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.
To Prepare:
· Review the following case studies 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.