Questions the FNP Should Ask the Patient
The FNP should take a comprehensive health history to determine the potential cause of the patient’s symptoms. The following are additional questions that the FNP should ask during the patient’s health history: What is the color and consistency of the sputum? The color and consistency of the sputum can provide important clues about the type of infection or condition the patient may have. For instance, yellow or green sputum may indicate a bacterial infection (Fereos et al., 2020. Have you experienced any shortness of breath or wheezing? These symptoms could suggest a respiratory condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Meltzer et al., 2021). Do you have a history of smoking or exposure to environmental irritants? Smoking and exposure to environmental irritants such as pollution or chemicals can cause or exacerbate respiratory conditions. Have you had a fever or experienced chills? These symptoms could suggest a bacterial infection (Fereos et al., 2020. Are you experiencing any chest pain or discomfort? Chest pain or discomfort can indicate a more serious respiratory condition, such as pneumonia (Meltzer et al., 2021). Have you recently traveled? Traveling to certain areas may increase the risk of exposure to respiratory infections. Our assignment help will hone your writing prowess for papers that will awe your professors.
By asking these questions, the FNP can better understand the patient’s symptoms and potential underlying causes. This information can then be used to determine an appropriate treatment plan or referral to a specialist (Song et al., 2020). It’s also important for the FNP to consider the patient’s medical history, current medications, and any allergies when diagnosing and prescribing treatment.
Differential diagnoses for Productive Cough
Acute bronchitis – a viral infection that causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes, leading to a cough and mucus production. Pneumonia is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and infection of the lung tissue, leading to symptoms such as cough, fever, and shortness of breath (Fereos et al., 2020. Asthma – a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. COPD- a progressive lung disease that makes breathing difficult due to airflow obstruction and damage to lung tissue, often caused by long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – a digestive disorder that causes stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, leading to symptoms such as heartburn and a chronic cough.
Management of each of the Differentials
Acute bronchitis: The FNP would likely manage this patient symptomatically, recommending rest, hydration, and over-the-counter cough suppressants or expectorants as needed. Antibiotics are not typically recommended for acute bronchitis unless a bacterial infection is suspected (Fereos et al., 2020. The FNP would follow up with the patient to monitor symptom improvement and ensure the resolution of the infection. Pneumonia: If the FNP suspects pneumonia, they would likely order a chest x-ray and blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment would involve antibiotics and supportive care, such as oxygen therapy and pain management (Fereos et al., 2020). The FNP would closely monitor the patient’s symptoms and may order follow-up imaging to ensure the resolution of the infection. COPD: The FNP would work with the patient to develop a management plan for their chronic lung disease, which may include medications such as bronchodilators or corticosteroids, smoking cessation support, and pulmonary rehabilitation (Song et al., 2020). The FNP would follow up with the patient regularly to monitor their lung function and adjust treatment as needed.
Asthma: The FNP would work with the patient to develop an individualized asthma action plan, which may include medications such as inhalers or oral corticosteroids and avoidance of triggers such as allergens or exercise (Song et al., 2020). The FNP would follow up with the patient regularly to monitor their asthma control and adjust treatment as needed. GERD: The FNP would likely recommend lifestyle modifications such as dietary changes, weight loss, and medications to reduce stomach acid production. The FNP would follow up with the patient to monitor symptom improvement and may order additional tests, such as an upper endoscopy, to evaluate the extent of damage to the esophagus.
References
Fereos, G., Buchanan, C., Allen, P., Inusa, B., & Bossley, C. J. (2020). A mysterious cause of chronic cough. Breathe, 16(3).
Meltzer, E. O., Zeiger, R. S., Dicpinigaitis, P., Bernstein, J. A., Oppenheimer, J. J., Way, N. A., … & Fonseca, E. (2021). Prevalence and burden of chronic cough in the United States. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 9(11), 4037-4044. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2021.07.022
Song, W. J., An, J., & McGarvey, L. (2020). Recent progress in the management of chronic cough. The Korean journal of internal medicine, 35(4), 811. https://doi.org/10.3904%
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Question 
A 52-year-old male presents to the clinic with a productive cough for 5 days. Describe at least 5 more questions the FNP should ask this patient in the health history. Please generate at least 5 differential diagnoses for a cough.
Questions the FNP Should Ask the Patient
Describe how the FNP would clinically manage and follow up on this patient based on each differential diagnosis.
Citations: TWO high-level scholarly references in APA from within the last 5 year