NUR 600 Discussion 5.1: Lung Diagnoses

Sample Answer for NUR 600 Discussion 5.1: Lung Diagnoses

Pneumonia is a common diagnosis caused by inflammation and consolidation of lung tissue, often due to infection by Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae, or Staphylococcus aureus (Goolsby & Grubbs, 2018). Atelectasis is a less common lung diagnosis characterized by closure or collapse of alveoli due to hypoventilation secondary to obstruction to the airways or compression. On physical exam, a patient with pneumonia will have a fever (due to infection), tachycardia, and tachypnea (30/min). On lung and chest exam, pneumonia manifests with abnormal findings such as uneven fremitus and dullness to percussion over the lung area with consolidation (Goolsby & Grubbs, 2018). Abnormal findings on auscultation include crackles and moist rales. Bronchophony, egophony, and whispered pectoriloquy are also usually present.

Abnormal findings in atelectasis include tachycardia, tachypnea, and respiratory distress with difficulty breathing in a supine position. Positive findings on chest and lung exam include deviation of trachea and heart toward the affected side, dullness to percussion over the involved lung area, diminished or absent breath sounds, and diminished or absent chest excursion of the involved hemithorax (Marini, 2019).

References

Goolsby, M. J., & Grubbs, L. (2018). Advanced assessment interpreting findings and formulating differential diagnoses. FA Davis.

Marini, J. J. (2019). Acute Lobar Atelectasis. Chest, 155(5), 1049–1058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2018.11.014

ALSO READ:

NUR 600 Assignment 5.2: Assessment of the Thorax and Lungs

NUR 600 Assignment 2.1: Patient History

NUR 600 Discussion 2.1: Creating a Positive Interview Experience

NUR 600 Assignment 3.1: Review of Systems (ROS) Documentation

NUR 600 Assignment 3.2: Using the Seven Attributes with a Subjective Abnormal Finding

NUR 600 Discussion 4.1: Sequence During a Physical Examination

NUR 600 Assignment 4.2: Assessment of the HEENT System Write-Up

NUR 600 Discussion 6.1: Cardiovascular Diagnoses

NUR 600 Assignment 6.3 Assessment of the Cardiovascular System Write-Up

NUR 600 Discussion 7.1 Common and Less-Common Diagnoses for the Breasts and Abdomen

NUR 600 Discussion 8.1: Common and Less-Common Diagnoses for the Neurologic System

NUR 600 Assignment 8.2: Assessment of the Peripheral Vascular and Nervous Systems Write-Up

NUR 600 Assignment 9.1: Iatrogenic Hymenal Case Study Write-Up

NUR 600 Discussion 10.1: Musculoskeletal System Diagnoses

NUR 600 Assignment 10.2: Musculoskeletal and Neurological Write-Up

NUR 600 Discussion 11.1 Crucial Conversations

NUR 600 Assignment 11.2: Writing a SOAP Note

NUR 600 Discussion 6.1 Cardiovascular Diagnoses

Cardiovascular Diagnoses 

Cardiovascular disorders are among the health problems that affect a significant proportion of the population globally in the modern world. The disease burden attributed to cardiovascular disorders is high. Patients incur high healthcare costs and decrease in their overall quality of life. Nurses and other healthcare providers must utilize evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for the affected populations. This paper explores a most common cardiovascular disorder and a least common one and their differentiation.  

Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular disorder. It is characterized by the elevation of blood pressure above 130/90 mmHg. If left untreated, hypertension causes other health problems such as stroke, heart attack, renal failure, and cardiomegaly. Patients affected by hypertension experience symptoms that include nosebleeds, headaches, edema, shortness of breath, vision changes, vomiting, anxiety, seizures, and chest pain (Mills et al., 2020; Oliveros et al., 2020).  

One of the least common cardiovascular diagnoses is rheumatic heart disease. It is a complication of heart valves that arises from rheumatic fever. Patients with a history of untreated or poorly treated streptococcal infection develop this condition. The diagnosis is reached when a patient presents with specific symptoms alongside a recent history of strep infection. The most common symptoms include fever, joint pain and swelling, nodules, lattice-like skin rash, chest pain, shortness of breath, and lethargy (Beaton et al., 2022; Marijon et al., 2021).  

One of the ways to differentiate between hypertension and rheumatic heart disease is by obtaining comprehensive history from the patient. A patient with hypertension will not have a history of strep infection. The other approach is by undertaking diagnostic investigations such as electrocardiogram. The blood pressure is elevated in hypertension while it is not in rheumatic heart disease.  

Overall, hypertension and rheumatic heart disease are some of the cardiovascular health problems with considerable population impact. Hypertension is more common as compared to rheumatic heart disease. They differ based on symptoms and diagnostic findings. 

References 

Beaton, A., Okello, E., Rwebembera, J., Grobler, A., Engelman, D., Alepere, J., Canales, L., Carapetis, J., DeWyer, A., Lwabi, P., Mirabel, M., Mocumbi, A. O., Murali, M., Nakitto, M., Ndagire, E., Nunes, M. C. P., Omara, I. O., Sarnacki, R., Scheel, A., … Steer, A. C. (2022). Secondary Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Latent Rheumatic Heart Disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 386(3), 230–240. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2102074 

Marijon, E., Mocumbi, A., Narayanan, K., Jouven, X., & Celermajer, D. S. (2021). Persisting burden and challenges of rheumatic heart disease. European Heart Journal, 42(34), 3338–3348. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab407 

Mills, K. T., Stefanescu, A., & He, J. (2020). The global epidemiology of hypertension. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 16(4), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-019-0244-2 

Oliveros, E., Patel, H., Kyung, S., Fugar, S., Goldberg, A., Madan, N., & Williams, K. A. (2020). Hypertension in older adults: Assessment, management, and challenges. Clinical Cardiology, 43(2), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.23303