This week you explore guidelines for common screenings for women, including their strengths and limitations and their role in clinical decision making. You also examine patient histories, diagnoses, and treatment and management plans as you begin working on your Comprehensive Patient Assessment, which focuses on the care of one patient from your Practicum Experience.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, students will:

• Evaluate strengths and limitations of guidelines for screening procedures
• Analyze the influence of guidelines on clinical decision making
• Analyze the impact of advanced practice nurses on issues related to screening guidelines
• Evaluate diagnoses for patients
• Evaluate treatment and management plans
• Understand and apply key terms, principles, and concepts related to clinical guidelines on screening procedures
• Analyze differences between common screenings for younger women and common screenings for older women

Learning Resources

Schuiling, K. D., & Likis, F. E. (2017). Women’s gynecologic health (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

• • Chapter 5, “Gynecologic Anatomy and Physiology” (pp. 77-93)

This chapter explores female anatomy and physiology with a focus on the female reproductive anatomy. It also describes the physiology of the menstrual cycle, including the hormonal feedback system and the ovarian and endometrial cycles.

• • Chapter 6, “Gynecologic History and Physical Examination” (pp. 95-133)

This chapter identifies the core knowledge and skill base required for obtaining a gynecologic health history and performing physical examinations such as pelvic and breast exams.

• • Chapter 7, “Periodic Screening and Health Maintenance” (pp. 135-149)

This chapter explores preventive health services for women such as screening tests, counseling, immunization, and chemoprevention. It also compares screening recommendations from organizations such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American Cancer Society.

• • Chapter 13, “Intimate Partner Violence” (pp. 303-322)

This chapter defines intimate partner violence (IPV) and describes the epidemiology and health effects of IPV. It also examines screening tools for assessing IPV and strategies for managing patients experiencing IPV, particularly pregnant women, adolescents, and older women.

• • Chapter 14, “Sexual Assault” (pp. 327-349)

This chapter examines strategies for identifying sexual violence and providing care to women who are victims of sexual violence. It explores potential health consequences of sexual violence on women, including physical injury, spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancy.

Tharpe, N. L., Farley, C., & Jordan, R. G. (2017). Clinical practice guidelines for midwifery & women’s health (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

• • Chapter 6, “Care of the Well Woman Across the Life Span”
    • “Primary Preventive” Health Care for Well Women” (pp. 301-303)

This section examines social, mental, and physical issues that affect women during different stages of their lives. It also examines the provider’s role in prevention and care.

• • • “Care of the Well Woman: Health Assessment and Screening for Women of Childbearing Age” (pp. 303-310)

This section provides a list of health information for the health care provider to address during well-woman examinations, as well as an immunization schedule for women across the life span.

• • • “Care of the Well Woman: Health Assessment and Screening During Menopause” (pp. 338-349)

This section explains the physiologic changes that occur during menopause, including health issues that are likely to present. It also examines treatment and management options related to diet, exercise, sleep, and sexual comfort.

• •  
  • • Chapter 8, “Primary Care in Midwifery and Women’s Health”
      • “Care of the Woman: Prevention of Osteoporosis” (pp. 576-584)

This section explores factors that increase risks of osteoporosis in women, particularly postmenopausal women. It also provides strategies for identifying risk factors of osteoporosis and diagnosing and treating the condition.

• • • • “Care of the Woman in Need of Smoking Cessation” (pp. 471-475)

This section outlines factors that impact successful smoking cessation. It also describes treatment options and patient education strategies for women in need of smoking cessation.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012b). Screening tests and vaccines. Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/screening-tests-and-vaccines/screening-tests-for-women/

This article provides guidelines for recommended screening tests for women. The guidelines are categorized by age and type of test.

Document: Comprehensive Write-up Guide (PDF)

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2013d). Women’s issues and tough conversations. Retrieved from CDN database. (NURS 6551)

In this media presentation, Dr. Rebecca Lee and Cindy Nypaver discuss the importance of the role of the advanced practice nurse when caring for women.

Please click on the following link for the transcript: Transcript (PDF)

Optional Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012b). Women’s health. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/women/

National Institutes of Health. (2012). Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH). Retrieved from http://orwh.od.nih.gov/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012a). Womenshealth.gov. Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/

Discussion: Guidelines on Screening Procedures

The goal of health promotion and education is to help prevent disease in patients. However, this is not always successful, and disease it not always preventable. With disease, early detection is ideal, often making screening procedures a routine part of clinical care. Unfortunately, many patients do not utilize these health services. This can be attributed to lack of awareness or access to care, financial concerns, or even levels of comfort with health care providers. In your role as the advanced practice nurse, you must be aware of potential obstacles for patients and implement strategies to ensure patients receive necessary screenings. Although a variety of screening procedures are recommended for women at various stages of life, not all screenings are appropriate for all patients. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each screening, as well as current guidelines for use is essential to effectively facilitate patient care. For this Discussion, the course Instructor will assign a specific topic for you to research.

To prepare:

• Review this week’s media presentation, as well as Chapters 6 and 8 of the Tharpe et al. text and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services article in the Learning Resources.
• Research guidelines on screening procedures for the topic assigned to you by the course Instructor (e.g., guidelines on screening for domestic violence, safety, nutrition, osteoporosis, heart disease, mental health, eating disorders, thyroid disease, pap smear, mammogram, cancer, and sexually transmitted infections). Note: The course Instructor will assign a topic to you by Day 1 of this week.
• Reflect on strengths and limitations of the screening guidelines.
• Consider how the guidelines might support your clinical decision making. NURS 6551:Week 2 Assignment: Common Screenings for Women

By Day 3

Post an explanation of the guidelines on screening procedures for the topic assigned to you. Include an explanation of strengths and limitations of the guidelines. Then, explain how the guidelines might support your clinical decision making.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who were assigned different topics than you. Explain a patient scenario in which your colleague’s guidelines might not be appropriate. Then, explain how you would provide care for the patient in the scenario. Finally, explain how you, as an advanced practice nurse, might be able to impact issues related to these screening guidelines.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit! NURS 6551:Week 2 Assignment: Common Screenings for Women

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Common Screenings for Women

Introduction

Women have many different screenings to choose from, and it’s important to know which one is right for you. Here are some common screenings that women should go through at certain times in their lives.

Pap smear

A Pap test is a screening test for cervical cancer. It’s used to detect abnormal cells on the cervix, which can be caused by an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. The Pap test does not diagnose disease but it can help doctors decide if further testing is necessary before treating any abnormalities with surgery or other treatments.

There are two types of Pap tests:

• Manual (or visual) inspection: A doctor or nurse uses a small brush to collect samples from inside your vagina during this procedure; these samples will then be examined under a microscope for abnormal cells that may have developed in response to infection or irritation from sexual contact in your lifetime so far.”

HPV test

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in America. It’s also one of the most common cancers in women, with over 500 new cases each year. If you’re a woman over 25 years old and have been sexually active, your doctor may recommend an HPV test to check for cervical cancer and other types of cancer caused by this virus.

The test is performed by drawing blood samples from your arm or finger and sending them to a lab where they’re analyzed against a database that includes information about all strains of HPV found in people aged 14-65 years old who’ve been tested before; if there’s no match with any strains recorded on their database, then there’s no need for further testing!

Mammogram

Mammograms are a great way to reduce the risk of breast cancer, but they’re also highly recommended for women over 40. If you haven’t had one in a while, now’s the time to get one!

Here’s what to expect: Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history and recent screenings (like blood tests), then perform an exam that includes pressing on your breasts with forceps or other instruments. Afterward, they’ll take pictures of them using x-rays; these images will be reviewed by a radiologist who decides whether any abnormalities were detected in each scan. If there are none found, then no further tests are necessary—but if something suspicious was found during the process (like fibrocystic disease), then further testing might be needed before surgery can take place.

Bone density scan

Bone density scans are a way to check for osteoporosis, which is a condition in which your bones become brittle and break more easily. If you get this test done regularly, it can help prevent bone fractures as well as other health problems.

You’ll likely have your bone scan done at a clinic or hospital near where you live. You’ll be asked to lie down on an exam table while the technician uses special X-rays to take pictures of your bones. The images will then be analyzed by doctors who will look for signs of osteoporosis or other related conditions such as cancerous tumors growing inside bones (osteolysis).

The results will show whether or not there’s enough calcium in your body—the mineral that makes up most of our bones—and how much risk there is for broken bones over time based on these numbers.[1]

Clinical breast exam

Breast exams are an important part of your mammogram screening. They’re also a good way to check for signs of breast cancer, like lumps or changes in your breasts.

When you get this type of exam, the doctor will look at the area around your nipple, underarm and collarbone (axilla). The doctor will feel for lumps with his fingers and ask about any pain or discomfort when touching these areas. He may also press on them gently with his fingers or hand-held instrument such as a gloved hand or Dermograph (a device that measures skin elasticity). This can help detect potential cancers early so they can be better treated than if they were found later on during surgery later on down the line!

You should get annual clinical breast examinations starting at age 40 years old after menopause but before age 50 years old (or sometime after menopause but before age 65 years old).

Colonoscopy

You should know that a colonoscopy is a screening test for cancer. It’s not something you want to miss.

• Prepare for your screening by knowing what to expect and how to prepare for it. As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with this one—and the more prepared you are before hand, the better off your chances will be.

• If you have questions about specific tests like these or would like more information on testing options in general, visit our website at WomenHealthCareInfoCenter.com!

Skin cancer exam

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with more than 2 million new cases diagnosed each year. This means if you’re a woman aged 20 to 29, your risk of skin cancer is about three times that of an average man.

As with all cancers, early detection can be critical for treatment success and survivorship: The earlier you catch it—the better your chances will be. Skin cancers are often painless and have no visible signs at first; however, if left untreated for too long they can become visible tumors with large red spots or sores on the skin that may bleed easily into clothing or makeup (or even cause bruising).

Takeaway:

You should expect to be screened regularly. The importance of regular screening is that it can help detect cancer early and lead to a more effective treatment plan, which will result in fewer side effects and better outcomes. Regular screening also helps ensure that women have access to the best possible care at all times, regardless of where they live or how much money they have available for their health care needs.

The good news is: breast cancer screenings are simple! They aren’t complicated or expensive; most women only need two visits per year (and sometimes even those aren’t necessary). If you’re not sure when your next mammogram might be scheduled, ask your doctor about whether there are special opportunities where you can get one done right now—or perhaps try searching online using sites like [this](https://www.webmdhealthcare.com/cancer-screenings/breast-cancer) website? And remember…the earlier we catch breast cancer before it becomes deadly then less likely there will be any secondary tumors which require surgery later on down line.”

Conclusion

I hope this list of screenings for women helps to make sense of all the different tests and procedures. I know there are many more types out there, but these are some of my favorites!