Best way to map out the pathogenesis part of a Nursing process paper?

[catherine.jenna]

I know it has to be at a cellular level. I know we need to use our anatomy knowledge, etc. I can do that! I just don't know where to start after I describe the normal processess! Head to toe, inside out? And I always get the etiology mixed up in there somehow.

It's funny how I thought I was a great writer until I got to nursing school! If you have any ideas on how to concept map it out, or anything, I'd really appreciate it! Also, I'm already sick and tired of APA!! Anyone there with me?!

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

Patho- means related to a disease or illness.

-genesis means the origin or formation of something.

Describing the pathogenesis of a disease or illness then, would mean describing how the condition originates and progresses.

The etiology of a condition is what causes the condition. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that pathogenesis and etiology are the same. They are not.

Start with the etiology. Figure out what causes the condition. That will lead you to figuring out what the cause does (the pathogenesis) to the body.

For example:

HIV is caused by a retrovirus (of which there are two primary strains). The virus is transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids. There are lots of circumstances that can facilitate the exchange of bodily fluids between an infected host and a non-infected person that could cause the non-infected person to become infected (that's the etiology).

Once the virus enters the blood stream, it finds and attaches to a T-cell, injects a capsid into the cell and takes over the replicative machinery of the cell to create new virons which are released and go on to invade more T-cells. In the process, the T-cells are destroyed (that's the pathogenesis at the cellular level).

And since T-cells are an integral part of the immune system defense, various problems associated with continuously and intensely compromised immunity develop...like susceptibility to infections that don't usually affect the general population such as those that are termed, "AIDS defining" illnesses - which are most commonly what causes death in these patients (opportunistic infections and cancers)....(and just for extra credit: that's the pathophysiology).

Making any more sense?