| Hello Class, We have reached the final week of the class. This week we will be wrapping up with miscellaneous diagnostic tests and studies.During your review of the Module 12 materials, please pay attention to the following key concepts: Culture/Sensitivity, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Testing for Alcoholism, Skin Biopsy, & Blood Smears. The content from this week will be included on Quiz #3 which will open on Fri., November 19, 2021 at 7AM ET and will close on Mon., November 22, 2021 at 11:59PM ET. Also, I kindly ask that you please take the time to fill out the course evaluation as it helps the department update the course from year to year. It also helps me to understand how I can better help my students in upcoming semesters. As always do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns! |
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| Module XI | Nov 8, 2021 12:01 AM | – |
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| Hello Everyone,
Module 11 will focus on hematologic and cancer studies. The majority of the content will focus on the following: different types of anemia and ways to diagnose them; clotting factors; and select cancer markers. Throughout your review of the Module XI content, please pay attention to the following key concepts: serum iron, serum ferritin, complete blood count with differential, mean inhibitory concentration, d-Dimer, prothrombin time (PT), internationalized normal ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), & serum tumor markers. Thank you all for your hard work on your clinical notes! I will be working diligently over the next 2 weeks to grade them and release the grades to all of you. Please see the below file, which is a review of the key concepts for Modules XI and XII. Modules 11 & 12 Concepts Review As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! |
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| Quiz 2 Review (dismissed) | Nov 2, 2021 9:00 PM | – |
| Class, The Quiz 2 average for your section was 85.19%. Please take some time to listen to the Quiz 2 review below. It will be available until Fri., 11/5/21 at 11:59PM ET. Please reach out with any questions you may have. |
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| Module X | Nov 1, 2021 9:03 AM | – |
| Module X and Clinical Note
Module X will focus on Reproductive Studies, primarily the female reproductive system. These include hormone levels, imaging studies, and specialized testing like the DEXA scan and colposcopy. During your review of the Module X content, please pay particular attention to the following key concepts: Papanicolaou test with Bethesda System for reporting results, Mammogram, Breast Ultrasound, Pregnancy testing (HCG), Fetal Biophysical Profile, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing, Fetal Non-Stress Test, Colposcopy, Progesterone lab test, Estrogen lab test, Prolactin lab test. Please see the Reproductive (Module X) Review that I have posted under Module X Content and that is linked here: Module X- Reproductive Review Please remember that your clinical note is due by Sunday, November 7, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET. You must submit the note through Turn It In. Remember that your similarity score should be <25% and should be appropriately cited per APA guidelines. I understand that some of the clinical note formatting may appear as “similar” and therefore I will take that into consideration when reviewing the clinical notes and the Turn It In scores. Please include a title page and a reference list. There is no need to include an abstract. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Have a great week, |
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| Module IX (dismissed) | Oct 25, 2021 12:01 AM | – |
| Hello Class,
Module IX will focus on diagnostic studies of the nervous system. Several diagnostic studies will be reviewed this week including but not limited to: EEG, lumbar puncture, carotid duplex, CT scans, MRI. These studies are helpful in diagnosing disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. During your review of the Neurologic content please pay special attention to the following key concepts: MRI of the brain, MRA, EEG, lumbar puncture, CT of the brain, CT with myelogram, Nerve conduction studies, blood testing to rule in/rule out dementia, and Spinal x-rays. Please remember that your clinical note is due by the end of Module X – I posted an announcement and a video earlier in the week with the requirements/expectations for the clinical note. Please also see the below link on a review of key concepts for Module IX. |
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| Clinical Note (dismissed) | Oct 18, 2021 8:26 PM | – |
| Class, Please remember that your clinical note is due by the end of Module X (due by Sunday, November 7, 2020 at 11:59 PM ET). You must submit the note through Turn It In. Remember that your similarity score should be <25% and should be appropriately cited per APA guidelines. There is no need to include an abstract, but it should include a title page and reference page(s) per APA format. I have linked the detailed instructions and sample format for the clinical note to this post. I have also posted a video below regarding the expectations of the clinical note. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.Clinical Note Guidelines |
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| Quiz #2 (dismissed) | Oct 17, 2021 8:07 PM | – |
| Hello Class, I hope you enjoyed your break from discussions during Week 7 of the course. There is an assigned discussion post this week on the GI content (Week #8).Please remember that Quiz #2 will open Friday, October 22, 2021 at 7AM ET and will close on Monday, October 25, 2021 at 11:59PM ET. The material for Quiz #2 will include information from the Pulmonary, Cardiovascular, and Gastrointestinal/Hepatic Modules. We are over halfway through this course! Keep pressing forward! Please reach out if you have any questions. Best, |
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| Modules VII and VIII (dismissed) | Oct 11, 2021 12:01 AM | – |
| Module VI Wrap-Up
During Module VI the class was asked to discuss a case study of a 56-year old male with hypertension. Hypertension is a growing concern worldwide. Please see the article below on the unique role of nurses and nurse practitioners in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hypertension both in the United States and across the globe. Expanding the Role of Nurses to Improve Hypertension Care Modules VII & VIII This week we will start our review of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems. We will spend two weeks on this content as there are many diagnostic studies to review. We will review lab tests (i.e. liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, etc.). We will go over several different types of imaging studies (x-ray, ultrasound), nuclear studies, endoscopic studies, stool testing, fluid analysis, and miscellaneous testing. Please be sure to take the time to review all of the studies listed in these modules, as many will appear on Quiz #2. Please see the following Review of Key Concepts: Modules VII and VIII- GI Review During your review of the Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary content please pay special attention to the following key concepts: CT of abdomen/pelvis, stool testing (C. Diff, ova/parasite, occult blood), amylase, lipase, Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), liver function tests, ERCP, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, upper endoscopy, barium swallow x-ray, and testing for H. Pylori. Please note: There is NO DISCUSSION POST for Week 7 of the course. The discussion post is DUE DURING WEEK 8 of the course. Early posts will NOT be accepted or graded. Please continue to work on APA formatting for your discussion posts as it is part of the discussion post rubric, and will also be necessary for the upcoming clinical note that is due during Week 10 of the course. Thanks, Prof. Kane |
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| Discussion Posts (dismissed) | Oct 5, 2021 9:13 PM | – |
| I have just finished grading your Module IV discussions and will be moving onto the Module V posts.
Moving forward please take note of the following: – WebMD is NOT a peer reviewed source, and therefore continued use of this source will result in greater point deductions. While WebMD is a website that provides a lot of useful information, it is not a peer reviewed/scholarly source. – Posts must be a minimum of 150 words (of narrative text). Citations in the reference list do NOT count toward the 150 word minimum. Initial posts must be posted by Wednesday of the academic week at 11:59PM ET and replies must be posted by Sunday of the academic week by 11:59PM ET. – Continued APA errors moving forward will result in greater point reductions. Please take the feedback I have provided and use it to improve your APA formatting. Incorrect APA formatting puts writers/students at risk of plagiarism. If you submitted your Module VI post (cardiovascular) and believe you made APA errors, you can edit and post a reply with your corrected references. If you would like additional help on APA formatting, refer to the APA manual or please email me and I would be happy to copy your post into a Word Document to provide detailed corrections for you. Thanks, Prof. Kane |
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| Module VI (dismissed) | Oct 4, 2021 12:01 AM | – |
| As we end Module V, please be sure to see my discussion post on the Module V discussion board. There is an excellent reference that will be helpful as you prepare for your next quiz!
Module VI will address important diagnostic studies to assess and evaluate the cardiovascular system. We will explore diagnostic studies to diagnose conditions such as: deep vein thromboses, peripheral arterial disease, myocardial infarction, dyslipidemia, heart failure, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and hypertension. Throughout your review of the Module VI content, please pay attention to the following key concepts: Measurement of blood pressure (criteria for diagnosis of hypertension), Holter Monitor, Lipid Profile, Venous Doppler (Duplex), Arterial Doppler, Ankle/Brachial Index, Tests to diagnose acute myocardial infarction (Creatinine kinase, troponins, electrocardiography [EKG]), Echocardiogram, Cardiac stress test, Natriuretic Peptides. Please see the below link with additional information for this module: |
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| Quiz 1 Review (dismissed) | Sep 28, 2021 9:10 PM | – |
| Hello Class, Below you will find an audio recording of the Quiz 1 Review. Your class average was 90.69% – Well done! The quiz review will only be available until Sun., 10/3/2021 at 11:59PM. After this date, you will not be able to listen to the recording. Thanks, Prof. Kane |
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| Module V (dismissed) | Sep 27, 2021 12:01 AM | – |
| I am continuing to work on grading your Diabetes discussion posts. Thank you for your patience as I try to provide you with a lot of feedback in the first few weeks. I should have them all graded by Tuesday of this week.
Module V Module V will introduce diagnostic tests that help us to examine the pulmonary/respiratory system. Endoscopic testing, chest x-ray, testing for tuberculosis, and testing for sleep apnea are just some of the concepts that will be reviewed this week. This week’s case study will focus on the diagnosis and management of COPD. Always remember that a thorough H&P is vital in the care of any patient! Throughout your review of the Module V Materials, please pay attention to the following key concepts: Pulmonary Function Tests/Spirometry, Polysomnography, Screening and Testing for Tuberculosis, Bronchoscopy, Pleural Tap, Diagnosis of Influenza, Diagnosis and Management of Pulmonary Emboli, Pleural Tap, Ventilation/Perfusion Scan, CT Scan, Chest X-ray. Later this week I will also post an exam review. Please watch for the link to the exam review in the “Announcements.” Please see the below link with a review of some of the highlights of the Module V content. |
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| Module IV (dismissed) | Sep 20, 2021 12:01 AM | – |
| Module III Wrap-up
As we finish up Module III, if you haven’t already, be sure to look at the thyroid disorder handout and my discussion thread on the Module III discussion post. These are some things that you should review as you prepare for Quiz #1. Diabetes mellitus is a complex disorder that requires prompt diagnosis and appropriate management to minimize the risk of complications. Module IV During Module IV diagnostic studies related to the skeletal and immunologic systems will be reviewed. We will discuss laboratory studies related to immunologic and rheumatology conditions. Imaging studies as they relate to the skeletal system will also be reviewed. Throughout your review of the Module 4 materials, please pay attention to the following key concepts: Bone X-rays, Bone Densitometry/Density (DEXA) Scans, Vitamin D and Calcium Levels, Tests Used to Diagnose/Monitor Rheumatoid Arthritis (Antinuclear Antibody, Rheumatoid Factor, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), HIV Testing, and Arthroscopy. The materials from this module WILL BE INCLUDED on Quiz #1. Please remember that Quiz #1 will open on Fri., Sept. 24, 2021 at 7AM ET and will close on Mon., Sept. 27, 2021 at 11:59PM ET. Please remember to use the RPNow Software to take the quiz. The quiz study guide is available under the “Course Resources” section. I also recommend you go back through my weekly announcements and review the “Key Concepts” that I have identified for each module. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. |
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| Discussion Grades and APA Formatting (dismissed) | Sep 19, 2021 9:08 PM | – |
| Hello Class, Grades for the Module II Discussion Post have been entered into the “Grades” section of the course. This week I was lenient with grading especially in regard to APA, grammatical, spelling, and typographical errors. I took the time to provide a great deal of feedback on errors in the posts (please see the attached word documents in the feedback section of your grades). Please take the time to read the comments. It is my expectation that you will correct these errors moving forward and improve as the course goes on. I will be deducting more points moving forward if these errors persist. It is expected that your discussion posts are written at a scholarly, graduate level. They should be grammatically correct and be free of typographical errors. APA formatting is important to the nursing profession and our contribution to research. APA formatting also protects you from plagiarism, if sources are not appropriately credited in your work, there is always the risk of plagiarism. Please remember we are using the APA 7th Edition Manual.Some reminders include: -Discussion posts are required to be 150 words at a minimum. -You must use peer-reviewed scholarly references that were written in the last 5-7 years. -Please avoid the overuse of direct quotations. The majority of your posts should include paraphrases of peer-reviewed works to display your understanding of the sources. -Please review capitalization and italics guidelines for article and journal titles in the reference list (p. 317 of APA Manual 7th ed.). -Please review correct in text citations of works by multiple authors which has changed in APA 7th edition(p. 266 of APA Manual 7th ed.). -Please review reference list citations of 2 works by the same author with the same date (p. 267 of APA Manual 7th ed.). -Please review that periodical/journal names and volume numbers should italicized (p. 317 of APA Manual 7th edition). -Per APA 7th edition, no longer use “doi:” or “retrieved from”, instead just use a hyperlink or web address (p. 317 and p. 351 of APA Manual 7th ed.). -Please review proper protocols for abbreviations (must define each abbreviation in text). Do not use abbreviations in reference list. For any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You will also find helpful information regarding APA 7th edition formatting at: Owl at Purdue |
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| Review guides for the upcoming 3 quizzes can be found in the “Quiz Study Guides” folder of the course. Please remember these are guides to help you focus your studies and are not all-encompassing of what will be included on the quizzes. Each quiz typically consists of 25-30 questions, and the questions are typically a mix of multiple choice and true/false questions.
I recommend you review the content listed on the study guide, the key concepts that I post at the beginning of each module in the “Announcements” section, and you read my discussion posts and comments/questions to students on the discussion boards in preparation for the quizzes. The questions you will find on the quizzes will be similar to questions you may see on your boards. They are higher-level, critical thinking questions. Although it is NOT required, it may be helpful to invest in an exam-review book to practice these types of questions. You will make good use of a review book, especially if you are in the Adult-Gerontology or Family NP programs. Quizzes will open on Fridays at 7:00AM ET and will close on Mondays at 11:59PM ET. Please remember your first quiz will open on Fri., 9/24/2021 at 7AM and will close on Mon., 9/27/2021 at 11:59PM ET. I recommend that you do not wait until the last minute to take the quiz in case there are software glitches. Please also remember that you must utilize ProctorNow (RPNow) software for the quizzes. The practice quiz is still open. It is not a graded quiz, but I recommend you take the practice quiz to test the software with your computer. |
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| Module II Wrap-up During Module II we reviewed urologic studies. In regard to the discussion post, please remember that a CT scan is considered the gold standard of imaging for kidney, bladder, and ureteral stones. I will work on grading your discussion posts this week. I will try to copy your initial posts/replies into Word documents so that I can make corrections as indicated so that you have thorough feedback. Please review the feedback, it is expected that you will continue to improve upon your mistakes every week. While grading will be lenient on the first few discussions, if improvement is not noted more points will be deducted as the course goes on.Module III Module III of the course will focus on diagnostic studies used to diagnose conditions dealing with the endocrine system. This is one of my favorite weeks of this course because I have practiced in outpatient endocrinology for the last 6 years! This week you will learn about diagnostic studies pertaining to diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, adrenal disorders, and parathyroid disorders. I will also post a handout on thyroid disorders in the “Course Resources” section. I think you will find it helpful as you prepare for your exam. Throughout your review of the Module 3 materials, please pay attention to the following key concepts: Thyroid Nodule Diagnosis/Imaging and Biopsy, Interpretation of Thyroid Function Tests, Tests used to Diagnose and Monitor Diabetes Mellitus (i.e., Hemoglobin A1C, Fasting Blood Glucose, Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests), Pertinence of Microalbuminuria in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus, Serum Hormone Levels (i.e, cortisol, ACTH, Parathyroid Hormone, Insulin and C-Peptide levels). I look forward to reading your discussion posts this week! As always please reach out to me with any questions you may have. Prof. Kane |
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| During Module 2 of the course we will be learning about diagnostic testing for the urinary and renal systems. The content for this week will include ultrasound, radiologic, laboratory, and microscopic studies for the diagnosis of urinary and renal disorders. Although diagnostic testing is important in ascertaining a diagnosis, never forget to utilize your history taking and physical assessment skills in practice!
Throughout your review of the Module 2 materials, please pay attention to the following key concepts: Testing to Diagnose and Manage Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Imaging Studies Specific to the Kidneys and Bladder, Diagnosis and Management of Kidney Stones, Diagnosis and Management of Urinary Tract Infections, Interpretation of Urinalysis and Urine Culture/Sensitivity, Urine Toxicology Testing, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), and Serum Carbon Dioxide (bicarbonate) Level. This week you will complete your first graded discussion post. If you have not done so already, please review the grading rubric and requirements for discussion posts (found in the course resources section and my introductory video). A minimum of 150 words per post, APA formatting according to APA 7th edition, 2 peer-reviewed references from the last 5-7 years (other than your text book), and scholarly writing mechanics are required for all discussion posts moving forward. Please remember discussions posted prior to Monday at 12:01AM ET will NOT be accepted or graded. You must post your initial post by Wednesday at 11:59PM ET and you must reply to another student/faculty member by Sunday at 11:59PM ET. I look forward to reading your responses! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me via email. Sincerely, |
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| Class, As Module I comes to a close, please be sure to look at my discussion post on the Module I discussion board, which summarizes some of the key concepts of this week! Enjoy your holiday weekend, Prof. Kane |
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| Hello Class,
Module 1 will provide you with an introduction to the course and will also lay the foundation for diagnostic reasoning. Diagnostic reasoning is a vital tool that nurse practitioners utilize daily in clinical practice! There is a discussion post this week which asks each of you to introduce yourself to the rest of the class. APA format is not required for the post this week. Although the discussion post this week is NOT graded, I ask that you please review all of the Module 1 content as some of these concepts may appear on Exam #1. Throughout your review of the Module 1 materials, please pay attention to the following key concepts: Clinical Reasoning, Sensitivity & Specificity, American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria, ACR Practice Guidelines for Communication of Diagnostic Imaging Findings, and Examples of Various Diagnostic Studies (i.e. ultrasound, microscopic studies, radiologic studies). As always if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Sincerely, |
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| Hello Everyone,
Welcome to Nursing 550. My name is Julieann Kane and I am so excited to serve as your instructor/facilitator for N550. I am currently a family nurse practitioner working full time in a busy endocrinology practice in Kingston, PA. I have been working in endocrinology for the last 6 years. I have earned my board certification in Advanced Diabetes Management. I have been teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the graduate nursing programs at Wilkes University for the last several semesters. I am currently enrolled in the DNP program at Wilkes University. I reside in Dunmore, PA with my husband, our 5-month old daughter, and our 3 dogs. In my spare time I serve as the secretary for the local Nurse Practitioners of NEPA professional group. I look forward to working with each and every one of you, and I am confident it will be a great semester! Please take a moment to view the below video link in which I review the course syllabus and the requirements for the course. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email (preferably through the “Live” email system). |
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