Many patient symptoms can be tied to multiple disorders, which may lead to misdiagnoses. For instance, consider two digestive disorders of the gastrointestinal tract—inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. These two disorders are commonly confused because they present similar symptoms. As an advanced practice nurse, you must know the differences to properly diagnose and treat the disorders. How does the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease compare to the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome? How do treatments for the two disorders compare?

To prepare:

·         Review Chapter 34 in the Huether and McCance text and Chapter 13 in the McPhee and Hammer text.

·         Identify the pathophysiological mechanisms of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Think about similarities and differences between the disorders.

·         Consider common treatments for inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Reflect on whether treatments for one disorder would work for the other disorder.

·         Select one of the following patient factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Reflect on how the factor you selected might impact the pathophysiology of and treatments for each disorder.

Questions to be addressed in my paper:

1.     An explanation of the pathophysiological mechanisms of inflammatory bowel disorder and irritable bowel syndrome, including similarities and differences.

2.     Then describe common treatments, addressing whether treatments for one disorder would work for the other disorder.

3.     Finally, explain how the patient factor you selected (Select one of the following patient factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior) might impact the pathophysiology of and treatments for each disorder.

4.     Summary with Conclusion

REMINDERS:

1)      2-3 pages (addressing the 4 questions above excluding the title page and reference page).

2)      Kindly follow APA format for the citation and references! References should be between the period of 2011 and 2016. Please utilize the references at least three below as much as possible and the rest from yours.

3)     Make headings for each question.

Readings

·         Huether, S. E., & McCance, K. L. (2012). Understanding pathophysiology (Laureate custom ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

o    Chapter 33, “Structure and Function of the Digestive System”

This chapter provides information relating to the structure and function of the digestive system. It covers the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs of digestion.

o    Chapter 34, “Alterations of Digestive Function”

This chapter presents information relating to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs of digestion. It also covers the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, evaluation, and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.

o    Chapter 35, “Alterations of Digestive Function in Children”

This chapter presents information relating to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver that affect children. It focuses on congenital impairment, inflammatory disorders, metabolic disorders, as well as the impairment of digestion, absorption, and nutrition.

·         McPhee, S. J., & Hammer, G. D. (2010). Pathophysiology of disease: An introduction to clinical medicine (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Medical.

o    Chapter 13, “Gastrointestinal Disease”

This chapter provides a foundation for exploring gastrointestinal disorders by reviewing the structure and function of the GI tract. It also describes mechanisms of regulation of GI tract disorders such as acid-peptic disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. 

o    Chapter 14, “Liver Disease”

This chapter reviews the structure and function of the liver. It then explores the clinical presentation, etiology, pathogenesis, pathology, and clinical manifestations of three liver disorders: acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, and cirrhosis.

o    Chapter 15, “Disorders of the Exocrine Pancreas”

This chapter begins by reviewing the anatomy, histology, and physiology of the exocrine pancreas. It then examines the clinical presentation, etiology, pathology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic insufficiency, and pancreatic cancer.

·         Gasiorowska, A., Poh, C. H., & Fass, R. (2009). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—Is it one disease or an overlap of two disorders? Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 54(9), 1829–1834. 
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. 

This article examines the similarities between gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome. It focuses on symptoms presented in patients with the disorders, as well as management and treatment options.

Media

·         Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012c). The gastrointestinal system. Baltimore, MD: Author.

This media presentation outlines the pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal system and associated alterations. 

·         American Liver Foundation (2011). Retrieved from http://www.liverfoundation.org/

·         National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. (2012). Retrieved fromhttp://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/index.aspx

Write a response for each discussion.

Loutsch, 2.1

Topic: Stress reduction

Question: Is individual therapy as effective as physical activity to reduce overall stress?

Variables:

Dependent Variable: Stress

Independent Variable: Treatment method: physical activity or individual therapy.

Operational Definitions:

Physical activity: Three 45 minute sessions of physical activity per week where the heart rate is maintained between 50-80% of the maximum heart rate.

Individual Therapy: One 45 minute session of individual therapy per week with a licensed certified individual counselor with focus on stress management/reduction.

Stress: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) which measures the degree to which situations in one’s life are appraised as stressful.

Conceptual definition:

Stress:   A physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.

When looking at the research to determine if conceptual definitions or operational definitions are of greater importance, it is my stance that operational definitions are more important.  Although conceptual definitions are critical to give understanding of what meaning you are focusing on when there are often many meanings of the word “stress”, the operational definition will shed light on exactly what is being measured and how stress is being assessed in the particular research project.  “Operationally defining a variable helps others replicate and expand upon your study.” (Efford, 2017, p. 30).  Efford (2017) goes on to note that if a term is operationally defined it will allow for the reader and replicator of a study to know that they are studying the same thing as the research project that is being considered.

Parker 2.1

COLLAPSE

Topic: Alternative treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Research Question: Does eliminating gluten offer the same results as popular medications for alleviating the symptoms of ADHD?

Independent Variable: Gluten Free diet

Dependent Variable: ADHD

Conceptual Definitions:

According to Meriam-Webster Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most common pediatric psychiatric condition, estimated to affect 2 percent to 9 percent of American children, mostly boys.—Susan Gilbert, The New York Times, 16 Sept. 1997

A Gluten Free Diet is described by Vocabulary.com as: a diet prescribed to treat celiac disease; eliminates such foods as wheat and rye and oats and beans and cabbage and turnips and cucumbers that are rich in gluten (vocabulary.com, n.d.)

Operational Definitions

Gluten Free Diet: The FDA has established the following guidelines for consumers to better be able to determine truly gluten free foods from questionable others. For the purposes of this research a “gluten free diet” will be a diet consistently free of any of the following items (FDA.gov, 2017).

-an ingredient that is any type of wheat, rye, barley, or crossbreeds of these grains

-an ingredient derived from these grains and that has not been processed to remove   gluten

-an ingredient derived from these grains and that has been processed to remove gluten, if it results in the food containing 20 or more parts per million (ppm) gluten

The DSM-V describes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as : A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development (DSM-V, 2013.)

ADHD Symptoms: ADHD Rating Scale IV (ADHD-RS-IV) for children and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale for adults.

Utilizing my limited knowledge thus far and viewing other’s research, I would have to choose Operational Definitions as most helpful simply because there is more detailed information which is crucial in replicating and understanding the research.

The Health Care Scene: Contemporary Trends

As health care leaders, it is important to understand that health care is quite a dynamic field. Its constant changes are a result of continuing trends in regulation, policy, patient and provider advocacy efforts, as well as increasingly sophisticated technology and industry benchmarking guidelines.
    
For your assignment you review the possible topics for your Senior Project located in Week Five of your online course or in the “Components of Course Evaluation” section of this guide, and select the topic your training program will address. If you choose not to select a topic from the approved topic list, you must have your original topic approved by your instructor prior to submitting this assignment.

For this assignment, focus on a specific contemporary trend in health care and be sure to include all of the following influences:

• Changes in client characteristics
• Regulation of the health care industry
• Reimbursement patterns and mandates
• Restructuring of health care organizations
• Impact of technology
• Ongoing social and ethical factors

Address the information above as it pertains to your selected topic, in an eight to ten slide (excluding title and reference slides) PowerPoint presentation.

Your presentation should conclude with a summary describing the following concerns:

• Overall, why should health care managers be aware of this change and trend?
• What impact does this trend have on the stakeholder groups involved (e.g., patients, providers, administrators, third-party payers, legislators, etc.) for a specific organization specified (e.g., for profit, nonprofit, hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, etc.).

The information in this presentation will later be used as part of your Senior Project to set the context for the audience you select for a training program on the contemporary trend identified here.

Your presentation must include detailed speaker’s notes (i.e., at least 150 words) for each slide as well as a minimum of one to two scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library and one to two current, scholarly web sources.

Your presentation, and any citations used, must be in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Examples of scholarly web sources are available in this week’s recommended websites. These sources will also count toward the required sources for your Senior Project. Your presentation must be engaging and relevant to your audience. Lines of text on a slide will not be sufficient for this assignment. It should contain images, graphics, and/or multimedia that communicate your training program clearly to your audience. For tips on creating an excellent presentation, read this overview

Senior Project

To start, select one of the following approved topics for your Senior Project. You may also have a topic of your choice approved by the instructor in Week One.  Many of the approved topics have specific subtopics outlined and, while these topics are not all-inclusive, they do provide insight into specific areas to consider.

Approved Topics:

1. Examine how participative leadership functions in today’s modern health care organization and compare it to other types of leadership styles. Evaluate how each type of leadership style may impact organizational culture, employee performance, and how it may help or hinder the legitimacy of authority.
2. As an administrator, address the challenges of employee recruitment and retention of health care professionals. Additional subtopics may include trends in the nursing workforce, shortage of primary care physicians, staff turnover, retention, and staffing patterns.
3. Analyze the dual role of a manager and healthcare professional. Examine challenges that the health professional compared to those of a non-health professional, may face in terms of leadership style, and the impact these challenges have on organizational culture. The benefits of a health professional manager as an organizational resource may also be included. Explore the career trends of health professionals in organizational leadership positions, such as the types of health professional training that leaders tend to have in common, and the typical demographic background of health professional managers.
4. The health care industry must anticipate and monitor trends that could possibly affect its overall survival. Analyze how regulation of the health care industry impacts a health care organization. Explore some of the possible survival organizational strategies such as, but not limited to, mergers, and affiliations, achieving accreditation status, professional licensure.
5. Analyze the impact of technology on how health care services are delivered. The impact of technology on employee performance, organizational structure, and management planning may also be considered.
6. Analyze the impact of any recent social and/or ethical trends on the health care industry. Discuss at least two issues.

After identifying your topic, choose a health care organization in your area. This organization may be small or large and may provide single inpatient health service or multiple outpatient services; it is your choice. Consider your topic in light of the leadership of this organization and research the challenges and successes it has faced in managing operational effectiveness.  You are welcome to use as many research methods as possible to obtain information for your organization and its managers (e.g., web-based resources, electronic articles, or personal interviews). The more informed you are, the better prepared you will be to complete your project.  

Finally, develop a management training program that includes relevant guidelines and information to combat the issues identified in the selected topic, as well as recommendations for managers to more effectively lead health care organizations. Your training program should be in the form of a 20 to 25 slide PowerPoint presentation (excluding title and reference slides) that includes comprehensive speaker’s notes (i.e., at least 150 words) for each slide. Utilize at least three to five scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library and two to three current, scholarly web sources (total of five to eight references required). All sources must be cited according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Your presentation must be engaging and relevant to your audience. Lines of text on a slide will not be sufficient for this project. It should contain at least five images, graphics, and/or multimedia that communicate your training clearly to your audience. For tips on creating an excellent presentation, read this overview.

Creating the Senior Project

The Senior Project:

1. Must be 20 to 25 PowerPoint slides (excluding title and reference slides) in length. There are 20 content criteria worth a total of 10 points.  
2. Must include a title slide that contains the following:
   1. Title of project
   2. Your name
   3. Course name and number
   4. Instructor’s name
   5. Date submitted
3. Must include an introduction with a succinct thesis statement.
4. Must address the topic of the project with critical thought in the areas of:
   1. Organization details
   2. Challenges and opportunities
   3. Training program outcomes
   4. Impact on at least three stakeholder groups involved delineated by cost, quality, and access to service
   5. Suggested actions
5. Must include a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
6. Must use at least five supporting graphics (images, graphics, and/ or multimedia) are included and relevant communicating the training content (two points).
7. Must include speaker’s notes that have evidence of critical thinking and application (content analysis, synthesis, evaluation) related to the research methodology used to develop (six points):
   1. Project content
   2. Practical and relevant solutions to the organizational challenges/opportunities
   3. Appropriate evaluation of individual stakeholder groups involved
8. Must use at least three to five scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library and two to three current, scholarly web sources.
9. Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
10. Must include a separate reference slide, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

This assignment will assess Competency 3: Examine racial and national origin discrimination within the workplace.

Analyze the five scenarios listed below using the law you have learned thus far.  Each analysis should be no less than 150 words in length and follow these guidelines:

Double-spaced 12-point Times font One inch margins APA format (Title page, Citations, Reference page) Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Scenarios

Anne is employed by Bradley Contracting Co. Bradley has a 1.3 million dollar contract to build a small group of outbuildings in a national park. Anne alleges that Bradley Contracting has discriminated against her, in that she has not been promoted to skilled craft positions with Bradley because it thinks that it is inappropriate for women to be in skilled craft position and that most of the male skilled craft workers are very much against having women in such positions. Knowing that Bradley Contracting Co. has a contract with the federal government, Anne brings suit against Bradley under Executive Order 11246 for gender discrimination. Will she be successful? Why or why not? Maria Cardenas, a Latina woman, worked for Aramark as a housekeeper at McCormick Place convention center for over 20 years. It was a long-standing rule for employees that they could not remove any items from a trade show for personal use, even if an exhibitor gave them away. Employees found in violation of this rule would be immediately fired. In October 2004, Cardenas and a co-worker, Juanita Williams, were stopped by a security guard who noticed them carrying food items away from a convention that had just ended. Both employees were discharged, but Williams was later reinstated because she was a newer employee and allegedly had been told by Cardenas that it was okay to take the items in question. Cardenas filed a national origin discrimination suit against Aramark. What does Cardenas need to show to prove that her termination was in violation of Title VII, and how might Aramark defend its decision if she states a prima facie case? Sam has worked at Allied for several years with no problems. Avril is transferred into Sam’s unit. Sam immediately begins having a strong allergic reaction to the perfume Avril wears each day. After having to take days off work because of his allergies, Sam asks Avril if she can tone down her perfume. Avril does so for a few days, then resumes her usual amount. Sam does not complain any further but is thinking of quitting because his allergies are so bad. He doesn’t want to go any further with Avril about it because Sam is white and Avril is Asian, and Sam thinks it might lead to a race discrimination liability for his employer. Is Sam correct? A white college receptionist is fired when it is found that she told a black college applicant that the applications for admissions are distinguished by race by the notation of a small RH in the corner of black applicants’ applications. “RH,” she says, is her supervisor’s term for “raisin heads,” which he calls African-Americans. Is the employee entitled to reinstatement? A white, non-Latino meat cutter was fired by his supermarket employer and replaced with a Latino worker for reasons he believes were racially motivated. Can he sue the company for national origin discrimination? Is it possible to commit national origin discrimination by favoring a Latino person over a white, non-Latino person? If so, what would the terminated employee need to prove to satisfy a prima facie case and then to succeed overall?