JOURNAL 5

Assessing the Dermatological Disorder Patient
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Assessing the Dermatological Disorder Patient
The dermatological disorder could be caused by a host of factors some of which could be complex interactions between social, biological as well as psychological factors. Therefore, when assessing a patient of this condition, it is important to take into account all these possible causes. Impetigo is a bacterial skin condition that mostly affects children (Pereira, 2014). My experience in assessing and managing a six-year-old patient with impetigo has been largely intriguing. I have faced challenges while at the same time it has been a learning opportunity. First, whether the condition was a primary (direct bacterial infection) or secondary (a result of another skin disease) was a challenge (Kathy et al. 2017). This is especially so in the case of secondary infection since many possible skin complications might lead to impetigo.
I have had to interrogate the patient to try and determine whether there was any other skin condition before impetigo. The history of the patient condition is important for diagnosis (Lawton, 2002). However, a good number of impetigo patients cannot accurately trace how it started (Kathy et al. 2017), mostly because they are young children. It required the intervention of an adult who as well did not have accurate recollections. Second, I was able to understand the pathology of the disease as well as the different classifications of the predisposing and perpetuating factors which aid in prevention measures through the management of associated with impetigo bacterial infections (Pereira, 2014).

Third, I learned that preoperative consultation is among the essential physician-patients interactions in the diagnosis and management of the condition as this aided greatly in helping me manage the condition.
Breakthrough Moment
It is through this interaction that my “aha” moment in identifying the dermatological disorder came. After creating a rapport, I initiated a conversation that made the patient and the family comfortable around and then I could pick the important points regarding the disorder. In the end, I was able to have a picture of the type of condition my patient was ailing. This advised the treatment and management of the condition.
Classroom and Real-world Clinical Setting Relationship
The experience connected my classroom studies to the real-world clinical setting in that I applied my classroom knowledge to understand the condition. The real-world clinical setting is more diverse as compared to the classroom setting. However, the classroom knowledge helps one to have a better understanding of the conditions and hence correctly diagnose it.
References
Kathy V., O’Connor D. C, Williams T. H. & Smith W. (2017). Diagnosis and Management of Impetigo. The Nurse Practitioner. 42(3): 40-44
Lawton S. (2002). Assessing the Patient with a Skin Condition. Journal of Tissue Viability. 11(3): 113-115. Retrieved from http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2002/may/Lawton/Skin-Assessment-Dermatology-Patient.htmlPereira, L. B. (2014). Impetigo – review . Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 89(2), 293–299. http://doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142283