How to write essay questions

Knorremeisje · Jan 20, 2008

We haven't covered this system yet, but we do have to write a TON of essays since it is an online. I usually write in the third person because after all this is a science class and they require a college-level writing style. Since it's an application essay, not really the classic essay, so I wouldn't write an introduction or anything.

Just write a 1-2 paragraph essay and explain what and why happened to the patient. Be sure to not just say what's wrong but explain the mechanisms behind it.

Hope this helped a little! Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2008

Question goes like this
Miss linda appeared at the clinic complaining of extreme nervousness and sweating, saying that she could feel and hear her heart thumping when she tried to sleep at night. Laboratory testing revealed hyperglycemia and increased basal metabolic rate. Although she also proved to have high blood pressure, tests of thyroid function were normal. What is your diagnosis? What treatment should be used?
Do I have to answer this in first person. IF I am not wrong this is due to hormones .:icon_roll

State your answer, the diagnosis, and then defend it by stating why you have chosen that diagnosis. Then tell what treatment should be used. That part is just straightforward information you just have to write down. Don't worry about first or third person unless your instructor is a stickler for grammar. Just get the information down on the paper.

Were you looking for an actual answer to the question? She's got diabetes mellitus. DM is due to either (1) the pancreas not putting out enough insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, to metabolize blood glucose, or (2) insulin resistance (the insulin produced is just second rate crappy and doesn't do an effective job). Hyperglycemia and the increased metabolic rate are symptoms of diabetes. The increased metabolic rate is due to lipid metabolism since glucose cannot be utilized (the body is basically in starvation mode). Treatment: lower the blood sugar with insulin or oral antihhyperglycemic drugs and to control blood sugar, a calorie restricted diet, regular aerobic exercise.

2bNurseNik · Jan 25, 2008

Daytonite, you rock!!!

paccookie · Jan 25, 2008

I have just started A&P 2 course and I don't know how to answer essay questions. Question goes like this
Miss linda appeared at the clinic complaining of extreme nervousness and sweating, saying that she could feel and hear her heart thumping when she tried to sleep at night. Laboratory testing revealed hyperglycemia and increased basal metabolic rate. Although she also proved to have high blood pressure, tests of thyroid function were normal. What is your diagnosis? What treatment should be used?
Do I have to answer this in first person. IF I am not wrong this is due to hormones .:icon_roll

Your patient is diabetic and her body is compensating for the hyperglycemia via increased heart/respiratory/metabolic rate. Further workup needed to determine type of diabetes (you haven't given that info...). Patient needs insulin, oral meds, diet control depending on type of diabetes. Just write a good essay the same way you would in any other class based on the info you've been given. Do some research on diabetes. The body compensates by increasing the heart and respiratory rate to try to get rid of some of the excess glucose in the blood. The basal metabolic rate increases for the same reason. Patient probably has a fruity smell to her skin and breath. The clear thyroid test tells you this is diabetes and not some underlying thyroid issue.

elzbthpem · Nov 16, 2008

I don't know if anyone will respond to this, but i have the same essay to write and from the given information I have pheochromocytoma as my answer. It seemed to fit best given the material covered in the text book. Do you think it is diabetes or pheochromocytoma? What about the sweating and nervousness? I felt they were indicative of fight or flight responses in sympathetic nervous system, which led me to the adrenal medula since we are covering the endocrine system. I'm confused and I'm also wondering if I could answer this question any way I want to that doesn't involve a thyroid disorder or if I should just go with what most people have and answer with diabetes?

SaveAlife1 · Sep 8, 2009

pheochomocytoma. a pheochomocytoma is an adrenal chromaffin cell tumor, which releases abnormally high levels of hormones known as catecholamines. the catecholamines, norepinephrine and epinephrine, are normally made in the adrenal glands by specialized sympathetic neurons. when the body is activated into "fight or flight" the sympathetic nervous system kicks into action. the fight or flight signal is sent from the brain in response to some sort of stress. this signal leaves the brain and travels through the spinal cord to the adrenal medulla, where the catecholamines are made. normally, the catecholamines are used for short-term responses to stress (like running away real fast or puttin' up your dukes). these hormones trigger an increased heart beat and increased blood pressure in order to pump oxygen and glucose to the muscles, they also cause the liver to covert glycogen to glucose, and increase the basal metabolic rate so that there is ample "fuel" (glucose) to keep the body running or fighting. the bronchioles are also dilated so that increased levels of oxygen can be absorbed, and blood flow to non-essential organs/functions is minimized.

once the fight or flight stimulus is removed, the level of catecholamines, and the consequent physiology returns to normal. in the case of catecholamine hypersecretion due to a pheochomocytoma, the body is essentially responding to a non-existent fight or flight stimulus, which leads to symptoms such as mrs. james'.

the easiest way to test for a pheochomocytoma is to measure urinary catecholamine levels. it could also be visualized with an mri or ct scan.

pheochomocytomas are usually treated by surgical removal. in some cases it may be possible to control the symptoms of the disease with only pharmaceutical intervention. :twocents: