Purpose of the Paper

Nurses will care for increasing numbers of patients who are over the age of 65. The student will discuss the assessment of a geriatric patient chosen in the Long-Term Care setting, utilizing the Fulmer SPICES assessment. Student will discuss confusion as one of the geriatric syndromes.
TOPIC TO WRITE ON IS CONFUSION
From lecture and assigned readings, students should be familiar with normal aging changes and the geriatric syndromes. The student will utilize evidence-based practice sources to identify nursing interventions which can reduce the impact of a chosen geriatric syndrome on the patient.

Directions

1. Use the assigned patient that you have cared for in your Long Term Care facility for this paper. Do not use the name of the patient in your paper. Remember that confidentiality must be maintained.
2. In clinical, perform the Fulmer SPICES assessment on this patient. Describe your findings in the body of your paper.
3. Choose one of the geriatric syndromes as a priority issue for this patient.
4. Explore the patient’s medical history for any problems which may have contributed to this geriatric syndrome. Also think of normal aging changes which could be a factor.
5. Research your chosen geriatric syndrome including evidence-based interventions to assist a patient with this geriatric syndrome. You must use at least two (2) sources for evidenced-based interventions that will be cited and referenced in your paper in APA format. These sources must be within the past five years. Do not use Wikipedia or .com sites. It is best to look for sites that have a .gov or .edu suffix and peer-reviewed journal articles that are found in the CCBC library databases.
6. Using APA formatting, write a three (3) to four (4) page paper, not including the title or reference page. Double space the type, use 12 font and one (1) inch margins.
7. The format of your paper should be as follows:
a. An introductory paragraph stating the purpose of the paper.
b. A paragraph with a description of your patient with a brief medical history.
c. A paragraph explaining SPICES and describing the results of your SPICES assessment of your patient.
d. At least 2-3 paragraphs discussing your chosen geriatric syndromes including rationale for why that syndrome is the priority for this patient. Include information about how this geriatric syndrome has affected the patient’s quality of life, their functional status and ability to socialize. Also include any of the patient’s medical history which contributed to this geriatric syndrome and normal aging changes which also could be a factor.
e. In the next 1-2 paragraphs discuss your evidence-based interventions that can be utilized for this patient for this geriatric syndrome. Include how to implement these interventions on this long-term care unit and how the nurse could evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.
f. Lastly, include a reflective paragraph that explains how you will utilize the tenets of this paper in your future nursing practice.
g. Use proper grammar, spelling, and formatting.
h. Refer to the grading rubric to ensure obtaining maximum points on your paper.


Reading Resources

The following articles will help you prepare to do this assignment as well as serve
as a guide to other literature that may help you with the writing of this paper:

Fulmer, T. (2007). How to try this: Fulmer SPICES. CE Connection. Retrieved from http://nursing.ceconnection.com/nu/public/modules/1187
(Note: You can view this offering for free from this website, hover over ‘Activity’ and click on the PDF version and the article will be available for you to read.
*This article should be cited and referenced in your paper!

Hall, K., & Mather, M. E. (2010). SPICES helps develop care plan. Retrieved from http://www.ltlmagazine.com/article/spices-helps-develop-care-plan

 
Geriatric Syndrome Paper Grading Criteria Sheet
Grading Criteria Possible Points Faculty Assessment and Comments
Describe the purpose of the paper. 3
Describe the patient chosen for this paper. 2
Describe the findings of the SPICES assessment on this patient. 15
Indicate the priority geriatric syndrome for this patient with rationale. 10
Discuss this patient’s medical history AND normal aging changes that contributed to the chosen geriatric syndrome in this patient. 15
Describe how this geriatric syndrome has affected the patient’s quality of life, including their functional status and ability to socialize 5
Identify evidence-based nursing interventions that would assist this patient related to this geriatric syndrome. 15
Describe how these interventions could be implemented on the Long Term Care unit and how to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions. 10
Includes a reflection statement that describes how the knowledge gained regarding geriatric syndromes will impact your future nursing care with older adults. 5
Paper is written as a formal academic paper, is well organized, with an introduction and summary and distinct paragraphs with clear topics. 5
ALL facts are cited using APA within the paper and referenced on the reference page. 5
Uses correct 6th ed. APA format throughout the paper from Title Page to References 5
Proper grammar and spelling throughout entire paper. 5
Total Possible Points 100
Comments: