Pharmacology Legal Obligations of Nurses

Pharmacology

Legal obligations of nurses in Medication Management

The expression "medication management" has been utilized widely in nursing research to illustrate the involvements and actions of nurses along with other healthcare jobs concerning medicines. The UK's "Department of Health" (DH) defines "medicines management" as the scientific, gainful and harmless employment of drugs to guarantee that patients acquire the utmost advantage from the drugs they require, whilst simultaneously reducing possible damage (DH, 2004).

Similarly, the Department of Medicines Management at University of Keele asserts that "medicines management" aims to make the most of health growth from the utilization of drugs. It includes all features of medication utilization from the recommendation of medicines to the methods wherein medicines have been acquired taken or not acquired by patients (University of Keele, 2005). In the same way, Nurses Board of Victoria (2001) defines medication management by integrating the expression "remedial medication management." Typical activities comprise the evaluation and identification of the patient, giving guidance to the patient concerning right utilization of medicines and the management, delivery and retailing of medicines. Furthermore, McCloskey and Bulechek (2000), define medication management as the facilitation of secure and effectual utilization of drugs and medicines.

Several researchers have reviewed the legal obligations of nurses in "Medication Management." Nursing activities in medications management comprise the supervision of patient for remedial results, unfavorable results and non-remedial medicine interactions (an Bord Altranais, 2003; McCloskey & Bulechek, 2000; Naegle, 1999). In addition, instructing and educating the patient is an essential element of this job, together with additional health care specialists (an Bord Altranais, 2003). Management of medication (including advise and prescription) is illustrated as a complete involvement that includes the nurse's acquaintance, and actions that are assumed for the patient's utmost advantage in all regards (an Bord Altranais, 2003). The significance of providing high-quality education to nurses along with midwives on the depth and richness of "medication management" and its connected interventions should not be undervalued when, taking into account, an increase of practice opportunities comprising medicines (an Bord Altranais, 2003; Bailey, 1999; Wong & Rawlins, 2000).

An Bord Altranais (2003) asserts that nurses have got to be fully aware of the legal requirements of the prescription process. It is critical that nurses acquire a broad acquaintance of the prescription procedures, devoid of which they will only cause disorder and confusion. The creation of instructive, clinical application along with legal requirements for nurses, as well as, midwives to securely and efficiently prescribe have been established on an approved agreement as to what prescribing involves and the abilities and information that nurses ought to attain (an Bord Altranais, 2003).

In addition, an Bord Altranais (2003) reveals that the nurse is lawfully certified to autonomously recommend or inform about drugs. A partial or open-medicine pharmacopeia might be utilized to decide the precise drug to be recommended, as established by legal regulations. The nurses ought to cover the recommendation procedure in their general care of the patients. The law backs the sovereignty of the nurse's recommendation decisions, together with the responsibility of the results completely lying with them.

The drugs used: following are the written details on 10 different drugs that I have administered to a patient.

1. Name of drug: Acamprosate

Dosage: 3 times a day after each meal.

Indications for use: The tablet should be ingested completely without splitting, chewing, or crushing it.

Mode of action: Regular drinking affects the brain. Acamprosate acts by assisting the brain of the patient who has had drinking problems to act naturally once again.

Interactions: the patient had informed me about his medical history and his psychological state so as to compensate and recommend the best possible drug dosage.

Nursing implications: This drug has severe side effects. Therefore, the patient was advised to consult me if any unusual problems occurred.

Client Implications: the drug greatly assisted the patient's brain to function normally again.

Patient Education: the patient had been instructed to ensure regularity in all his appointments

2. Name of drug: Abacavir

Dosage: 2 times a day after breakfast and afternoon lunch.

Indications for use: the tablet should be taken by mouth without splitting, chewing, or crushing it.

Mode of action: It acts by decelerating the widening of HIV virus throughout the body. The drug, however, is neither a cure nor does it prevent the spread of HIV to other people

Interactions: the patient had informed me about his medical history and his psychological state so as to compensate and recommend the best possible drug dosage.

Nursing implications: This drug has severe side effects including death. Therefore, the patient was advised to stop the dosage and consult me if any unusual problems occurred.

Client Implications: The patient had been completely treated with the use Abacavir along with other medications.

Patient Education: the patient had been instructed to ensure regularity in all his appointments and keep me up-to-date about his health status.

3. Name of drug: Pyrethrin and Piperonyl Butoxide

Dosage: once every week until the lice infection is cured.

Indications for use: The liquid form of the drug should be applied in the affected area. After ten minutes, the affected area should be washed thoroughly.

Mode of action: Pyrethrin with piperonyl butoxide destroys not only lice but also its eggs.

Interactions: the patient had informed me about his medical history and his psychological state so as to compensate and recommend the best possible drug dosage.

Nursing implications: This drug has mild side effects. However, the patient was advised to consult me if any unusual problems occurred.

Client Implications: the lice infection had been completely cured.

Patient Education: the patient had been instructed to ensure regularity in all his appointments

4. Name of drug: Hydrochlorothiazide

Dosage: Take once a day in the morning after breakfast

Indications for use: the liquid form of Hydrochlorothiazide should be taken by mouth.

Mode of action: This drug when used with Quinapril, restrains high blood pressure. However, it does not cure it. It instigates the kidneys to dispose of unnecessary water, as well as, salt through the urine.

Interactions: the patient had informed me about his medical history and his psychological state so as to compensate and recommend the best possible drug dosage.

Nursing implications: the patient was advised to consult me if any unusual problems occurred, since, Hydrochlorothiazide has severe side effects.

Client Implications: the patient has not yet reported high blood pressures and continues to lead a normal life.

Patient Education: the patient had been instructed to ensure regularity in all his appointments

5. Name of drug: Hydrocortisone Oral

Dosage: Once a day in the morning

Indications for use: The tablet should be taken by mouth without splitting, chewing, or crushing it.

Mode of action: It is identical to a natural hormone generated by adrenal organs. It replaces this chemical when the body stops making the sufficient amount.

Interactions: the patient had informed me about his medical history and his psychological state so as to compensate and recommend the best possible drug dosage.

Nursing implications: Since, this drug has severe side effects; the patient was advised to consult me if any unusual problems occurred.

Client Implications: It eases irritation, swelling, heat, reddishness, and soreness by working on the tissues.

Patient Education: the patient had been instructed to ensure regularity in all his appointments

6. Name of drug: Isotretinoin

Dosage: Thrice a day after meals.

Indications for use: the tablet should be taken by mouth without splitting, chewing, or crushing it.

Mode of action: It acts by decelerating the generation of some innate chemicals, which acts as a source for pimples to develop.

Interactions: the patient had informed me about his medical history and his psychological state so as to compensate and recommend the best possible drug dosage.

Nursing implications: This drug has mild side effects. Nonetheless, the patient was advised to consult me if any unusual problems occurred.

Client Implications: The patient had been suffering from recalcitrant nodular acne. However, after nearly 3 months of using the medication the acne had been cured.

Patient Education: the patient had been instructed to ensure regularity in all his appointments

7. Name of drug: Quinapril

Dosage: twice a day in the morning and night.

Indications for use: the tablet should be taken by mouth without splitting, chewing, or crushing it.

Mode of action: It acts by decelerating some substances, which squeeze blood vessels. This helps the smooth flow of blood and also assists the heart in pumping blood.

Interactions: the patient had informed me about his medical history and his psychological state so as to compensate and recommend the best possible drug dosage.

Nursing implications: This drug has severe side effects. Therefore, the patient was advised to consult me if any unusual problems occurred.

Client Implications: the high blood pressure had been completely cured by using this drug with Hydrochlorothiazide.

Patient Education: the patient had been instructed to ensure regularity in all his appointments