Welcome to week 4! This week we will apply pharmacology concepts to the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems.
Symptoms of various gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary disorders often overlap, making diagnosis and treatment challenging. For example, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea are non-specific and could also be the result of underlying medical history or current prescription drug use. As an advanced practice nurse, you could be potentially responsible for providing care to a patient who may present with non-specific symptoms related to the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems.
When selecting drugs and determining dosages for patients, it is essential to consider individual patient factors that might impact the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes. These patient factors include genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, behavior (ie diet, nutrition, smoking, alcohol, illicit drug abuse), and/or pathophysiological changes due to disease.
ASSIGNMENT
Submit your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 4 (Sunday night, 11:59 pm ET)
Case studies are a useful way for you to apply your knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic aspects of pharmacology to specific patient cases and health histories.
For your week 4 assignment, evaluate drug treatment plans for patients with various disorders and justify drug therapy plans based on patient history and diagnosis.
To Prepare:
Review the case studies (attachment) and answer ALL questions.
When recommending medications, write out a complete prescription for each medication. What order would you send to a pharmacy? Include drug, dose, route, frequency, special instructions, # dispensed (days supply), refills, etc. Also state if you would continue, discontinue or taper the patient’s current medications.
Use clinical practice guidelines in developing your answers. Please review all Required Learning Resources. Use the Medscape app or website and JNC 8 to complete assignment.
Include at least three references to support each scenario and cite them in APA format. Please include in-text citations. You do not need an introduction or conclusion paragraph.
WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT
Sara is a 45-year-old female presenting for her annual exam. Her blood pressure today is 160/90 HR 84 RR 16. Her height is 64 inches and her weight is 195. Her last visit to the clinic 3 months ago shows a BP of 156/92. She is currently taking ibuprofen 600 mg tid for back pain. She has no known allergies. What is the goal for her blood pressure? What medication would you prescribe to treat her blood pressure? What education would you prescribe?
Monty is a 52-year-old male following up on his labs that were drawn last week. He smokes 1 pack per day. He is currently on Lisinopril 20 mg po daily. He is allergic to penicillin. Fasting lipid profile shows total cholesterol 266, LDL cholesterol 180, HDL cholesterol 40, and Triglycerides 185. What treatment plan would you implement for Monty’s lipid profile? What is the goal Total Cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, and LDL-C level for Monty? How would you monitor the effectiveness of your treatment plan? How many risk factors for coronary artery disease does this patient have? Identify them specifically.
Beatrice is a 17-year-old female diagnosed with mild persistent asthma since age 7. During her visit today, she reports having to use her albuterol MDI 3 to 4 days per week over the past 2 months. Over the past week she has been using albuterol at least once per day. She reports being awakened by a cough three nights during the last month. She is becoming more short of breath with exercise. She also has a fluticasone MDI, which she uses “most days of the week.” Her current medications include: Flovent HFA 44 mcg, two puffs BID, Proventil HFA two puffs Q 4–6 H PRN shortness of breath, Yaz one PO daily, Propranolol 80 mg PO BID. What treatment plan would you implement for this patient? What medication changes would you make? How would you monitor the effectiveness of this plan?
Daute is a 56-year-old man seeking evaluation for increasing shortness of breath. He noticed difficulty catching his breath about 3 years ago. Physical activity increases his symptoms. He avoids activity as much as possible to prevent any SOB. His previous physician had placed him on salmeterol/fluticasone (Advair Diskus) one inhalation twice daily 2 years ago. He thinks his physician initiated the medication for the shortness of breath, but he is not entirely sure. He did not refill the prescription and has not been taking it. Pertinent history – Chronic bronchitis X 8 years with one exacerbation in last 12 months of treatment with oral antibiotics. He has a 40-pack-year smoking history. What treatment plan would you implement for this patient? What medication(s) would you prescribe? How would you monitor the effectiveness of this plan?
