...Introduction Chronic pain is one of the most frequent diagnosis and the most common problem for which elderly patients in the clinical setting seek help. Chronic pain refers to an unpleasant, distressful and uncomfortable feeling. Studies have shown that chronic pain is often undertreated even when the prevalence rates and syndromes are well understood. The means of relief are within practitioners’ capabilities to provide care. With careful assessment and a comprehensive plan of care that addresses the various aspects of the patients needs; chronic pain can be controlled in the vast majority of cases. Thus, awareness and provision of basic and specialized interventions can ensure comfort and improve quality of life. However, chronic pain left untreated or undertreated may cause suffering. This will also cause disease-mediated symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, fatigue, and loss of mobility. Needless to say, there are accompanying emotional states such as depression, anxiety, and a sense of uselessness. This paper will explore the under treatment of chronic pain among the elderly, its defining attributes, the use of an analysis model and its relationship to the concept. Identify a nursing theoretical framework used to analyze and resolve the problem. Also, an attempt will be made to identify an evidence based practice and research to support strategies for the resolution of the problem. Problem Under treatment of Chronic Pain in the Elderly However, most often than...
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...Pain Concept Analysis Audrey Hubler Chamberlain college of Nursing NR501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice Conceptual analysis is integral in understanding nursing theory. According to Walker and Avant (1995), concept analysis allows nursing scholars to examine the attributes or characteristics of a concept. It can be used to evaluate a nursing theory and allows for examination of concepts for relevance and fit within the theory. The phenomena of pain will be discussed in this paper and how it relates to the comfort theory. This paper will define the term pain and how it pertains to the comfort theory. Next, there will be discussion from relevant literature in regards to pain. Its defining attributes will be covered and then antecedents and consequences will be addressed. Examples of empirical referents will be given, as well as a model case and alternative cases. Then the discussion will conclude with a summary of the analysis findings. Definition/Explanation of Pain According to Merriam-Webster, pain is defined as “the physical feeling caused by disease, injury, or something that hurts the body; or mental, emotional suffering, or sadness caused by some emotional or mental problem.” In general, pain refers to an unpleasant, distressful and uncomfortable feeling. Studies have shown that unrelieved pain can affect the quality of life of the individual, cause physical and emotional effects, and can impact family. The comfort theory was developed...
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...treatment of pain, and has been proven to effectively treat many medical conditions. Furthermore, ATI is demonizing a substance that so many already use (medicinally and recreationally), and, if legalized, could save resources and generate tax revenue. Thus, it could considerably weaken drug cartels and the violence and corruption associated with this substance being illegal. Lastly, the attempt to use scare tactics by this ad campaign, has shown to actually have adverse effects on combating addiction and substance abuse. Accordingly, all of the commercials brought about by Above the Influence depict marijuana in a negative aspect in one way or another. In the “Flat” commercial, usage of marijuana is represented as something that results in having a deflated physique, and characteristics of laziness, low self esteem and trouble holding relationships. Making a girl look flattened out because she smoked marijuana, is in no way realistic and is not something teenagers are likely to fall for. The commercial is an exaggerated representation of how they think marijuana affects people and what it does to their personal aspirations and relationships. Contrary to how the commercials depict the effects of marijuana, an examination of the inconsistent history of marijuana in the United States, may give one a better idea of how unpredictable the government has been about legalizing it, regardless of all its medicinal benefits. With regards to this, David Bearman is a physician in pain medicine...
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...Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Submitted By: Latrell Jackson December 16, 2013 Submitted To: Dr. Diane Hamilton BA 530 Pfizer Pfizer develops and produces medicines and vaccines for a wide range of conditions including in the areas of immunology and inflammation, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuroscience and pain. Pfizer's products include Lipitor (atorvastatin, used to lower LDL blood cholesterol); Lyrica (pregabalin, for neuropathic pain/fibromyalgia); Diflucan (fluconazole, an oral antifungal medication); Zithromax (azithromycin, an antibiotic); Viagra (sildenafil, for erectile dysfunction); and Celebrex/Celebra (celecoxib, an anti-inflammatory drug) (Pfizer, 2010). Pfizer is made up of three main divisions; pharmaceutical, animal health, and research & development divisions. This paper will focus on the pharmaceutical division, with the emphasis on Viagra, which markets prescription and over the counter medications (Pfizer, 2010). Pfizer’s Pharmaceuticals segment includes its human pharmaceuticals and animal health businesses, as well as Capsugel, a producer of two-piece capsules used in manufacturing prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements (Pfizer, 2010). Most of the company’s human pharmaceutical revenues come from products in three major therapeutic classes: cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, and central nervous system disorders. The company also has products for the treatment of diabetes, erectile...
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...Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a non-life-threatening “chronic pain condition” that most frequently affects a limb after being injured (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). “Damage” and “malfunction” of the peripheral or central nervous system is thought to be the cause of this condition (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). The “severity and duration” of CRPS differs between those who are affected (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). People of any age can develop CRPS, but the most common age is 40, and the elderly are rarely affected (RSD CRPS). It is generally seen in more women than men, but both are susceptible (RSD CRPS). There is no cure but merely therapies to treat the symptoms as the individual’s body works to heal itself. There...
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...Brandy Shields Mrs. Knutsen ENC1101-83 16 April 2014 Chronic Pain: Curable or Not Abstract Chronic Pain is an interesting problem in society today. The exact cause of Chronic Pain is not the same in every patient. In fact most patients present with different symptoms and associated pathologies, such as the strong link with depression. Treatment of Chronic Pain is often performed a single practitioner whether that be a Medical Doctor, Chiropractor, Nutritionist, or an alternative health care professional. Chronic Pain is often extremely complex, because of this treatment needs to be multidimensional. Effective care of Chronic Pain requires the collective cooperation of health care professionals Chronic pain is an increasing problem affecting society today. Chronic pain is a complex condition that affects 42 million-50 million Americans, according to the American Pain Foundation. A recent market research report indicates that more than 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from chronic pain and that approximately 3- 4.5% of the global population suffers from neuropathic pain, Despite decades of research, chronic pain remains poorly understood and notoriously hard to control. A survey by the American Academy of Pain Medicine found that even comprehensive treatment with painkilling prescription drugs helps, on average, only about 58% of people with chronic pain. The frequency of pain has a great impact on business, with a recent report by the Institute of Medicine (Medicine) ...
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...Management of Chronic Pain Chronic pain occurs due to various reversible and irreversible disorders. But mainly causes of chronic pain are irreversible. Therefore most of the chronic pain conditions cannot be cured completely. But the pain can be managed to allow the individual to carry out a normal life style. Also it is important to remember that pain is treatable. The goal of chronic pain management is to improve function, enabling the individual to work, attend school, or participate in other day-to-day activities (7), to interrupt the reinforcement of pain behavior and modulation of pain responses (9). Despite the effectiveness of the treatment method, appropriate precautions should be...
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...Prescription Concepts Applied to Patients Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia Pain is defined as an “unpleasant feeling, conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons” (Medical Dictionary, 2013). Pain is a subjective interpretation, which describes location, intensity and nature of sensory information resulted from noxious stimulation of nerve endings. The emotional response and other various conscious or unconscious responses add to the concept of pain. Acute pain usually results from tissue damage and it usually ends once the injury is healed. Chronic pain is a long term condition related to a persistent or degenerative disease or it doesn’t have an identifiable cause. Although there are different opinions about when a patient can be declared as suffering from chronic pain (after six months or twelve months), the presence of such sensation after the healing period usually leads to this diagnosis. One of the diseases with a generalized chronic pain as a symptom, which continues to generate many debates in the medical world, is fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia, a disorder that affects the overall system and has an effect of generalized chronic pain, will be delineated in this paper, including its causes, manifestation, and part of the process of managing this disease in which a kinesiologist would have a central role. Fibromyalgia, estimated to affect 4% of the population, is a compilation of symptoms accompanying pain, which include fatigue, stiffness and sleep disturbance, along with psychiatric...
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...There has been endless debate about the public health risks and benefits of cannabis. Legalization of cannabis for medicinal and recreational use has been a one of most disputed issues in the United States. This has become an important issue in public health because, although some risks and benefits are known, more research is needed to determine other harmful and therapeutic effects (Wilkinson, 2016). There is not enough evidence for wide-spread clinical or recreational use. Laws, initiatives and policies for making marijuana legal may lead to, “increased clinical and recreational usage, a wide range of methods for consumption, and conflicts between state and federal laws. However, these policies would focus on guarding the health and safety...
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...persons with debilitating medical conditions. This bill would provide for the legal use of cannabis for certain debilitating medical conditions and protection amongst healthcare providers from arrest and persecution for prescribing their patients access to cannabis. The bill would also allow “qualifying patients” that meet certain criteria, a medical card, to access cannabis sold at a compassion center. The purpose of this act is to protect patients with debilitating medical conditions, as well as their practitioners and providers, from arrest and prosecution, criminal and other penalties, and property forfeiture if such patients engage in the medical use of cannabis. Summarize the Bill: The bill will force the law to make a distinction between the medical and recreational uses of cannabis. It will protect patients with debilitating medical conditions, as well as their practitioners and providers, from arrest and...
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...THE ANATOMY OF MARIJUANA Marijuana is the dried flowers, leaves and stems of the Cannabis sativa plant. Amazing how just leaves can alter the mind. Weed is normally a green, brown, or gray color. The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta 9 tetrhydrocannabinol). THC binds to specific receptors in the brain called cannabinoid receptors. THC looks for these receptors and brain cells. Therefore marijuana mostly affects the parts of the brain that have the highest concentrations of cannabinoid receptors which are the hippocampus, the cerebellum, the basal ganglia, and the cerebral cortex. When you smoke weed, you have a difficult time learning which is because the hippocampus plays a major role in learning. This overall reaction right here gives you the high that you desire when you smoke weed. WHAT IS THE CONCRETE PURPOSE Smoking weed can relax someone and get them in a good mood. People also become drowsy, feel a sense of euphoria, and if someone is hungry they will smoke before they eat that way they get “the munchies”. Some people smoke a lot in order to feel more hallucinations. But as I said most people smoke weed because they want that high. THE MANY WAYS OF USING MARIJUANA Marijuana is most commonly smoked. Some ways you can smoke weed is in a bong, pipe, or in a joint. A bong is basically a water pipe and a joint is basically a cigarette filled with only weed. You can smoke it in a blunt which is a cigar that does not have tobacco in it, it is filled...
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...UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND NURSE PRESCRIBING V150 CASE STUDY COURSE: NURS09125 BANNER NUMBER: B00113677 DATE OF SUBMISSION 13/12/10 COURSE LEADER FRANCES DOWNER WORD COUNT: 3745 CONTENTS PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION & GENERAL OVERVIEW, Pgs3-4. 2. ASSESSMENT PROCESS, Pgs 5-8 3. TREATMENT OPTIONS, Pgs 9-12. 4. EVALUATION, Pgs 13-16 5. CONCLUSION. Pg 17 6. COPY OF PRESCRIPTION, Pg 18 7. REFERENCE SECTION, Pgs 19-23 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY, Pg 24. INTRODUCTION In the following case study, the author will discuss the issues surrounding a seventy-year-old female with a chronic neuropathic ulcer on the sole of her right foot and the rationale and implications of prescribing in the community setting. The author a (trainee nurse prescriber) will display the need for a robust assessment, exploring all areas of health and well-being in order to achieve a safe outcome. The author will further follow current guidelines and be mentored by a senior nurse prescriber throughout the process. The aim of the case study is to display the implications involved in issuing a nurse prescription if deemed appropriate. With regard to writing a prescription as a qualified practioner, the author will adhere to the guidance within the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2006a) standards for safe prescribing. To protect this patient’s identity and maintain confidentiality, she will be referred to as Mrs X throughout the...
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...Application ORIGINAL XXX 1541-5147 ARTICLES International of Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory and Standardized Nursing Languages in a Case Study of a Woman With Diabetes IJNT Malden, USAJournal Inc Blackwell Publishing of Nursing Terminologies and Classifications Application of Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory and Standardized Nursing Languages in a Case Study of a Woman with Diabetes This paper aims to illustrate the process Coleen P. Kumar, RN, MSN, CNS, is Assistant Professor of Nursing, Kingsborough Community College, Brooklyn, New York. Introduction As the average lifespan is extended, more individuals are coping with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, which has reached epidemic proportions with more than 20 million people in the United States having this diagnosis (Gordois, Scuffham, Shearer, Oglesby, & Tobian, 2003). The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that a million people will be diagnosed of diabetes every year (2004). Long-term complications of diabetes are costly to both the individual and the healthcare system. Over the past decade, diabetes research has focused on pharmacological approaches and lifestyle interventions to the illness (Odegard, Setter, & Iltz, 2006). Recent evidence in the forum of diabetes care revealed a need for healthcare professionals to assess and empower individuals in the self-management of this illness. For the purposes of this case study, health assessment by nurses was defined by Fuller and Schaller-Ayers (2000) as a process...
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...Marijuana Prohibition Marijuana prohibition in America has become a much heated debate over the past decade or so which has launched countless campaigns both for and against legalizing the plant for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, excessive propaganda has been used to distort the facts and prevent education on the matter. It may surprise you to know that 100 years ago this was not even an issue. Most people in America simply assume that marijuana was criminalized due to the result of scientific research which determined that it fell into the category of a dangerous drug. This is completely false and the history of marijuana’s criminalization is filled with fear and corrupt legislation. The laws that were created as a result were made for the wrong reasons using false evidence. Despite what the opposition says, legalizing marijuana is beneficial to everyone for several reasons: it is a healthier alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, it will free the court system and jails from unnecessary time and expenses, and it will create a substantial source of revenue for the country. For nearly a century, health care personnel and government officials have stressed the potentially dangerous side effects of marijuana usage. Currently marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. (NIDA, 2010) Marijuana is the dried flowers that come from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol which...
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...fibroids sometime during their lives, but most are unaware of them because they often cause no symptoms. Your doctor may discover fibroids incidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound. In general, uterine fibroids seldom require treatment. Medical therapy and surgical procedures can shrink or remove fibroids if you have discomfort or troublesome symptoms. Rarely, fibroids can require emergency treatment if they cause sudden, sharp pelvic pain or profuse menstrual bleeding. Symptoms In women who have symptoms, the most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include: * Heavy menstrual bleeding * Prolonged menstrual periods — seven days or more of menstrual bleeding * Pelvic pressure or pain * Frequent urination * Difficulty emptying your bladder * Constipation * Backache or leg pains Rarely, a fibroid can cause acute pain when it outgrows its blood supply. Deprived of nutrients, the fibroid begins to die. Byproducts from a degenerating fibroid can seep into surrounding tissue, causing pain and fever. A fibroid that hangs by a stalk inside or outside the uterus...
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