NURS 6630 Week 10: Therapy for Clients with Dementia

Get NURS 6630 Week 10: Therapy for Clients with Dementia essay assignment

NURS 6630 Week 10: Therapy for Clients with Dementia essay assignment

NURS 6630: Psychopharmacologic Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology | Week 10 essay assignment

In so many countries, to be old is shameful; to be mentally ill as well as old is doubly shameful. In so many countries, people with elderly relatives who are also mentally ill are ashamed and try to hide what they see as a disgrace on the family.

—Dr. Nori Graham, psychiatrist and honorary vice president of Alzheimer’s Disease International

In this quote, Dr. Graham is expressing her observations and experiences in her work with numerous international organizations. Many patients and their families experience feelings of anxiety and shame upon receiving a diagnosis of dementia. Lynda Hogg, an Alzheimer’s patient, shares her feelings that “some people don’t want to be associated with someone with an illness affecting the brain” (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2012). As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner providing care to clients presenting with dementia, it is critically important to consider the impact of these disorders on clients, caregivers, and their families. A thorough understanding of the health implications of these disorders, as well as each client’s personal concerns, will aid you in making effective treatment and management decisions.

This week, you explore strategies to become a social change agent for psychiatric mental health. Then, as you examine the assessment and treatment of clients with dementia, you also consider related ethical and legal implications.

NURS 6630 Week 10: Therapy for Clients with Dementia essay assignment

Discussion: Influencing Social Change essay assignment

Individuals with psychiatric mental health disorders are frequently stigmatized not only by society as a whole, but also by their friends, family, and sometimes healthcare providers. In your role, however, you have the opportunity to become a social change agent for these individuals. For this Discussion, consider how you might make a positive impact for your clients and advocate for social change within your own community.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Apply strategies to become a social change agent for psychiatric mental health

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Reflect on how you might influence social change for psychiatric mental health.

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 “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

By Day 3

Post an explanation of how you, as a nurse practitioner, might become a social change agent for psychiatric mental health. Include how you might advocate for change within your own community.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues by providing additional insights or alternative perspectives.

Assignment: Assessing and Treating Clients With Dementia essay assignment

The Alzheimer’s Association defines dementia as “a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life” (Alzheimer’s Association, 2016). This term encompasses dozens of cognitive disorders of impaired memory formation, recall, and communication. The care and treatment of clients with dementia is dependent on multiple factors, including the stage of dementia, comorbidities, family support, and even the care setting. In your role, as the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, you must be prepared to not only treat clients with these various cognitive disorders, but also the multiple behavioral issues that often accompany them. For this Assignment, as you examine the client case study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat clients presenting with dementia.

Reference: Alzheimer’s Association. (2016). What is dementia? Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Assess client factors and history to develop personalized therapy plans for clients with dementia
• Analyze factors that influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in clients requiring therapy for dementia
• Evaluate efficacy of treatment plans
• Analyze ethical and legal implications related to prescribing therapy for clients with dementia