Although nursing practice problems and medical practice problems are related in that they are used for medicine, there are differences between the two. A nursing practice problem is an issue encountered during nursing practice, such as during a patient assessment, related to the patient’s response to a health problem they are experiencing. There are numerous considerations to the nursing practice problems (Fuller, 1982). This ranges from the patient’s signs and symptoms to an illness to their difficulties in completing the activities of daily living due to a fractured extremity. This is due to nursing care involves the entire individual, family or community. Fuller, (1982) states that nursing practice problems, “…deal with modalities of patient care such as support, comfort, prevention of trauma, promotion of recovery, health screening, appraisal and/or assessment, health education, and coordination of health care.”

A medical practice problem is concerned with a medical condition or disease. It identifies a condition, searches for causes, establishes a prognosis, and prescribes a treatment for the condition (Chiffi & Zanotti, 2015).

Chiffi and Zanotti (2015) state, “In conclusion, medical and nursing diagnoses have different goals: a medical diagnosis identifies a variation from a norm, while a nursing diagnosis should judge the existence of a potential for enhancing self-care.”

Consider a patient with a fractured wrist. The physician will set the fracture and prescribe pain medication. These are examples of medical practice problems. The nurse will review the aftercare and medication instructions with the patient. The nurse will also review care of the splint and possibly arrange a visiting RN to help with activities of daily living.

The PICOT question is the first step in establishing or improving evidence-based practice with the goal of solving problems with patients. “Nurses use EBP to provide patients with safe, quality care and to improve outcomes” (Helbig, 2018). The PICOT is based on a nursing practice problem because it is designed to improve patient care. An example of using PICOT for evidence-based practice would be studying the frequency of oral care with the goal of reducing the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonias. It is not designed for disease research.

Using 200-300 words APA format with references to support discussion

Soap note about chronic  Disease in these case I selected: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

I attach an example to make more easy your work. Please put 2 references between 2015 to 2019.

EXAMPLE:

PATIENT INFORMATION

Name: Mr. W.S.

Age: 65-year-old

Sex: Male

Source: Patient

Allergies: None

Current Medications: Atorvastatin tab 20 mg, 1-tab PO at bedtime

PMH: Hypercholesterolemia

Immunizations: Influenza last 2018-year, tetanus, and hepatitis A and B 4 years ago.

Surgical History: Appendectomy 47 years ago.

Family History: Father- died 81 does not report information

Mother-alive, 88 years old, Diabetes Mellitus, HTN

Daughter-alive, 34 years old, healthy

Social Hx: No smoking history or illicit drug use, occasional alcoholic beverage consumption on social celebrations. Retired, widow, he lives alone.

SUBJECTIVE:

Chief complain: “headaches” that started two weeks ago

Symptom analysis/HPI:

The patient is 65 years old male who complaining of episodes of headaches and on 3 different occasions blood pressure was measured, which was high (159/100, 158/98 and 160/100 respectively). Patient noticed the problem started two weeks ago and sometimes it is accompanied by dizziness. He states that he has been under stress in his workplace for the last month.

Patient denies chest pain, palpitation, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting.

ROS:

CONSTITUTIONAL: Denies fever or chills. Denies weakness or weight loss. NEUROLOGIC: Headache and dizzeness as describe above. Denies changes in LOC. Denies history of tremors or seizures.

HEENT: HEAD: Denies any head injury, or change in LOC. Eyes: Denies any changes in vision, diplopia or blurred vision. Ear: Denies pain in the ears. Denies loss of hearing or drainage. Nose: Denies nasal drainage, congestion. THROAT: Denies throat or neck pain, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing.

Respiratory: Patient denies shortness of breath, cough or hemoptysis.

Cardiovascular: No chest pain, tachycardia. No orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal

dyspnea.

Gastrointestinal: Denies abdominal pain or discomfort. Denies flatulence, nausea, vomiting or

diarrhea.

Genitourinary: Denies hematuria, dysuria or change in urinary frequency. Denies difficulty starting/stopping stream of urine or incontinence.

MUSCULOSKELETAL: Denies falls or pain. Denies hearing a clicking or snapping sound.

Skin: No change of coloration such as cyanosis or jaundice, no rashes or pruritus.

Objective Data

CONSTITUTIONAL: Vital signs: Temperature: 98.5 °F, Pulse: 87, BP: 159/92 mmhg, RR 20, PO2-98% on room air, Ht- 6’4”, Wt 200 lb, BMI 25. Report pain 0/10.

General appearance: The patient is alert and oriented x 3. No acute distress noted. NEUROLOGIC: Alert, CNII-XII grossly intact, oriented to person, place, and time. Sensation intact to bilateral upper and lower extremities. Bilateral UE/LE strength 5/5.

HEENT: Head: Normocephalic, atraumatic, symmetric, non-tender. Maxillary sinuses no tenderness. Eyes: No conjunctival injection, no icterus, visual acuity and extraocular eye movements intact. No nystagmus noted. Ears: Bilateral canals patent without erythema, edema, or exudate. Bilateral tympanic membranes intact, pearly gray with sharp cone of light. Maxillary sinuses no tenderness. Nasal mucosa moist without bleeding. Oral mucosa moist without lesions,.Lids non-remarkable and appropriate for race.

Neck: supple without cervical lymphadenopathy, no jugular vein distention, no thyroid swelling or masses.

Cardiovascular: S1S2, regular rate and rhythm, no murmur or gallop noted. Capillary refill < 2 sec.

Respiratory: No dyspnea or use of accessory muscles observed. No egophony, whispered pectoriloquy or tactile fremitus on palpation. Breath sounds presents and clear bilaterally on auscultation.

Gastrointestinal: No mass or hernia observed. Upon auscultation, bowel sounds present in all four quadrants, no bruits over renal and aorta arteries. Abdomen soft non-tender, no guarding, no rebound no distention or organomegaly noted on palpation

Musculoskeletal: No pain to palpation. Active and passive ROM within normal limits, no stiffness.

Integumentary: intact, no lesions or rashes, no cyanosis or jaundice.

Assessment

Essential (Primary) Hypertension (ICD10 I10): Given the symptoms and high blood pressure (156/92 mmhg), classified as stage 2. Once the organic cause of hypertension has been ruled out, such as renal, adrenal or thyroid, this diagnosis is confirmed.

Differential diagnosis:

Ø Renal artery stenosis (ICD10 I70.1)

Ø Chronic kidney disease (ICD10 I12.9)

Ø Hyperthyroidism (ICD10 E05.90)

Plan

Diagnosis is based on the clinical evaluation through history, physical examination, and routine laboratory tests to assess risk factors, reveal identifiable causes and detect target-organ damage, including evidence of cardiovascular disease.

These basic laboratory tests are:

· CMP

· Complete blood count

· Lipid profile

· Thyroid-stimulating hormone

· Urinalysis

· Electrocardiogram

Ø Pharmacological treatment: 

The treatment of choice in this case would be:

Thiazide-like diuretic and/or a CCB

· Hydrochlorothiazide tab 25 mg, Initial dose: 25 mg orally once daily.

Ø Non-Pharmacologic treatment:

· Weight loss

· Healthy diet (DASH dietary pattern): Diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products with reduced content of saturated and trans l fat

· Reduced intake of dietary sodium: <1,500 mg/d is optimal goal but at least 1,000 mg/d reduction in most adults

· Enhanced intake of dietary potassium

· Regular physical activity (Aerobic): 90–150 min/wk

· Tobacco cessation

· Measures to release stress and effective coping mechanisms.

Education

· Provide with nutrition/dietary information.

· Daily blood pressure monitoring at home twice a day for 7 days, keep a record, bring the record on the next visit with her PCP

· Instruction about medication intake compliance.

· Education of possible complications such as stroke, heart attack, and other problems.

· Patient was educated on course of hypertension, as well as warning signs and symptoms, which could indicate the need to attend the E.R/U.C. Answered all pt. questions/concerns. Pt verbalizes understanding to all

Follow-ups/Referrals

· Evaluation with PCP in 1 weeks for managing blood pressure and to evaluate current hypotensive therapy. Urgent Care visit prn.

· No referrals needed at this time.

References

Domino, F., Baldor, R., Golding, J., Stephens, M. (2017). The 5-Minute Clinical Consult 2017 (25th ed.). Print (The 5-Minute Consult Series).

Codina Leik, M. T. (2014). Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review (2nd ed.). ISBN 978-0-8261-3424-0