Case Study Analysis

Scenario 1: A 49-year-old patient with rheumatoid arthritis comes into the clinic with a chief complaint of a fever. Patient’s current medications include atorvastatin 40 mg at night, methotrexate 10 mg po every Friday morning and prednisone 5 mg po qam. He states that he has had a fever up to 101 degrees F for about a week and admits to chills and sweats. He says he has had more fatiguethan usual and reports some chest pain associated with coughing. He admits to having occasional episodes of hemoptysis. He works as a grain inspector at a large farm cooperative. After extensive work-up, the patient was diagnosed with Invasive aspergillosis.

An understanding of cells and cell behavior is a critically important component of disease diagnosis and treatment. But some diseases can be complex in nature, with a variety of factors and circumstances impacting their emergence and severity.

Effective disease analysis often requires an understanding that goes beyond isolated cell behavior. Genes, the environments in which cell processes operate, the impact of patient characteristics, and racial and ethnic variables all can have an important impact.

An understanding of the signals and symptoms of alterations in cellular processes is a critical step in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. For APRNs, this understanding can also help educate patients and guide them through their treatment plans. In this Assignment, you examine a case study and analyze the symptoms presented. You identify a cell, gene, and/or process elements that may be factors in the diagnosis, and you explain the implications to patient health.

To prepare:

By Day 1 of this week, you will be assigned to a specific case study for this Case Study Assignment. Please see the “Course Announcements” section of the classroom for your assignment from your Instructor.

The Assignment (1- to 2-page case study analysis)

Develop a 1- to 2-page case study analysis in which you:

· Explain why you think the patient presented the symptoms described.

· Identify the genes that may be associated with the development of the disease.

· Explain the process of immunosuppression and the effect it has on body systems.

Reminder: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, citations and references. The sample paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available