SOAP Note for Carolyn Cross Example

DNP Capstone Project Help
5 min readApr 22, 2024

The Carolyn Cross iHuman case study presents a unique opportunity for nursing students to delve into complex patient scenarios and apply their clinical knowledge in a simulated environment. Designed to mimic real-world patient encounters, this case study challenges students to gather pertinent information, conduct thorough assessments, and develop comprehensive care plans. In this article, we’ll explore the key components of the Carolyn Cross iHuman case study, including the need for SOAP notes, the questions asked in history-taking, physical exams, assessment completion, key findings, differential diagnosis, and management strategies.

Understanding the Importance of SOAP Notes

At the heart of the Carolyn Cross iHuman case study is the need for accurate and organized documentation. SOAP notes — an acronym for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan — serve as the primary method of recording patient encounters. These notes provide a structured framework for documenting the patient’s chief complaint, relevant history, objective findings from physical exams, clinical assessments, and the subsequent plan of care. Effective SOAP notes are essential for facilitating clear communication among healthcare providers, ensuring continuity of care, and serving as legal documentation of the patient encounter.

Questions Asked in History-Taking

History-taking plays a crucial role in gathering pertinent information about the patient’s present illness, past medical history, medications, allergies, and social history. In the Carolyn Cross iHuman case study, students are presented with a series of questions aimed at eliciting relevant subjective information from the patient. These questions may cover a wide range of topics, including the onset and duration of symptoms, associated symptoms, exacerbating or alleviating factors, and any previous treatments or interventions. By asking targeted questions and actively listening to the patient’s responses, students can obtain a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s condition and formulate an appropriate plan of care.

Examples Of Carolyn Cross Ihuman Case Study Questions

History questions play a crucial role in gathering relevant information about a patient’s medical background, symptoms, and overall health status. Here are some examples of history questions commonly asked during patient assessments:

  1. Chief complaint: What brings you in today? Can you describe your symptoms in detail?
  2. Onset: When did your symptoms first begin?
  3. Duration: How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
  4. Severity: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the severity of your symptoms?
  5. Location: Where specifically are you experiencing discomfort or pain?
  6. Quality: Can you describe the type of pain or sensation you’re feeling?
  7. Aggravating factors: Are there any activities or circumstances that make your symptoms worse?
  8. Alleviating factors: Have you noticed anything that helps relieve your symptoms?
  9. Associated symptoms: Are there any other symptoms you’re experiencing alongside the primary complaint?
  10. Past medical history: Do you have any chronic medical conditions or past surgeries?
  11. Medications: Are you currently taking any medications, including over-the-counter and herbal supplements?
  12. Allergies: Do you have any known allergies to medications, foods, or environmental triggers?
  13. Family history: Is there a family history of any medical conditions, such as heart disease or cancer?
  14. Social history: Do you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs? What is your occupation and living situation?
  15. Review of systems: Are there any other symptoms or changes in your health that you’ve noticed recently?

These history questions help healthcare providers gather comprehensive information about the patient’s health status, which informs their diagnosis and treatment plan.

Physical Exams and Assessment Completion

Following history-taking, students are tasked with performing a thorough physical examination to assess the patient’s overall health status and identify any physical abnormalities or clinical signs. The Carolyn Cross iHuman case study provides students with interactive tools to conduct various physical exams, including cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, neurological, and musculoskeletal assessments. Through hands-on practice and virtual simulations, students gain valuable experience in performing systematic physical exams and honing their clinical assessment skills.

Key Findings and Differential Diagnosis

Based on the information gathered from history-taking and physical exams, students are required to analyze key findings and formulate a comprehensive differential diagnosis. This process involves generating a list of potential medical conditions or diagnoses that could explain the patient’s presenting symptoms. Students must critically evaluate each differential diagnosis based on the patient’s clinical presentation, relevant history, physical exam findings, and diagnostic test results. By considering various differential diagnoses and ruling out less likely possibilities, students can arrive at a final diagnosis and develop an appropriate plan of management.

Management Strategies

Once a differential diagnosis has been established, students are tasked with developing a comprehensive plan of management tailored to the patient’s specific needs. This may include ordering diagnostic tests or imaging studies to further evaluate the patient’s condition, prescribing medications or treatments to alleviate symptoms or address underlying pathology, providing patient education and counseling, and coordinating referrals to other healthcare providers or specialists as needed. By implementing evidence-based management strategies, students can optimize patient outcomes and deliver high-quality care.

Carolyn Cross SOAP Notes Examples

Patient: Carolyn Cross

Reason for Visit: Well-woman evaluation

Subjective

  • History of Present Illness (HPI): Ms. Cross is a 41-year-old female with no current health concerns. She denies any acute symptoms or recent illnesses.
  • Past Medical History (PMH): No significant past medical history reported.
  • Social History (SH): Ms. Cross denies smoking, alcohol abuse, or illicit drug use. She exercises regularly through gardening and housework.
  • Family History (FH): No significant family history reported.
  • Medications: Ms. Cross takes Vitamin E for fibrocystic breast disease.
  • Allergies: No known allergies reported.
  • Review of Systems (ROS): Ms. Cross reports regular self-breast examinations and denies any lumps, bumps, or discharge. She experiences breast tenderness around her menstrual cycle.

Objective

  • Vital Signs:
  • Temperature: 98.4 F (oral)
  • Pulse: 76 bpm (regular)
  • Blood pressure: 134/74 mmHg (122/72 upon standing)
  • Respiratory rate: 16 bpm
  • SpO2: 98% on room air
  • General: Appears well-nourished and in no acute distress.
  • HEENT (Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat): Normocephalic, atraumatic. Eyes: normocephalic, sclerae pearly white, conjunctivae pink and moist, pupils equal, round, and reactive to light (PERRLA). Ears: normocephalic, tympanic membranes bilaterally intact and gray. Nose: normocephalic, mucous membranes pink and moist. Throat: normocephalic, uvula midline, tonsils pink and non-erythematous.
  • Neck: Supple, no thyromegaly or lymphadenopathy.
  • Chest: Normoexpansile, with clear breath sounds bilaterally.
  • Heart: Regular rate and rhythm, no murmurs heard.
  • Abdomen: Soft, non-tender, no palpable masses.
  • Extremities: No edema or cyanosis.
  • Neurological: Alert and oriented to time, place, and person. Cranial nerves intact. Motor and sensory function within normal limits.
  • Breast Exam: Breasts are symmetrical without masses, tenderness, or discharge.

Assessment

  • Healthy 41-year-old female with no current health concerns.
  • Fibrocystic breast disease (based on reported symptoms and Vitamin E use).
  • Regular menstrual cycle with cyclical breast tenderness.

Plan

  • Continue self-breast exams monthly and report any changes to a healthcare provider.
  • Consider scheduling a mammogram if not done within the past 18 months.
  • Discuss potential benefits and risks of continuing Vitamin E for fibrocystic breast disease.
  • Encourage a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet.
  • Schedule a follow-up appointment in 1 year for another well-woman evaluation.

Differential Diagnosis

  • Fibrocystic breast disease (most likely)
  • Benign breast cyst
  • Breast cancer (less likely)

Originally published at https://i-humancasestudyanswers.com on April 22, 2024.

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