NURS 6630 Week 10 Therapy for Clients with Dementia 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 Discussion: Influencing Social Change

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.

NURS 6630 Week 10 Assignment: Assessing and Treating Clients With Dementia

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.

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

The Assignment

Examine Case Study: An Elderly Iranian Man With Alzheimer’s Disease. You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this client. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the client’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.

At each decision point stop to complete the following:
- Decision #1
  - Which decision did you select?
  - Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  - What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  - Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #1 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
- Decision #2
  - Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  - What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  - Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #2 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
- Decision #3
  - Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  - What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.
  - Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #3 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?
Also include how ethical considerations might impact your treatment plan and communication with clients.

Note: Support your rationale with a minimum of three academic resources. While you may use the course text to support your rationale, it will not count toward the resource requirement.

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