Assignment: Diagnosing and Treating Patients With Neurocognitive Disorders NRNP 6665

Assignment: Diagnosing and Treating Patients With Neurocognitive Disorders NRNP 6665

Assignment: Diagnosing and Treating Patients With Neurocognitive Disorders NRNP 6665

Assignment: Diagnosing, and Treating Patients With Neurocognitive Disorders

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) such as delirium, dementia, and amnestic disorders are more prevalent
in older adults. As the population ages and as life expectancy in the United States continues to increase,
the incidence of these disorders will continue to increase. Cognitive functioning in such areas as
memory, language, orientation, judgment, and problem solving are affected in clients with NCDs. Caring
for someone with a neurocognitive disorder is not only challenging for the clinician; it is stressful for the
family as well. The PMHNP needs to consider not only the patient but also the “family as patient.”
Collaboration with primary care providers and specialty providers is essential. Anticipatory guidance also
becomes extremely important.
There is no Assignment due this week. You should review this week’s Learning Resources and consider
the insights they provide about assessing, diagnosing, and treating neurocognitive disorders. Use this
quiet week to work on your practicum assignment if you are taking both courses concurrently.

What’s Coming Up in Week 8?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

In Week 8, you will analyze the signs, symptoms, and pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.
These disorders occur when brain development does not follow expected trajectories. While some of
these disorders can be resolved with appropriate intervention, others are chronic.
Next Week

To go to the next week:
Week 8

 

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2015). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry (11th ed.).
Wolters Kluwer.
 Chapter 21, “Neurocognitive Disorders”
Zakhari, R. (2020). The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification review manual. Springer.
 Chapter 8, “Delirium and Neurocognitive Disorders”

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)

PhysioPathoPharmaco. (2018, December 19). Alzheimer’s disease – plaques, tangles, pathogenesis, risk
factors, disease progression [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2du03tXjopQ

Speed Pharmacology. (2019, July 6). Pharmacology – drugs for Alzheimer’s disease (Made easy) [Video].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euzRPrvrwj0

Medication Review
Review the FDA-approved use of the following medicines related to treating neurocognitive disorders.
Alzheimer’s
disease Delirium Parkinson’s disease
dementia/psychosis

caprylidene
donepezil
galantamine
memantine
rivastigmine

There are no FDA-approved medications
for the treatment of delirium.

nuplazid
rivastigmine
pimavanserin