Pharmacotherapy Notes
General Class Information
Role signed for participation in class (optional)
Purpose: Track attendance, no impact on grades. Seen in Canvas.
Intent to Comply Assessment
Deadline: January 31.
Requirements: Achieve 5 out of 5 on the assessment; retake if not passed.
Contents: Acknowledge responsibility for syllabus, handbook.
Pharmacotherapy Overview
Focus on the Nurse's Role in Pharmacotherapy (Chapters 1, 2, 6, and 7).
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO):
Outline the drug approval process.
Utilize the nursing process in patient-centered pharmacotherapy.
Incorporate Joint Commission Standards in medication administration.
Implement nursing responsibilities in medication administration.
Analyze the nurse's role in medication safety.
Drug Development and the Nursing Role
Who Makes Medications?
Chemists and pharmacists create drugs using hypotheses and molecular structures.
Nursing Role in Pharmacotherapy:
Education: Inform patients about medications.
Example: "This is metoprolol. It lowers your blood pressure."
Management: Monitor medication effects and decide on administration based on patient status.
Monitoring: Assess effectiveness and side effects of medications.
Key Definitions and Classifications
Therapeutic Classification: Type of disease prevention/treatment the medication addresses.
Pharmacologic Classification: Mechanism of action of the drug.
Example: Metoprolol
Therapeutic Class: Antihypertensive
Pharmacologic Class: Beta blocker
Drug Names:
Chemical Name: Not commonly used in practice.
Generic Name: The name you need to know for tests (e.g., Metformin).
Trade Name: Examples include Glucophage (trade name for Metformin).
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
Definition of OTC: Medications available without prescription.
Examples: Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Advil).
Risks: Despite being available OTC, drugs may still have risk factors.
FDA and Drug Approval Process
Regulatory Body: FDA oversees drug approval and safety.
4 Phases of FDA Approval:
Preclinical: Testing on animals and lab cultures.
Clinical: Human trials divided into three phases (longest phase).
New Drug Application Review: Review all data collected to decide on approval for marketing.
Post Marketing Surveillance: Collect data on drug effects in the general population.
Fast Track: Processes speed up approval for drugs addressing unmet needs, as seen with COVID-19 vaccine approvals.
Controlled Substances
Regulating Body: DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency).
Categories of Controlled Substances: 5 categories based on potential for abuse, from highest (1) to lowest (5).
Category I: No accepted medical use (e.g., heroin, LSD).
Category II: Accepted medical use with severe restrictions (e.g., morphine, Adderall).
Category III: Combination medications (e.g., Percocet).
Category IV: Benzo medications (e.g., Lorazepam).
Category V: Lowest risk (e.g., cough syrup with hydrocodone).
Nursing Process in Pharmacotherapy
Acronym: ADPIE (Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation).
Assessment: Evaluate patient's health history and medications.
Diagnosis: Identify the health problems caused by medication issues.
Planning: Establish goals and prioritize actions.
Implementation: Carry out the care plan; document actions performed.
Evaluation: Assess the effectiveness of the interventions.
Medication Errors and Safety
Common Causes of Errors:
Skipping medication checks (six rights).
Age and weight consideration in dosages.
Verbal orders confusion.
Stressful working conditions leading to oversight.
Patient-Caused Medication Errors: Non-compliance, leftover medications, financial constraints.
Consequences of Medication Errors: Potential for harm, increased hospital stays, loss of trust in health professionals.
Medications Reconciliation (Med Rec)
Purpose: Ensure accuracy of patients' medication lists at transitions in care.
Required Information: Name, dose, frequency, route of administration.
Importance: Prevent inaccuracies and potential medication-related issues after admission.
Joint Commission Goals on Medication Safety
Label all medicines clearly before procedures.
Take extra care with blood-thinner medications.
Ensure accurate medication records are passed along during care transitions.
Practice Questions and Application of ADPIE
Importance of understanding and applying ADPIE in scenarios.
Recognize priorities in patient care and medication administration.
In summary, the lecture outlines essential aspects of pharmacotherapy for nursing students, covering therapeutic and pharmacologic classifications of drugs, drug approval processes regulated by the FDA and DEA, the nursing process as a foundational framework, medication safety, and the significance of medication reconciliation for patient care.