Health and Medicine

Below are the instructions for this discussion post. The purpose of the prescribing case assignments is to assist the student in applying the materials in the assigned readings and materials created by the professor for topics covered in the course you are taking. As you review each case, approach it as you would a real patient presenting to you with the same complaint who will need prescription therapy. Review the readings and slides as you generate your responses. Epocrates is the course resource that should be used to search for evidence-based therapies and any updates to current therapies, as it is updated in real-time. Do not use references outside of the required materials for the course. Be methodical. Refer to and use the template/rubric that is posted in Canvas. Start with what you know. What type of medical problem will you be prescribing for?

These cases are not designed for you to have to determine if the patient needs a prescription medication; they do. The goal here is to decide what is the best prescription(s) for this patient at this time and then write that prescription(s) in a safe and accurate format. State the drug that you feel is the drug of choice. Then, state why this is the best drug for this patient at this time, and finally, cite the mechanism of action of that particular drug. Now, on to part two. You will need to note any diagnostics/labs that must be ordered before you prescribe the drug and any that will need to be monitored on an ongoing basis. Also, cite common side effects of the agent, adverse drug effects, and any Black Box warnings accompanying your prescription. Other required data: Any major drug-drug or drug-food interactions and when the patient will need to be seen again. Review the readings, slides, videos, and Epocrates as you work through this part of the case. Part three: The prescription(s). Everything you prescribe should have a prescription written, even if you give an OTC medication (because you are learning to perfect your prescription-writing skills).

This part is where the use of Epocrates is critical. It will help you determine how the drug is manufactured in the United States. The prescription must be fillable, and it is not if you prescribe in a mg or amount that does not exist. Determine the mg amount and then use Epocrates again to determine the amount that you want the pharmacist to dispense to your patient [Epocrates tells you how the medication is dispensed—in tabs, dose paks, in specified volumes, etc.] Check and double-check yourself on this part; accurate prescribing is your goal. Be sure to have an indication on the prescription, such as for infection or high blood pressure. Note whether you want any refills on the Rx. Then, sign the prescription with your NP credentials. Your signature should appear on the line above the line with your name and credentials [that is preprinted on all Rxs—whether manual or electronic]. All prescriptions should have an NPI on them for them to be filled [just make up a number to use for this course] When we prescribe electronically, the attestation signs the Rx, and an electronic version goes to the pharmacy you are using.

Use the template provided to write your prescriptions for this course. You can type the information on the Rxs or handwrite it; either is fine. Try to complete your case a day in advance. Then, recheck your prescriptions to ensure accuracy the next day before you turn it in. Sometimes, our eyes cannot see errors right in front of us when we have been busy working on a document, and a few hours away allows your mind [and eyes] to see errors. The required textbook for this discussion is Lippincott Chapter 45: Drugs for Dermatologic Disorders Whalen, K. L., Lerchenfeldt, S. M., & Giordano, C. R. (2023). Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Also Epocrates – It is a free app. Please let me know if you have the required textbook and app. Also please contact me for any additional questions.

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