Drug therapy plays a major part in the treatment of patients. Traditionally, medicines have been prescribed by doctors and the nurse’s responsibility has been to ensure safe and reliable administration and to monitor side-effects.
Full Answer
What should the practising nurse know about drug therapy?
The practising nurse cannot fail to be aware of the great benefits as well as the potential dangers of drug therapy. As nurses are accountable for their clinical actions, it is essential that well-founded confidence is acquired in whatever is undertaken.
What does a nurse do during drug assessment?
By continual observation, a nurse assesses the patient’s condition before and after drug treatment and, in so doing, helps to establish when treatment is indicated and whether it is being beneficial or otherwise.
What does assessment of a client receiving drug therapy reveal?
Assessment of a client receiving drug therapy reveals that the client has been experiencing gastrointestinal upset related to the drug. The client states, "My stomach has been so upset that all I've been able to eat is soup and dry crackers."
What is the nurse preparing to administer a medication to?
Assessing The nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client and needs to confirm identification of the client. What may the nurse use to identify this client? (Select all that apply.)
What should the nurse identify as the goal of drug therapy?
The objective of drug therapy is to provide maximum benefit within minimum harm.
Which of the following is the goal of drug therapy?
The purpose of using drugs is to relieve symptoms, treat infection, reduce the risk of future disease, and destroy selected cells such as in the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. The best treatment, however, may not require a drug at all.
What are the nursing responsibilities in drug therapy?
The 7 responsibilities are: (1) Management of therapeutic and adverse effects of medication; (2) Management of medication adherence; (3) Management of patient medication self-management; (4) Management of patient education and information; (5) Prescription management; (6) Medication safety management; (7) Care/ ...
When a nurse is performing an assessment about medication the drug history should include which components?
A good medication history should encompass all currently and recently prescribed drugs, previous adverse drug reactions including hypersensitivity reactions, any over-the counter medications, including herbal or alternative medicines, and adherence to therapy. 2.
What are the four goals of drug therapy?
The four priority focus areas are: Understanding the complex interactions of factors influencing drug use trajectories. Accelerating development of treatments. Addressing real-world complexities.
What is the role of drug therapy?
Drug therapy involves the administration of drugs to treat or prevent disease. It is used to treat a variety of illnesses and diseases ranging from psychiatric illnesses to the treatment of cancer. This type of therapy is also referred to as pharmacotherapy.
Which is the main reason for applying the nursing process in medication therapy?
The implementation of the nursing process in the administration of medications provides a systematic way of gathering and using information to plan and provide individualized patient care as well as to evaluate the outcomes of that care.
What is the key to promoting effective drug therapy?
ASSESSING PATIENTS AND THEIR MEDICINES Understanding patients' medical diagnoses and awareness of their physical capabilities and mental capacity are essential in achieving safe and effective drug treatment.
What is drug study in nursing?
Study drug information which can be accessed online and outlines precautions, side effects, interactions, dosage instructions, potential diagnoses a nurse can make and teachings for patients and carers.
What are the objective of drug information Centre?
The purpose of drug information center is to provide authentic individualized, accurate, relevant and unbiased drug information to the consumers and healthcare professionals regarding medication related inquiries to the nation for health care and drug safety aspects by answering their call regarding the all critical ...
What are the goals of medication reconciliation?
1 The goals of medication reconciliation are to obtain and maintain accurate and complete medication in- formation for a patient and use the information within and across the continuum of care to ensure safe and effective medication use.
What is the first step in the patient assessment process related to medication administration?
Assessment comes before medication administration. All medications require an assessment (review of lab values, pain, respiratory assessment, cardiac assessment, etc.) prior to medication administration to ensure the patient is receiving the correct medication for the correct reason.
What are the observable changes in a patient receiving specific forms of drug therapy?
Observable changes in a patient receiving specific forms of drug therapy may include: • allergic reaction, ranging from skin rash to anaphylaxis. • muscular weakness arising from potassium loss in diuretic therapy. • bruising or overt bleeding arising from too high a dose of an anticoagulant.
What is the role of a nurse in medicine?
Although responsibilities increase and change with time, the safe and effective management of medicines remains a high priority for all practising nurses. The importance of establishing a firm basis of learning during preregistration training is well recognised, as is the need to progress to wider aspects as part of professional development. Thus, nurses build on the knowledge and skills acquired to prepare themselves for the particular responsibilities and duties in their chosen speciality. As with all health professionals, nurses have a responsibility to keep up to date and to make their contribution to professional issues of the day.
What are the standards of a nurse?
The standards expected of each individual registered nurse, midwife and health visitor with respect to medicines are made explicit by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2004a). To meet such standards, the expectation is that nurses are personally accountable for their practice and, in so doing, act at all times to promote and safeguard the interests and well-being of patients and clients. This requirement applies to all persons on the Council’s register, irrespective of the part on which their name appears.
What is the importance of a nurse in a professional setting?
On a professional level, the nurse should have an awareness of the place of all medicines in the care of the patient. It is vital to recognise the reasons for the need to be systematic in adherence to both national (legal) and local standards.
What is the meaning of patient gesture?
A patient’s gesture, facial expression or mood can convey, respectively, the nature or location of pain, the like or dislike of taking a medicine, and the likelihood of taking the medicines. Particular opportunities for communication between nurse and patient arise at the time that medicines are being administered.
What is the least tangible part of a nursing role?
COMMITMENT. The least tangible part of the nursing role is the nurse’s overall attitude to patients and the management of their medicines. Relevant skills and knowledge are vital if nurses are to discharge their basic responsibilities.
What is a working knowledge of medicines in common use?
THE MEDICINES. A working knowledge of medicines in common use should be developed, which includes: • range of presentation of medicines. • ordering/requisitioning procedures. • storage of medicines and disposal of unwanted medicines. • legislation and health authority policies.
