nurs6521 all week assignments latest 2018 april

Week 2 assignment

The Ethics and Legalities of Medication Error Disclosure

American writer Nikki Giovanni once said: “Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts” (Goodreads, 2012). Whenever you make an error when writing a prescription, you must consider the ethical and legal implications of your error—no matter how seemingly insignificant it might be. You may fear the possible consequences and feel pressured not to disclose the error. Regardless, you need to consider the potential implications of non-disclosure. How you respond to the prescription error will affect you, the patient, and the health care facility where you practice. In this Assignment, you examine ethical and legal implications of disclosure and nondisclosure of personal error.

Consider the following scenario:

You are working as an advanced practice nurse at a community health clinic. You make an error when prescribing a drug to a patient. You do not think the patient would know that you made the error, and it certainly was not intentional.

To prepare:

Consider the ethical implications of disclosure and nondisclosure.

Research federal and state laws for advanced practice nurses. Reflect on the legal implications of disclosure and nondisclosure for you and the health clinic.

Consider what you would do as the advanced practice nurse in this scenario including whether or not you would disclose your error.

Review the Institute for Safe Medication Practices website in the Learning Resources. Consider the process of writing prescriptions. Think about strategies to avoid medication errors.

By Day 7

Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:

Explain the ethical and legal implications of disclosure and nondisclosure. Be sure to reference laws specific to your state.

Describe what you would do as the advanced practice nurse in this scenario including whether or not you would disclose your error. Provide your rationale.

Explain the process of writing prescriptions including strategies to minimize medication errors.

Week 4 assignment

Asthma and Stepwise Management

Asthma is a respiratory disorder that affects children and adults. Advanced practice nurses often provide treatment to patients with these disorders. Sometimes patients require immediate treatment making it essential that you recognize and distinguish minor asthma symptoms from serious, life-threatening symptoms. Since symptoms and attacks are often induced by a trigger, advanced practice nurses must also help patients identify their triggers and recommend appropriate management options. Like many other disorders, there are various approaches to treating and managing care for asthmatic patients depending on individual patient factors. One method that supports the clinical decision-making of drug therapy plans for asthmatic patients is the stepwise approach, which you explore in this Assignment.

To prepare:

Consider drugs used to treat asthmatic patients including long-term control and quick relief treatment options for patients. Think about the impact these drugs might have on patients including adults and children.

Review Chapter 25 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text. Reflect on using the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management.

Consider how stepwise management assists health care providers and patients in gaining and maintaining control of the disease.

By Day 7

Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:

Describe long-term control and quick relief treatment options for asthma patients, as well as the impact these drugs might have on patients.

Explain the stepwise approach to asthma treatment and management.

Explain how stepwise management assists health care providers and patients in gaining and maintaining control of the disease.

Week 6 assignment

Diabetes and Drug Treatments

Diabetes is an endocrine system disorder that affects millions of children and adults (ADA, 2011). If left untreated, diabetic patients are at risk for several alterations including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, neuropathy, and blindness. There are various methods for treating diabetes, many of which include some form of drug therapy. The type of diabetes as well as the patient’s behavior factors will impact treatment recommendations. In this Assignment, you compare types of diabetes including drug treatments for type 1, type 2, gestational, and juvenile diabetes.

To prepare:

Review this week’s media presentation on the endocrine system and diabetes, as well as Chapter 46 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text and the Peterson et al. article in the Learning Resources.

Reflect on differences between types of diabetes including type 1, type 2, gestational, and juvenile diabetes.

Select one type of diabetes.

Consider one type of drug used to treat the type of diabetes you selected including proper preparation and administration of this drug. Then, reflect on dietary considerations related to treatment.

Think about the short-term and long-term impact of the diabetes you selected on patients including effects of drug treatments.

By Day 7

Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:

Explain the differences between types of diabetes including type 1, type 2, gestational, and juvenile diabetes.

Describe one type of drug used to treat the type of diabetes you selected including proper preparation and administration of this drug. Include dietary considerations related to treatment.

Explain the short-term and long-term impact of this diabetes on patients including effects of drugs treatments.

Week 8 assignment

Antimicrobial Agents

Antimicrobial agents are essential components in the treatment of various bacterial infections as they help to kill or prevent the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoans. Prior to the discovery of antimicrobial agents, treatment options for patients with bacterial infections were limited. For many patients, treatment often resulted in the amputation of limbs or even death. Today, treatment options for bacterial infections typically have a more positive prognosis. Due to the various types of infections presented in patients, it is essential to be able to identify the underlying cause of the infection—whether bacterial or viral—before recommending drug treatments. This will help you identify whether or not an antimicrobial agent would be appropriate and which specific agent would target the infection. In this Assignment, you consider the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents for infections.

To prepare:

Review this week’s media presentation on principles of antimicrobial therapy, as well as Chapter 8 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text.

Consider the categories of antimicrobial agents.

Think about differences between viral and bacterial infections.

Reflect on why proper identification of the infection is key to selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.

By Day 7

Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:

Describe the categories of antimicrobial agents.

Describe differences between viral and bacterial infections.

Explain why proper identification of viral and bacterial infections is key to selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.

Week 10 assignment

Cancer and Women's and Men's Health

The American Cancer Society estimates that by the end of 2012, more than 226,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 241,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (American Cancer Society, 2012a; American Cancer Society 2012b). With such prevalence of women’s and men’s cancers, patient education and preventive services are essential. In clinical settings, advanced practice nurses must assist physicians in educating patients on risk factors, preventive services, and for patients diagnosed with cancer, on potential drug treatments. The clinical implications of women’s and men’s cancer greatly depend on early detection, which is primarily achieved through preventive services. In this Assignment, you consider the short-term and long-term implications of cancer and drug treatments associated with women’s and men’s health, as well as appropriate preventive services.

To prepare:

Select a type of cancer associated with women’s or men’s health such as breast, cervical, or ovarian cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.

Locate and review articles examining the type of cancer you selected.

Review the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force article in the Learning Resources. Think about available preventive services that providers might recommend for patients at risk of this type of cancer.

Select two of the following factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Reflect on how these factors might impact decisions related to preventive services.

Consider drug treatment options for patients diagnosed with the type of cancer you selected including short-term and long-term implications of the treatments.

By Day 7

Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:

Describe available preventive services that providers might recommend for patients at risk of the type of cancer you selected.

Explain how the factors you selected might impact decisions related to preventive services.

Describe drug treatment options for patients diagnosed with the type of cancer you selected. Explain the short-term and long-term implications of these treatments.