Discussion: Adolescent Patients

Discussion: Adolescent Patients

Discussion: Adolescent Patients

Week 5 -Assignment 1 Discussion Assignment 1: Discussion As a family nurse practitioner, you are working in a rural health clinic. You are evaluating a 16-year-old adolescent patient who comes in complaining of having difficulty concentrating in school. On exam, you also note that the patient is very thin and frail in appearance and is asking you for diet pills. What are some initial areas for concern? What screening tools can help lead you closer to your diagnosis? Describe 1 health promotion strategy you can discuss with the patient. Be sure to address the following in your plan of care: pharmacological and non-pharmacological (OTC) interventions, labs, follow-up, teaching, and referral/s. Your work should integrate course resources (text/s) as well as a minimum of two (2) other evidence-based guidelines and/or articles published within 3–5 years. Submission Details: Name your document SU_NSG6440_W5_A1_LastName_FirstInitial.doc. Submit by Saturday, November 4, 2017.

Adolescence is a developmental period when many changes occur that have an impact on the physical and emotional health and well-being of these young people. It is important for health care providers to feel comfortable caring for this population, especially when it comes to sexual and reproductive health care. There are many resources and tools available to facilitate delivery of developmentally-appropriate care in a comprehensive and confidential way.

The San Francisco-based Adolescent Health Working Group developed a  for providers that contains guidance on the sexual and reproductive health clinical care needs of adolescents.

Parents play an important role in their child’s development and adolescence is a time when communication is most important. The CDC has developed some  on how they can support their teens through development of healthy and open communication.