Week 1 discussion
IMPACT OF PHARMACOKINETICS ON MEDICATION SELECTION AND ADMINISTRATION
As an advanced practice nurse, you will likely be responsible for selecting and prescribing pharmaceuticals to address your patients’ health needs and concerns. To what extent is understanding the pharmacokinetics of a certain medication important in your decision-making process when prescribing a medication for your patient?
Knowing the pharmacokinetic effects of medications—such as how long will the medication be absorbed and exert an effect on the body before it is eliminated—can have important implications for addressing your patient’s health needs.
For this Discussion, think about the types of decisions you might make, with an understanding of pharmacokinetics, when prescribing medications for your patients. Reflect on how having a working knowledge of pharmacokinetics of medications is important in your role as an advanced practice nurse.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCE
To prepare:
Review the Learning Resources on pharmacokinetics.
BY DAY 3 OF WEEK 1
Post your response to the Discussion Forum, a reflection of the impact of pharmacokinetics in the advance practice setting. Be specific and provide examples.
Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues' postings. Begin by clicking on the Reply button to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Post Reply, you cannot delete or edit your own posts and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Post Reply!
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
Week 2 assignment
BRANCHING EXERCISE: CARDIAC CASE 1
For this Assignment, you will review the interactive media piece/branching exercise provided in the Learning Resources. As you examine the patient case, consider how you might assess and treat patients with the symptoms and conditions presented.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To prepare:
Review the interactive media under Required Media: Branching exercise. This is provided in the Learning Resources.
Review the information provided in the case (patient presentation, vital signs, pmh, home meds, results of labs and diagnostics. With this information, critically think about what is happening with the patient.
Use your critical thinking skills and current guidelines to develop orders. Include additional labs/diagnostics, what needs repeated and followed up on. Medications that need to be ordered or changed.
The Assignment:
Using the required admission orders template found under the Learning Resources: Required Reading.
Develop a set of orders as the admitting provider.
Be sure to address each aspect of the order template
Write the orders as you would in the patient’s chart. Be specific. Do not leave room for the nurse to interpret your orders.
Do not assume anything has already been done/order. Use the information given. Example: If the case does not mention fluids were given, the patient did not receive fluids. You may have to start from scratch as if you are working in the ER. And you must provide orders if the patient needs to be admitted.
Make sure the order is complete and applicable to the patient.
Make sure you provide rationales for your labs and diagnostics and anything else you feel the need to explain. This should be done at the end of the order set – not included with the order.
Please do not write per protocol. We do not know what your protocol is and you need to demonstrate what is the appropriate standard of care for this patient.
A minimum of three current (within the last 5 years), evidenced based references are required.
Week 4 assignment
BRANCHING EXERCISE: CARDIAC CASE 2
For this Assignment, you will review the interactive media piece/branching exercise provided in the Learning Resources. As you examine the patient case, consider how you might assess and treat patients with the symptoms and conditions presented.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To prepare:
Review the interactive media under Required Media: Branching exercise. This is provided in the Learning Resources.
Review the information provided in the case (patient presentation, vital signs, pmh, home meds, results of labs and diagnostics. With this information, critically think about what is happening with the patient.
Use your critical thinking skills and current guidelines to develop orders. Include additional labs/diagnostics, what needs repeated and followed up on. Medications that need to be ordered or changed.
The Assignment:
Using the required admission orders template found under the Learning Resources: Required Reading.
Develop a set of orders as the admitting provider.
Be sure to address each aspect of the order template
Write the orders as you would in the patient’s chart. Be specific. Do not leave room for the nurse to interpret your orders.
Do not assume anything has already been done/order. Use the information given. Example: If the case does not mention fluids were given, the patient did not receive fluids. You may have to start from scratch as if you are working in the ER. And you must provide orders if the patient needs to be admitted.
Make sure the order is complete and applicable to the patient.
Make sure you provide rationales for your labs and diagnostics and anything else you feel the need to explain. This should be done at the end of the order set – not included with the order.
Please do not write per protocol. We do not know what your protocol is and you need to demonstrate what is the appropriate standard of care for this patient.
A minimum of three current (within the last 5 years), evidenced based references are required.
Week 9 assignment
RANCHING EXERCISE: COMMON DISEASES AND DISORDERS
For this Assignment, you will review the interactive media piece/branching exercise provided in the Learning Resources. As you examine the patient case, consider how you might assess and treat patients with the symptoms and conditions presented.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To prepare:
Review the interactive media under Required Media: Branching exercise. This is provided in the Learning Resources.
Review the information provided in the case (patient presentation, vital signs, pmh, home meds, results of labs and diagnostics. With this information, critically think about what is happening with the patient.
Use your critical thinking skills and current guidelines to develop orders. Include additional labs/diagnostics, what needs repeated and followed up on. Medications that need to be ordered or changed.
The Assignment:
Using the required admission orders template found under the Learning Resources: Required Reading.
Develop a set of orders as the admitting provider.
Be sure to address each aspect of the order template
Write the orders as you would in the patient’s chart. Be specific. Do not leave room for the nurse to interpret your orders.
Do not assume anything has already been done/order. Use the information given. Example: If the case does not mention fluids were given, the patient did not receive fluids. You may have to start from scratch as if you are working in the ER. And you must provide orders if the patient needs to be admitted.
Make sure the order is complete and applicable to the patient.
Make sure you provide rationales for your labs and diagnostics and anything else you feel the need to explain. This should be done at the end of the order set – not included with the order.
Please do not write per protocol. We do not know what your protocol is and you need to demonstrate what is the appropriate standard of care for this patient.