NUR 641E Topic 2: Principles For Safe Use Of Pharmacologic And Herbal Substances

Objectives:

Assessments

Analyze the impact of pharmacologic agents on a patient’s health status considering physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and patient knowledge.
Evaluate drug actions to promote safe and effective drug therapy.
Identify ethnic, cultural, and genetic differences in patients that may affect the safety or efficacy of medications.
Integrate knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacology into teaching and educational materials in diverse settings.

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Topic 2 DQ 1

GO TO DISCUSSION

Start Date

Mar 10, 2022, 12:00 AM

Due Date

Mar 12, 2022, 11:59 PM

Points

Status

Published

Assessment Description

The Beer’s criteria contain a list of drugs that are potentially unsafe for use in older persons. Utilize the provided resource, “American Geriatrics Society 2019 Updated AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults” for assistance in completing this question. Select a drug on the “avoid” list that you have administered to an older patient or a drug that you know is prescribed for an older adult. Relate the outcome of using this drug to the pharmacokinetics (absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion) of drugs in an older client. In addition to the link, cite one other reference to support your post. Make sure that you select a different drug than your peers. Include the name of the drug in the subject line so that the drugs can be followed. Include your references in APA style.

Topic 2 DQ 2

GO TO DISCUSSION

Start Date

Mar 10, 2022, 12:00 AM

Due Date

Mar 14, 2022, 11:59 PM

Points

Status

Published

Assessment Description

Many people are using herbal medications and dietary supplements for the prevention and treatment of medical problems. Review two current research articles about two of these products. Based on the findings, what would be the implications for you as a nurse? What additional research needs to be done in this area? Cite the two references to support your answer. Make sure that you select different herbal medications and dietary supplements than your peers. Include the name of the herbal medication and dietary supplement in the subject line so that the medications can be followed. Include your references in APA style.

Content Lesson Presentation

REVIEW ASSIGNMENT

Start Date

Mar 10, 2022, 12:00 AM

Due Date

Mar 16, 2022, 11:59 PM

Points

167

Rubric

View Rubric

Status

Published

Assessment Description

Create an 8-9 slide presentation with speaker notes about a selected disease process and drug class. The presentation should provide content specific information on the selected disease process and drug class for staff or learners in a clinical environment.

Follow these steps:

Select a disease process and a drug class used to treat the disease process.
Describe pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug related to the pathophysiology of the disease process.
Describe the product, its intended use, side effects, adverse reactions, and safety issues.
Identify ethnic, cultural, and genetic differences in patients that may affect the safety or efficacy of medications.
How would you monitor the desired effect is achieved?

Be sure to include three to five references.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.

Topic 2 DQ 1

Mar 10-12, 2022

REPLY TO DISCUSSION

Vanessa Brown

Posted Date

Mar 13, 2022, 12:52 AM

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Replies to Vanessa Brown

Zolpidem (Ambien)

Zolpidem is a non-benzodiazepine receptor modulator that is approved to be used as a short-term treatment for insomnia (Bouchette et al., 2022). It is a listed medication in the American Geriatrics Society 2019 Updated Criteria for Potentially Inappropriately Medication Use in Older Adults because the elderly can have similar adverse effects as with benzodiazepines, such as delirium, falls, and increased need for hospitalization. In my experience, we gave this medication cautiously to the elderly in the hospital. This was not a first-line of sleep-aids due to the possible adverse effects. I do remember some of our patients “sleepwalking” or becoming delirious after taking this, and then having no recollection of their activities in the morning. Luckily we were there to monitor and intervene, but it could lead to harm if they were left unattended.

Absorption

Zolpidem is rapidly absorbed by the digestive tract and has a short half-life in healthy patients (Bouchette et al., 2022). Elderly population have decreased motility. This population should only receive the lowest dose of 5 mg because their concentrations were higher in RCTs (Bouchette et al., 2022).

Metabolism

This medication is converted into an inactive metabolite. Hepatic impairment, especially in the elderly, will affect the metabolism and dosage of medication given (Bouchette et al., 2022).

Distribution

This drug has vast distribution throughout the body and crosses the blood-brain barrier. Other effects that zolpidem can have is restoring brain function in patients that are in a vegetative state after brain injury (Bouchette et al., 2022).

Excretion

Zolpidem is excreted by the kidneys (Bouchette et al., 2022). Clearance will be decreased in the elderly.

References

Bouchette, D., Akhondi, H., & Quick, J. (2022). Zolpidem. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442008/

The American Geriatrics Society. (2019). American geriatrics society 2019 updated AGS beers criteria for potentially inappropriately medication use in older adults. The American Geriatrics Society, 67(4), 674-694. https://agingresources.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-BEERS-critieria-update.pdf

Topic 2 DQ 2

Mar 10-14, 2022

REPLY TO DISCUSSION

Cristina Alimon

Posted Date

Mar 14, 2022, 9:25 PM

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Replies to Cristina Alimon

Vitamin D

Vitamin D insufficiency is a serious public health concern globally, affecting people of all ages, even those who live in regions with year-round sun exposure. Vitamin D is necessary for bone health and has been associated with immunomodulation and cell proliferation. Vitamin D exists in two forms. Vitamin D2, also known as ergocalciferol, is produced by plants and fungus, whereas vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is produced by mammals (Ramasamy, 2020). Therefore, we must consider how vitamin D is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted and how it is taken in and how it is excreted.

Additionally, patient-specific variables may vary the quantity of vitamin D necessary to achieve an adequate concentration. Therefore, it is critical to demonstrate which factors influence individuals’ reactions to vitamin D supplementation (Ramasamy, 2020). A factor to consider can affect how an individual metabolizes different forms of Vitamin D; poisoning manifests clinically as hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria. Symptoms include lethargy and disorientation, stupor, and coma; gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia, vomiting, and constipation; and cardiovascular symptoms such as polyuria and renal colic caused by the passage of renal stones (Ramasamy, 2020). As nurses, we need to remind the patient that even though Vitamin D is common as a supplement, it is also essential to understand that monitoring the level is vital to avoid hypertoxicity. More research is needed on the determinants of vitamin D intake and adequacy in specific patient groups, including those on co-prescribed medicines that alter vitamin D metabolism, those with malabsorption, and those who have had gastric bypass surgery.

inger-Nausea

Ginger has been revered for its medicinal benefits for over 2500 years. Ginger has diverse phytochemistry and health benefits. One of the most extensively used ginger species, Zingiber Officinalis, is present in many meals and beverages (Najim, 2017). Ginger is widely used to alleviate diarrhea, nausea, and stomach distress; it also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. There are also studies that ginger improves blood flow in the body by stimulating the heart muscle and diluting the blood that circulates through the body ant these speeds up cell metabolism and relieve cramps and tension. Although further research is needed, it has been shown that 5 g of ginger possesses anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties due to enhanced fibrinolytic activity (Najim, 2017). Because of this effect, as nurses, we must educate patients before taking any herbal supplements or medicines. They need to check if they will have an adverse reaction to any other medication. For example, if the patient is taking a blood thinner, it can potentiate its effect and cause bleeding. This scientific review thinks ginger is good because it has many phytochemicals. However, there are some questions about ginger’s effectiveness, so it is best to do clinical trials with a suitable protocol before saying it works (Najim, 2017).

References

Najim, A. J. (2017). Potential health benefits and scientific review of ginger. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, 9(7), 111-116. https://doi.org/10.5897/jpp2017.0459

Ramasamy, I. (2020). Vitamin D metabolism and guidelines for vitamin D supplementation. Clinical Biochemist Reviews, 41(3), 103-126. https://doi.org/10.33176/aacb-20-00006

NUR 641E Topic 2: Principles For Safe Use Of Pharmacologic And Herbal Substances