NRNP 6552 WEEK 7 Health Conditions and Implications for Women

NRNP 6552 WEEK 7 Health Conditions and Implications for Women

Health Conditions and Implications for Women

Osteoporosis is the condition selected for this discussion. A decrease in bone mineral density characterizes osteoporosis. The decline is attributed to changes in bone microstructure. Patients with osteoporosis are predisposed to fragility fractures reducing their quality of life. Menopause increases the risk of osteoporosis due to a decrease in estrogen levels (Porter & Varacallo, 2024). The additional risk factors for osteoporosis include smoking, early menopause, inadequate physical activity, a family history of osteoporosis, and a history of fracture.

Patients with osteoporosis experience a range of symptoms. Patients usually report sudden bone breakages or fractures following minor falls or accidents. Osteoporosis patients also report reduced height, changes in posture, shortness of breath if the spinal cord is involved, and lower back pain. Diagnostic investigations such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans are used to diagnose osteoporosis. A score of negative 1 and 2.5 in the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan confirms osteoporosis diagnosis (Cheng et al., 2020; Langdahl, 2021). Laboratory investigations such as calcium, thyroid function, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D tests should be performed.

Different treatment approaches can be adopted for osteoporosis. Lifestyle changes are recommended to improve bone strength and reduce fracture risks in patients with osteoporosis. This includes educating patients about the importance of exercises that improve balance and weight-bearing exercises. Patients are educated to stop smoking and alcohol use. Vitamin D3 and calcium supplementation are also recommended for osteoporosis. Pharmacological treatments such as risedronate, zoledronic acid, alendronate, and denosumab are prescribed to reduce fracture risks. Healthcare providers might prescribe bazedoxifene to prevent osteoporosis. Patients who are intolerant to these medications can be prescribed teriparatide (Aibar-Almazán et al., 2022). Other medications that might be considered for osteoporosis include salmon calcitonin, estrogen-only replacement therapy, and conjugated estrogen-progestin hormone replacement therapy.

References

Aibar-Almazán, A., Voltes-Martínez, A., Castellote-Caballero, Y., Afanador-Restrepo, D. F., Carcelén-Fraile, M. del C., & López-Ruiz, E. (2022). Current Status of the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(16), Article 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169465

Cheng, C., Wentworth, K., & Shoback, D. M. (2020). New Frontiers in Osteoporosis Therapy. Annual Review of Medicine, 71(Volume 71, 2020), 277–288. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-med-052218-020620

Langdahl, B. L. (2021). Overview of treatment approaches to osteoporosis. British Journal of Pharmacology, 178(9), 1891–1906. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15024

Porter, J. L., & Varacallo, M. (2024). Osteoporosis. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441901/

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Health Conditions and Implications for Women

Some health issues, including heart disease, depression, and autoimmune disease, present more frequently in women than in men. Others, including ovarian cancer and pregnancy issues, are obviously exclusive to the female population. Nurse practitioners focused on women’s healthcare become well-versed in these health issues and apply their expertise to helping to screen for and offer care for patients with these conditions.

For this Discussion, you will select a specific women’s health issue. You will research this issue, and share common symptoms, recommended diagnostic tests, and common treatments.

Resources

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

Learning Resources

Required Readings

• Schuiling, K. D., & Likis, F. E. (2022). Gynecologic health care (4th ed.). Jones and Bartlett Learning.
  • Chapter 29, “Gynecologic Cancers” (pp. 569-597)
  • Chapter 30, “Chronic Pelvic Pain” (pp. 601-616)

Adult Gerontology Resources

• van Dijk, G. M., Kavousi, M., Troup, J., & Franco, O. H. (2015). Health issues for menopausal women: The top 11 conditions have common solutionsLinks to an external site.. Maturitas, 80(1), 24–30. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.09.013
• North American Menopause Society. (2020). Sexual health & menopause.Links to an external site. http://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/how-to-navigate-this-online-resource

Clinical Guideline Resources

As you review the following resources, you may want to include a topic in the search area to gather detailed information (e.g., breast cancer screening guidelines; CDC – for zika in pregnancy, etc.).

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Links to an external site. (2020).  https://www.acog.org/
• American Cancer Society, Inc. (ACS). (2020). Information and Resources about Cancer: Breast, Colon, Lung, Prostate, Skin.Links to an external site. https://www.cancer.org/
• American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.). Lead the profession to share the future of nursing and health care.Links to an external site. https://www.nursingworld.org/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC). (n.d.). CDC in action.Links to an external site. https://www.cdc.gov/
• HealthyPeople 2030. (2020). Healthy People 2030 Framework.Links to an external site.  https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/About-Healthy-People/Development-Healthy-People-2030/Framework
• The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). (2020). What’s Happening at your association.Links to an external site. https://www.aanp.org/

Optional Resources

Note: In Weeks 1-10, these resources are optional for your review. In Week 11, you will be required to review each of the PowerPoint slides from the text Gynecologic Health Care (4th ed.).

• Chapter 29, “Gynecologic Cancers” Download “Gynecologic Cancers”
• Chapter 30, “Chronic Pelvic Pain”Download “Chronic Pelvic Pain”

To prepare:

• Review the Learning Resources for this week and consider the different types of women’s health issues.
• Choose one of the women’s health issue from the following list and once you have selected an issue, search the Walden Library and/or the Internet regarding the health issue symptoms, diagnostic tests, and common treatments:
  • Osteoporosis
  • Bladder Issues
  • Pre-diabetes
  • Thyroid
  • Hypertension
  • Seizure Disorders
  • Psychiatric Disorders

Part 1: By Day 3

Based on the issue you chose, post a description and explanation of common symptoms, recommended diagnostic tests, and common treatments. Be specific and provide examples. Use the evidence from your search of the literature to support your explanation of the woman’s health issue you chose.

Part 2: By Day 5

Next, based off the one women’s health issue you picked listed below, post your responses to the following questions that corresponds to your women’s health issue.

• Osteoporosis – What are your options for primary prevention? How would you educate someone on the treatment?
• Bladder Issues – What exactly are the symptoms? What about Interstitial cystitis (IC) and pelvic pain?
• Thyroid – What symptoms occur in women? What can you discern from that? What about infertility?
• Pre-diabetes – Are there menstrual irregularities? What types of medication are they taking? What about pregnancy plans?
• Hypertension – What medications are appropriate for a woman of reproductive age? Should you counsel the woman on appropriate dieting?
• Seizure Disorders – What special implications do you need to consider in this particular population?
• Psychiatric Disorders – Specify the types of disorders i.e., anxiety/depression/substance abuse/eating disorders

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 7

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts on two different days and provide additional insight that might be useful and appropriate for the issue addressed. Use your learning resources and/or evidence from the literature to support your position.

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 Reply button to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Post Reply, you cannot delete or edit your own posts and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Post Reply!

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