have received an email with your i-Human Patients login and password. If not, contact your Course Instructor.
Alternative/Additional Format in Some Sections (Especially When Paired with PRAC 6531 Practicum)
Assignment 2: Episodic Visit: Musculoskeletal Focused Note (or Focused SOAP Note / Musculoskeletal SOAP Note)
Instructions (standard):
Write a focused/episodic SOAP Note on a patient presenting with a musculoskeletal condition (using the Walden-provided template).
Address:

Subjective: Chief complaint, HPI (OLDCARTS), pertinent ROS, PMH, medications, allergies, social/family history.
Objective: Vitals and focused musculoskeletal exam (inspection, palpation, range of motion, strength, special tests, gait, etc.).
Assessment: Primary diagnosis (with ICD-10) + 2–3 differentials with rationale.
Plan: Diagnostics, pharmacologic/non-pharmacologic treatments, patient education, follow-up, referrals, and health promotion.

Support with evidence from Learning Resources and clinical guidelines (e.g., ACR for osteoarthritis, AAOS guidelines). This is one of the required SOAP notes (must score ≥70% on at least 2 out of 3 to pass the course).
Common Musculoskeletal Cases (instructor-assigned or i-Human):

Knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, hand/wrist pain (e.g., in a 16-year-old male with hand pain), osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, sprains, or fractures in adults/older adults.

Additional Week 9 Elements

Discussion: Evaluation and Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders (or Diagnosing Musculoskeletal Conditions) – initial post by Day 3; responses by Day 6.
Knowledge Check / Board Vitals: 20-question quiz covering musculoskeletal topics and prior modules.
Practicum (PRAC 6531): Often requires a separate Musculoskeletal Focused Note submission tied to clinical hours.

Rubric / Grading Focus (standard Walden criteria)

Thorough history and focused musculoskeletal exam.
Strong differential diagnosis reasoning with red flags (e.g., cauda equina, infection, malignancy).
Evidence-based management (NSAIDs, acetaminophen, physical therapy, injections, surgery referral criteria) and patient-specific factors (age, comorbidities, frailty in elderly).
Overall i-Human performance or SOAP note quality.
Integration of guidelines and proper APA where required.

Next Steps

Log into your Walden Canvas course → Go to Week 9 → Open the Assignment link (i-Human or Focused Musculoskeletal Note) and any Discussion/Knowledge Check.
Review the exact prompt, specific assigned i-Human case or scenario, SOAP template, rubric, Learning Resources, and instructor-specific notes (exact case or format can vary slightly by section/term).
Check the Course Syllabus and Course Schedule PDF for confirmation of due dates and point values.