Unintentional Weight Loss Assessment
Describe your clinical experience for this week.
- Did you face any challenges, any success? If so, what were they?
- Describe the assessment of a patient, detailing the signs and symptoms (S&S), assessment, plan of care, and at least 3 possible differential diagnosis with rationales.
- Mention the health promotion intervention for this patient.
- What did you learn from this week’s clinical experience that can beneficial for you as an advanced practice nurse?
- Support your plan of care with the current peer-reviewed research guideline.
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Submission Instructions:
- Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources. Your initial post is worth 8 points.
Unintentional Weight Loss Assessment
Clinical Experience – Week Reflection
This week’s clinical experience was both enriching and challenging, as I encountered a patient presenting with non-specific yet concerning symptoms that required comprehensive assessment and critical thinking. I was assigned to a 54-year-old male patient who presented to the primary care clinic with complaints of fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and intermittent abdominal discomfort. This encounter provided valuable insights into the importance of a thorough evaluation and the consideration of multiple differential diagnoses.
Challenges and Successes
One of the primary challenges this week was narrowing down a broad list of potential diagnoses based on vague symptoms. Fatigue and weight loss can be attributed to a variety of conditions, from endocrine disorders to malignancy. Collaborating with my preceptor, I had to use a structured approach to collect a detailed history, perform a focused physical exam, and order relevant diagnostic tests. The success came when my preceptor commended me for my detailed documentation and accurate use of clinical reasoning in narrowing the differential diagnoses. I felt more confident in applying theoretical knowledge to real-world decision-making.
