St Petersburg College The Oropharynx Discussion
HOMEWORK 2
Instructions: Provide complete and concise answers to questions, do not include questions or scenario, and
submit to assigned drop box by deadline. Use scholarly writing for all answers. Include APA style title page,
citations, and reference list. Use correct grammar, complete sentences, paragraph structure, and professional
terms. Use scholarly sources (e.g., textbook, journals, government agencies) less than 5 years old to support
answers. Paraphrase content (i.e., rephrase in your own words), cite/reference source, and do not use quotes.
Part 1, Oropharynx:
1. Describe 2 common problems/disorders in oropharynx (mouth, throat) of the elderly. Discuss
pathophysiologic changes at the tissue level and relate them to abnormal assessment findings. (20
points)
2. Provide at least 2 evidence-based health promotion recommendations for oral health and explain
the need/benefit. (15 points)
Part 2, ENT: Kesha Marks is a 38-year-old female who was admitted to the emergency department to rule out
injury related to a fall while bicycling. She was wearing a helmet.
Examination data: Alert and slightly anxious female in no distress. Her vital signs are: heart rate of 78 beats/min,
respirations of 18 breaths/min, blood pressure 150/90 mmHg, temperature of 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and pain
2/10 (0-10 scale) in the area of her facial ecchymoses. Upon inspection, she has some edema and ecchymoses on
the left side of the face. Inspection of the oropharynx (mouth, throat) reveals she has all her natural teeth with
some yellow staining and fillings noted. The gums and buccal mucosa are intact without any frank bleeding. The
palatine tonsils are +2; and the uvula rises midline. A mass is noted at the left base of her tongue. The mass is pale
pink with a red, ulcerated center and no obvious exudate. The mass is tender, firm, and non-mobile. There is full
range of motion and strength of the tongue. Her speech is clear. There are two palpable, enlarged posterior
cervical lymph nodes on the left neck.
Subjective data: Upon further questioning, she reports first noticing the lump about two months ago, but it seems
to be getting larger and “gets in the way” when she talks and makes it difficult to swallow some foods. She
reports an unintentional 22-pound weight loss due to poor appetite over the past two months. She reports a history
of hypertension, but does not take prescribed medication because her blood pressure is only a “little” high. She
reports smoking ½ pack of cigarettes per day since high school. For Ms. Marks,
3. Identify potential medical diagnosis(es) related to abnormalities in the ENT. Explain abnormal
findings that support diagnosis. (20 points)
4. Identify all NANDA nursing diagnoses labels (just the label!) that apply to this patient (e.g.,
impaired swallowing). Identify the priority (#1) nursing diagnosis label; and for the (#1) nursing
diagnosis label, explain the nursing interventions to address the identified problem. Provide
evidence-based rationale to explain the need and/or benefit of each intervention. For interventions,
include what the nurse should “monitor/assess”, “do”, and “teach” to the client. (20 points)
5. Discuss one potential healthcare referral need for the client and explain the need and/or benefit.
