Adolescent Sports Evaluation: Samantha Monroe Case Study Assignment Brief

Course: NSG 410 – Advanced Health Assessment / Primary Care of Adolescents
Assignment: Adolescent Sports Evaluation – Samantha Monroe Shadow Health Case
Due: Week 4
Word count: 800–1,050 words
Format: APA 7th Edition

Assignment Overview

This assignment uses the Shadow Health adolescent sports evaluation case featuring Samantha Monroe, a 13‑year‑old female presenting for a preparticipation sports physical for soccer. You will analyze her subjective and objective data, formulate an assessment, and develop a patient‑centered plan that addresses both her readiness for sports participation and her emerging disordered eating behaviors.

Your submission must include:

• A structured SOAP note based on the Shadow Health case data.
• A critical reflection explaining your clinical reasoning regarding Samantha’s readiness for sports participation and your management of her disordered eating behaviors.</li >

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

• Conduct a focused adolescent health assessment integrating subjective and objective findings.
• Identify risk factors for disordered eating and body image concerns in adolescent athletes.
• Develop an evidence‑based, patient‑centered treatment and education plan.
• Apply clinical reasoning to determine readiness for sports participation.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly and professionally in APA‑formatted writing.

Task Description

Review the Shadow Health adolescent sports evaluation case for Samantha Monroe. Use the provided subjective and objective data to:

1. Document a SOAP note summarizing Samantha’s history, examination findings, assessment, and plan.
2. Write a critical reflection (approx. 500–700 words) that:
   • Explains your clinical reasoning regarding Samantha’s readiness for sports participation.
   • Discusses your approach to managing her inappropriate diet and eating habits.
   • Integrates at least two current, peer‑reviewed sources related to adolescent sports participation, disordered eating, or the female athlete triad.

Requirements

• Length: 800–1,050 words total (SOAP note + reflection).
• Format: APA 7th Edition, double‑spaced, 12‑point Times New Roman or similar.
• Citations: At least two peer‑reviewed sources published between 2018 and 2026, cited in‑text and listed in a reference list.
• Structure:
  • • Title page
    • SOAP note (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan)

  < li>Critical reflection

• Reference list
• Submission: Upload as a single Word document to the course LMS by the due date.

Grading Rubric

Sample Answer Excerpt: Critical Reflection

Samantha Monroe’s presentation highlights the intersection of routine sports clearance and early disordered eating behaviors in a 13‑year‑old female athlete. Although her physical examination and cardiovascular review are largely unremarkable, her self‑reported pattern of skipping lunch, restrictive eating, and body image concerns signal potential risk for the female athlete triad. The Female Athlete Triad position statement from the American College of Sports Medicine emphasizes that low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and altered bone health can arise even in young athletes who appear healthy on standard preparticipation evaluations (De Souza et al., 2014). In Samantha’s case, her BMI of 20 and absence of menses, combined with intentional meal skipping to “lose baby fat,” suggest early‑stage low energy availability rather than overt underweight status. Clinicians must therefore look beyond normal vitals and clear cardiac exams to identify subtle nutritional and psychological risk factors.

Effective management begins with non‑judgmental education about energy needs for growth and sport. Samantha benefits from concrete guidance on eating three balanced meals daily, including adequate carbohydrates to support soccer training and recovery. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescent athletes consume sufficient calories to support both growth and athletic demands, with particular attention to carbohydrate and protein timing around exercise (Brenner et al., 2019). For Samantha, framing nutrition as “fuel for performance” rather than “dieting” may reduce shame and align with

Effective management begins with non‑judgmental education about energy needs for growth and sport. Samantha benefits from concrete guidance on eating three balanced meals daily, including adequate carbohydrates to support soccer training and recovery. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescent athletes consume sufficient calories to support both growth and athletic demands, with particular attention to carbohydrate and protein timing around exercise (Brenner et al., 2019). For Samantha, framing nutrition as “fuel for performance” rather than “dieting” may reduce shame and align with her goal of looking athletic. Including her guardian in discussions about meal planning and modeling positive body talk at home can reinforce these messages and buffer against social media influences that idealize thinness.

Common student misconceptions include assuming that a normal BMI and absence of formal eating disorder diagnoses mean nutritional risk is low. In reality, many young athletes with disordered eating present with normal weight and high‑functioning school and sport participation. Another frequent oversight is focusing solely on cardiac clearance without addressing psychosocial drivers like body dissatisfaction and peer comparison. To meet rubric criteria for clinical reasoning, students should explicitly connect Samantha’s skipped meals and body image statements to evidence on low energy availability and the female athlete triad. They should also compare alternative approaches—such as watchful waiting versus early intervention—and justify why early, structured follow‑up at four weeks aligns with current guidelines for monitoring at‑risk adolescents.

• Low energy availability can precede weight loss and menstrual changes, making early recognition critical.
• Educational interventions that reframe food as performance fuel tend to be more acceptable to adolescents than traditional “
  • Low energy availability can precede weight loss and menstrual changes, making early recognition critical.
  • Educational interventions that reframe food as performance fuel tend to be more acceptable to adolescents than traditional “diet” language.
  • Involving parents or guardians in nutrition and body image discussions increases the sustainability of behavior change.
  • Follow‑up within four weeks allows reassessment of eating patterns, weight trends, and menstrual status without delaying sports participation unnecessarily.

  References / Learning Materials

  Brenner, J. S., & Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. (2019). Sports specialization and intensive training in young athletes. Pediatrics, 143(6), e20190207. <https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019>‑0207

  De Souza, M. J., Nattiv, A., Joy, E., Misra, M., Williams, N. I., Mallinson, R. J., Gibbs, J. C., Olmsted, M., Goolsby, M., Matheson, G., & Expert Panel. (2014). 2014 Female Athlete Triad Coalition consensus statement on treatment and return to play of the female athlete triad. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(4), 289–308. <https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports>‑2013‑093218

  National Athletic Trainers’ Association. (2024). Position statement: Emergency action plan development and implementation in sport. Journal of Athletic Training, 59(6), 570–583. <https://doi.org/10.4085/1062>‑6050‑0521.23

  Silva, M. R. G., Paiva, T., & Silva, M. R. G. (2020). Low energy availability in athletes: A systematic review of prevalence and risk factors. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(15), 1750–1761. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1756684

  Weaver, C. M., Gordon, C. M., & Janz, K. F. (2021). Bone health in adolescent athletes: A position statement from the American College of Sports Medicine. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 53(4), 839–853. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002555

  Compose an 800–1,050-word APA-formatted SOAP note and critical reflection based on the Shadow Health adolescent sports evaluation case for Samantha Monroe, addressing readiness for sports participation and management of disordered eating behaviors.

  Write a 3–4 page paper analyzing the Samantha Monroe adolescent sports evaluation case, including a SOAP note and evidence-based clinical reasoning about sports clearance and disordered eating.

   Assignment: Week 5 – Adolescent Nutrition and Body Image Discussion

  Course: NSG 410 – Advanced Health Assessment / Primary Care of Adolescents
  Assignment: Week 5 Discussion Post – Adolescent Nutrition and Body Image
  Due: End of Week 5
  Word count: Initial post 300–500 words; two peer responses 150–250 words each

  Building on your analysis of the Samantha Monroe case, this discussion focuses on evidence‑based strategies for promoting positive nutrition and body image in adolescent athletes. In your initial post, summarize key risk factors for disordered eating in young athletes and describe at least two intervention approaches supported by current literature. Respond to two peers by comparing their proposed strategies to guidelines from professional organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Female Athlete Triad Coalition. Use APA style for in‑text citations and include a reference list with your initial post.