The IOM published report, “Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” makes recommendations for lifelong learning and achieving higher levels of education.

In 1,000-1,250 words, examine the importance of nursing education and discuss your overall educational goals.

Include the following:

1. Discuss your options in the job market based on your educational level.
2. Review the IOM Future of Nursing Recommendations for achieving higher levels of education. Describe what professional certification and advanced degrees (MSN, DNP, etc.) you want to pursue and explain your reasons for wanting to attain the education. Discuss your timeline for accomplishing these goals.
3. Discuss how increasing your level of education would affect how your competitiveness in the current job market and your role in the future of nursing.
4. Discuss the relationship of continuing nursing education to competency, attitudes, knowledge, and the ANA Scope and Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics.
5. Discuss whether continuing nursing education should be mandatory. Provide support for your response.

You are required to cite to a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.  

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. 

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. 

Discussion Topic

LS is a 42-year-old male who has been diagnosed with adrenal hyposecretion. He was told that he will need to wear a medical alert bracelet. LS asks why this is the case. He plans to take the medications and does not like the idea of others knowing that he has a medical issue. 

1. Explain the difference between the inner (medulla) and outer (cortex) regions of the adrenal gland.

2. Explain why aldosterone has a shorter half-life than cortisol.

3. Discuss the effects glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids have on the body.

4. After discussing the above, explain why LS should wear a medical bracelet.

Student must post (1) substantial initial post with a minimum of 250 words All posts and replies must contain at least (2) professional references, one may be the course textbook, properly cited in the current APA format.  

  

In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making. A critical component of any policy design is evaluation of the results. How comfortable are you with the thought of becoming involved with such matters?

Some nurses may be hesitant to get involved with policy evaluation. The preference may be to focus on the care and well-being of their patients; some nurses may feel ill-equipped to enter the realm of policy and political activities. However, as you have examined previously, who better to advocate for patients and effective programs and policies than nurses? Already patient advocates in interactions with doctors and leadership, why not with government and regulatory agencies?

In this Discussion, you will reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation.

To Prepare:

• In the Module 4 Discussion, you considered how professional nurses can become involved in policy-making.
• Review the Resources and reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation.

1. Post an explanation of at least two opportunities that currently exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in the policy review. 

2. Explain some of the challenges that these opportunities may present and describe how you might overcome these challenges.

3. Finally, recommend two strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate the existence of these opportunities. Be specific and provide examples.

Reply to my Peers

Peer 1

Initial Post: Summarize the pathophysiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease as compared to GERD and explain which one of his symptoms most closely represent. Support with evidence.

Peptic ulcer disease is a break or an ulceration in the mucosal lining of the lower esophagus, stomach, or duodenum which is supposed to protect these organs (McCance, 2018). Peptic ulcers may be an acute finding or can occur chronically. There are risk factors that can increase the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease including, genetics, smoking, COPD, obesity, acute pancreatitis and excessive use of alcohol and/or NSAIDs. According to Yim, Kim & Lee, peptic ulcer disease may also be caused by helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection (2021). The most chronic type of peptic ulcers are known as duodenal ulcers. When duodenal ulcers are present there is chronic intermittent pain in the patient’s epigastric area. The pain begins 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating when the stomach is empty and is relieved with food and antacids. 

GERD an acronym for gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD occurs when there is an increase in acid and pepsin refluxes from the stomach in the esophagus that causes irritation to the esophagus. This irritation is known as esophagitis. The lower esophageal sphincter is typically lower than normal due to transient relaxation and/or weakness of the sphincter (McCance, 2018). Increased abdominal pressure such as vomiting, coughing, lifting, bending, obesity or pregnancy can also contribute to the diagnosis of GERD as well. The symptoms of GERD are as follows: Heartburn due to acid regurgitation, chronic cough, asthma, sinusitis, and/or upper abdominal pain within the first hour of eating.

The symptoms that the patient has presented with are closer to the symptoms that are present in peptic ulcer disease due to the presentation of daily aspirin usage, pain and burning sensation in the mid sternum and epigastric region, and daily alcohol consumption. His occasional coughing could be related to GERD, but his symptoms seem to be more within the category of peptic ulcer disease. 

Reference

McCance, K.,L., & Huether, S., E. (2018). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed) St Louis, MO: Mosby Inc; ISBN-13: 978-0323583473. 

Yim, M. H., Kim, K. H., & Lee, B. J. (2021). The number of household members as a risk factor for peptic ulcer disease. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1–10. https://doi-org.su.idm.oclc.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84892-5.

Peer 2

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

            Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a condition cause by abnormalities of lower esophageal function, esophageal motility, gastric motility, and gastric emptying. This occurs when the resting tone of the lower esophageal sphincter is lower than normal. There are a multitude of factors that contribute to this development including vomiting, coughing, lifting, bending and obesity. These influence the tone of the esophageal sphincter due to the increased abdominal pressure they cause. 

            Disorders such as gastroparesis, gastric ulcers are associated with delayed gastric emptying which lengthens the time span in which reflux is possible and increases the acid content of Chyme. Exaggerating the symptoms of reflux. 

            The severity of this condition depends on the composition of gastric contents and esophageal mucosa exposure time. When gastric contents are highly acidic or contain bile salts and pancreatic enzymes reflux can be severe. In the individual with weak esophageal peristalsis, reflux chyme remains in the esophagus for a longer period of time causing damage to the mucosa which can eventually become cancerous. 

            Symptoms of GERD include heartburn, chronic cough, asthma attacks, laryngitis, sinusitis, weight loss and upper abdominal pain within an hour of eating. Symptoms may be exacerbated when laying down or after consuming alcohol or acidic foods. 

Peptic Ulcer Disease

            Peptic Ulcer Disease occurs when there is a break or ulceration in the protective mucosal lining of the lower esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. Peptic ulcers can be singe or multiple, acute or chronic, and superficial or deep. Superficial ulcerations are called erosions because they erode the mucosa by but do not penetrate the muscularis mucosa. True ulcers extend throughout the muscularis mucosa, damaging blood vessels, causing hemorrhage or perforating the gastrointestinal wall. 

            The chronic use of NSAIDs suppress mucosal prostaglandin synthesis, decreasing bicarbonate secretion and mucin production while increasing the secretion of hydrochloric acid. H. Pylori, a bacterium, typically found in the stomach, interacts with NSAIDs causing disruption of the mucosa, exposing submucosal areas to gastric secretions and auto digestion, leading to erosion and ulcerations. 

            Symptoms include chronic intermittent epigastric pain, often occurring 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating and in the middle of the night. This pain may be relieved by food or antacids and exacerbated by acidic foods and muscle spasms. Loss of appetite and weight loss are often present in this condition. These symptoms most closely align with they symptoms experienced by the patient in the discussion scenario (McCance & Huether, 2019)

References: 

McCance, K. L., Huether, S. E., Brashers, V. L., & Rote, N. S. (2019). Pathophysiology: the biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). Elsevier

 

module 05 Content

1. Purpose of Assignment
   The goal of creating a newborn nutrition teaching presentation is to prepare the nursing student to provide evidenced based education to the pre and postpartum client on lactation.
   Competency
   Select safe, effective nursing interventions for the postpartum client and newborn.
   Instructions
   Create a teaching tool to promote breastfeeding. The material created to educate new mothers on breastfeeding will influence the mother’s decision to breastfeed, including duration, based on the quality and content of the teaching.
   Assignment Requirements
   Your teaching tool will be a trifold and must include this relevant content for a mother considering the risks and benefits of breastfeeding a newborn.
   
   • Explain how breast milk is formed in the mammary glands and the physiology of breast milk
   • Include two 2020 National Health Goals related to newborn nutrition to support breast feeding as the best choice. See the link below:
   • https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/maternal-infant-and-child-health
   • Discuss the advantages of breastfeeding related to immunities transferred to the newborn
   • Describe three additional benefits of breast feeding with supporting rationales
   • Include at least two supporting resources
   • Document must be written
   • Format
   • Standard American English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.)
   • Logical, original and insightful
   • Professional organization, style, and mechanics in APA format
   • Submit document through Grammarly to correct errors before submission
   • Resources
   • https://guides.rasmussen.edu/apa
   • How do I create a patient education brochure/pamphlet?
   • Submit your completed assignment by following the directions linked below. Please check the Course Calendar for specific due dates.