Pharmacology in Nursing Practice

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Knowledge of Pharmacology
Medication Use
Advanced Practice Appreciation
Course Knowledge and Future Practice
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Pharmacologic treatment and patient management are crucial among registered nurses (RNs). Therefore, the knowledge gained in this course is important for my future endeavors. During the classes, I was taught the laws and regulations of prescribing drugs, the ethical issues associated with drug administration, and the components of a correctly written prescription. Additionally, therapeutic communication helped me understand various relationships with different healthcare stakeholders. Understanding the different drugs that affect different body organs will help me avoid cases of misdiagnosis in the future. Therefore, the knowledge gained from this course will play a significant role in making me a compliant and competitive nurse.

Knowledge of Pharmacology

I knew little about drugs and medication prescriptions before taking the course in pharmacology. I could only prescribe common drugs such as painkillers that do not need a professional opinion. However, the course expanded my knowledge of medical prescriptions, non-medical prescriptions, healthcare costs, insurance, and complementary alternative treatments. Prescription medication involves pharmaceutical drugs that legally require a prescription for them to be dispensed. Such drugs are prescribed because of various reasons including the potential scope of misuse and the high possibility of side effects on the patients. As an RN I have to be very cautious when prescribing and dispensing such drugs to patients.

Meanwhile, non-medical prescriptions are those drugs that do not need expert knowledge and advice before dispensing. The non-prescriptive drugs are administered to treat minor health problems such as headaches, stomachaches, and fever. Over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and antacids are non-medical prescriptions (Greenfield, 2022). Moreover, I learned about the concepts of healthcare costs and various factors that are taken into account. Healthcare costs include the amount spent on renting hospital buildings, securing drugs, and paying practitioners, among others. Therefore, various factors are included in estimating the amount that patients pay for medical services.

The knowledge of insurance and complementary alternative treatments helped me understand how patients can relieve themselves from the burden of healthcare costs. Medical insurance policies allow employers and contracted third parties to take care of medical expenses for patients. Insurance companies require individuals to subscribe to various plans that cover different types of medical care (Greenfield, 2022). Meanwhile, organizations pay for their employees’ medical care for their business success. Patients can take complementary alternative treatments to avoid the side effects of drugs and increased healthcare costs. The alternative treatments include yoga, tai chi, massage therapy, and acupuncture. The expanded pharmacological knowledge gained will help me understand patients’ situations and appropriately manage them.

Medication Use

Medication use is significant in alleviating patients’ conditions and relieving their pains. However, inappropriate medication use can lead to patient complications and consequent problems such as potential lawsuits against the nurses. Accordingly, as an RN I think of medication used differently because of the potential consequences. I believe that every drug must be dispensed and taken as prescribed by a medical expert. Consequently, I am always careful when dispensing drugs to patients, and where I doubt my knowledge in prescribing a specific drug, I consult other experts in the field. Unlike nurse practitioners (NPs), RNs are not permitted to prescribe drugs, order tests, diagnose patients, or perform any duty that is normally performed by physicians. Therefore, my responsibilities of educating patients are limited when compared to an NP. As an RN I can only observe, offer minor treatments, and educate patients, under strict supervision.

Advanced Practice Appreciation

Advanced nursing practice requires cutting-edge educational and clinician knowledge that proves professional competency. My knowledge of pharmacology has made me appreciate the role of advanced practice in nursing. The practice equips RNs and NPs with unconventional knowledge of helping patients and avoiding potential legal liabilities. I was encouraged to specialize in various nursing areas and take more courses on the same. However, my belief that the roles of advanced registered nurses (APRNs) and RNs are not significantly different was not changed. Although APRNs are more effective than RNs, they both perform similar functions. Therefore, advanced practice is only met to improve RNs’ effectiveness in a healthcare organization, offering more opportunities.

Course Knowledge and Future Practice

The knowledge gained in this course will be beneficial to my future advanced practice. I will use the knowledge of ethical medical practice in taking care of my patients within the legal requirements. Avoiding unethical medical practices such as giving wrong drug prescriptions and disrespecting patients’ privacy, will allow me to gain the trust of my patients. Moreover, having understood pharmacokinetics and dynamics, I shall assess the patients’ body biochemical reactions to drugs before dispensing them. Consequently, my patients will have minimum cases of drug-related body reactions. Furthermore, the knowledge of drug effects on different body parts encourages me to further my studies in pharmacology in the future. Therefore, this course is beneficial for my future patients and career development in advanced nursing practice.

Conclusion

As an RN I will interact with drugs and various medications daily. Although my role in nursing is to observe and educate patients, I can be instructed to administer drugs for minor health problems. Understanding the prescriptive and non-prescriptive medications will help me administer appropriate drugs to patients. The knowledge of medical costs and health insurance will help me in assessing a patient’s economic situation and suggesting alternative medications that are affordable and effective. Pharmacological concepts are crucial for my patients and advanced career development.

References

Greenfield, D. P. (2022). Psychopharmacology for Nonpsychiatrists: A Primer. Springer Nature.

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