| Course | NUR-7074 Adolescent and Early Adult Primary Care |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 6 |
| Paper type | Leadership paper: public health emergency preparedness |
| Length | About 1,022 words, 6 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Thomas Edison State University |
| Program | M.S. in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for NUR 7074 Module 6
Seventy-Two Hours: Leading a Primary Care Team Through a Measles Exposure
Student Name
M.S. in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Thomas Edison State University
NUR-7074: Adolescent and Early Adult Primary Care
Mentor Name
Month Day, Year
Seventy-Two Hours: Leading a Primary Care Team Through a Measles Exposure
The Event
On a Monday morning, the county health department notified local clinics that a 20-year-old student at the community college had confirmed measles. She had attended classes and visited the college library while infectious the previous week. Our clinic serves many students and young families, and at least four of our patients had been on campus during the exposure period. The health department asked clinics to identify exposed patients, check their immunity and offer catch-up vaccination.
The Scale of the Problem
Patel et al. (2019) reported 704 measles cases in the United States in the first four months of 2019, the most in a comparable period since 1994, across 22 states. Most cases occurred in people who were unvaccinated, and large outbreaks were concentrated in close-knit communities with low vaccination coverage. Importations from travelers seeded outbreaks that then spread locally. The report emphasized that two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97 percent effective and urged clinicians to ensure that patients, especially international travelers, were up to date.
Why Refusal Matters
Phadke et al. (2016) reviewed published reports of measles and pertussis outbreaks in the United States. Among measles cases with known vaccination status, more than half had no record of vaccination, and most of the unvaccinated who were eligible for the vaccine had declined it for nonmedical reasons. In their view, refusing vaccines raised the likelihood of measles both in those who refused and in fully vaccinated people, since a small number of vaccinated people do not respond and depend on community protection.
How to Open the Conversation
Opel et al. (2013) videotaped vaccine discussions between clinicians and parents at pediatric well visits. When clinicians opened with a presumptive statement, such as "We have some shots to do today," parents were far less likely to resist than when clinicians asked an open question, such as asking what the parent wanted to do about shots When parents did resist, clinicians who continued to recommend the vaccine persuaded about half of them to accept. The study suggests that a confident default, followed by attention to concerns, works better than offering vaccination as one option among many.
| Source | Key point | Application to the outbreak |
|---|---|---|
| Patel et al. (2019) | 704 cases in four months, mostly unvaccinated | Treat one case as a community threat |
| Phadke et al. (2016) | Refusal raises outbreak risk for everyone | Close immunity gaps quickly |
| Opel et al. (2013) | Presumptive openings reduce resistance | Scripts for staff phone calls and visits |
Organizing the Team
Alongside my preceptor and the nurse manager, I helped run a 15-minute huddle that morning. We assigned roles: a medical assistant ran a registry search for patients aged 12 to 39 without two documented doses of MMR; a nurse called the four known exposed patients; the front desk set aside same-day slots; and I prepared post-exposure guidance and phone scripts. The clinic's infection control plan was reviewed: anyone with fever and rash would be met at the entrance, masked and placed directly in a room with the door closed, and only staff with documented immunity would enter.
Post-Exposure Care
For susceptible people, a dose of MMR within three days, or 72 hours, of exposure can head off measles or soften it, and immune globulin within six days is an option for those who cannot receive the vaccine, including pregnant patients and those who are immunocompromised. Of the four exposed patients, two had two documented doses and needed no action beyond watching for symptoms. One 19-year-old had only one documented dose and received a second dose that day. One 24-year-old, Daniel, had no vaccination records and was vaccinated within the 72-hour window. Susceptible contacts are usually excluded from school and work from day 5 through day 21 after exposure; we confirmed guidance with the health department.
A Hesitant Patient
Daniel hesitated, saying he had "never needed it." Following Opel and colleagues, I opened with "You're due for a dose of MMR today to protect you from this exposure," then listened. His concern was missing work if he had side effects. I explained that most people have no reaction or a sore arm, that measles itself could keep him out of work for weeks and that his work exclusion might be avoided if he could show vaccination within 72 hours. He agreed.
Catch-Up Across the Clinic
The registry search found 312 patients aged 12 to 39 without two documented MMR doses. The team sent text messages and made calls using a presumptive script, and the clinic held two evening vaccination sessions. Within three weeks, 118 of them had received a dose and 41 had provided records showing prior vaccination.
Coordination and Communication
I kept a log of exposed patients, vaccination dates and symptom checks, shared daily with the health department. When a parent called worried about her infant, too young for routine MMR, we explained that infants 6 to 11 months can receive an early dose during outbreaks, as advised by the health department.
Protecting Staff
The nurse manager confirmed that every staff member had documented measles immunity; two did not and received MMR that week. An exam room near the side entrance was set aside for anyone with fever and rash, and it was left empty for two hours after use.
Lessons for the Nurse Practitioner Role
The response depended on preparation as much as clinical knowledge: an up-to-date registry, an infection control plan and staff who knew their roles. The nurse practitioner's role was to translate evidence into team actions quickly and to model calm, confident communication.
Limits
The CDC report described one year's surge, and outbreak patterns vary. Opel and colleagues studied parents of young children in one region. The event, clinic and patients are invented.
Conclusion
Patel and colleagues showed how quickly measles spreads where vaccination gaps exist, Phadke and colleagues linked refusal to outbreaks that threaten even vaccinated people and Opel and colleagues showed that presumptive openings reduce resistance. A fast huddle, clear roles, post-exposure vaccination within 72 hours, a registry-based catch-up campaign and confident communication turned one exposure into a stronger, better protected community.
References
Opel, D. J., Heritage, J., Taylor, J. A., Mangione-Smith, R., Salas, H. S., DeVere, V., Zhou, C., & Robinson, J. D. (2013). The architecture of provider-parent vaccine discussions at health supervision visits. Pediatrics, 132(6), 1037-1046. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-2037
Patel, M., Lee, A. D., Redd, S. B., Clemmons, N. S., McNall, R. J., Cohn, A. C., & Gastañaduy, P. A. (2019). Increase in measles cases: United States, January 1-April 26, 2019. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(17), 402-404. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6817e1
Phadke, V. K., Bednarczyk, R. A., Salmon, D. A., & Omer, S. B. (2016). Association between vaccine refusal and vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States: A review of measles and pertussis. JAMA, 315(11), 1149-1158. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.1353
What the NUR 7074 Module 6 instructions ask for
TESU's catalog description of NUR-7074 asks family nurse practitioners to lead collaborative teams and prepare systems for public health emergencies, and since the syllabus is held privately, this last paper is modeled on an outbreak response. Describe the event and the clinic's population, then report evidence on the disease's spread and on why immunity gaps matter. Explain how the team was organized, how susceptible and exposed patients were found and what post-exposure care was given within the right time windows. Show how you communicated with hesitant patients, coordinated with the health department and protected staff and other patients. Some sections ask for a pandemic, natural disaster or foodborne outbreak instead. Ask whether an incident log or team roles chart should be appended.
Inside the NUR 7074 Module 6 example
The county health department reports a measles case at the local community college, and the invented FNP student helps her clinic respond. Patel and colleagues' outbreak report, Phadke and colleagues' review of vaccine refusal and Opel and colleagues' study of discussion openings are linked to team actions in a table. A morning huddle assigns roles, infection control is reviewed and four exposed patients are checked, with two vaccinated within 72 hours. A hesitant young man accepts MMR after a presumptive opening. Registry-based catch-up, coordination with the health department, lessons for the nurse practitioner role, limits and a conclusion follow. Staff immunity checks and an isolation room plan are also described.
Where the marks sit in the NUR 7074 Module 6 rubric
Outbreak papers earn high marks when they show leadership as well as clinical knowledge, with specific roles, timelines and actions. Readers look for accurate post-exposure care, including the 72-hour window for MMR and the six-day window for immune globulin, and for correct identification of who is immune. Infection control measures that keep a possibly infectious patient away from others show safety awareness. Using evidence on vaccine communication, with the actual words spoken, shows skill. Coordination with the health department, a catch-up campaign with measured results and reflection on preparedness show an understanding of the nurse practitioner's role in the community. Checking staff immunity and planning an isolation room shows the student protected the team as well as patients.
Common NUR 7074 Module 6 mistakes, and how to avoid them
Outbreak papers often describe the disease without showing what the clinic actually did. Name the roles, the timeline and the actions taken in the first day. Get the post-exposure windows right, say who was immune and who was not and describe how possibly infectious patients were kept apart. Show how you spoke with hesitant patients and how you worked with the health department. Measure what the catch-up effort achieved. Reflect on what preparation made the response possible. Share your prompt and the outbreak scenario to receive a free first draft based on it. Describe how staff were protected and how a possibly infectious patient would be kept apart.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
This paper is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Thomas Edison State University document. Read it for the moves, then write your own to the instructions in your classroom. If you want one built to your exact prompt and rubric, the first custom sample is free and arrives in 24 to 48 hours.
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NUR 7074 Module 6 questions, answered
Where can I find a free NUR 7074 Module 6 sample paper?
The measles outbreak response paper, from the first huddle to a catch-up campaign, is published here.
How long after exposure can MMR prevent measles?
Up to 72 hours after exposure, MMR can prevent or soften the illness; immune globulin works up to six days.
How many measles cases occurred in early 2019?
Patel and colleagues reported 704 cases in the first four months of 2019, the most since 1994.
How does vaccine refusal affect outbreaks?
Phadke and colleagues found most measles cases were unvaccinated and refusal raised risk for vaccinated people too.
How should clinicians open vaccine discussions?
Opel and colleagues found presumptive statements led to far less parental resistance than open-ended questions.