NUR 120 - Care Plan and Pathophysiology Paper

2. Explore Your Topic

After thoroughly examining your assignment, now it's time to look for some initial background research on your topic.  Look for your topic in Atlas of Pathophysiology to learn more.  Your textbook is another good place to find background information.  We also recommend the following resource:

Analyze Your Topic

As you read about your patient's condition. Consider the following. (You may not have all the answers yet, that's okay, but these are important ideas to begin thinking about that you will need to answer in your care plan and pathophysiology paper.

• What medical or specialized vocabulary is used when discussing this condition? (If you're unfamiliar with any of it, take time now to look it up).
• What is the pathophysiology of the disease process? How does it impact your patient?
• How does the description of the condition match what you witnessed or know about your patient's particular situation? Was there anything different or unusual about your patient?
• What did you do for your patient? What treatments, procedures, etc. are mentioned for this condition?
• What nursing diagnosis would be appropriate? What priority order should they be in?
• What are the short-term and long-term goals of the nursing diagnosis?
• What interventions are appropriate? What is the rationale for each intervention? What evidence do you have or need to find to support these actions?