Responsibilities for Patient Education Prescribed Therapy

Describe the roles and responsibilities of the APRN when prescribing medication.
Describe the method used to determine what drug therapy to prescribe?
Discuss responsibilities for patient education and teaching based on the prescribed therapy.
Discuss Schedule drugs and prescribing restrictions for each scheduled drug.

Submission Instructions:

Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in the current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources published within the last 5 years. Your initial post is worth 8 points.
- Each question must be answered individually as in bullet points.
- Example: Question 1, followed by the answer to question 1; Question 2, followed by the answer to question 2; and so forth.

Assessment and Diagnosis: The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is responsible for conducting thorough patient assessments, including history-taking, physical examinations, and diagnostic testing, to accurately diagnose medical conditions.
Medication Selection: APRNs must select appropriate medications based on the patient’s diagnosis, considering factors such as age, weight, allergies, comorbidities, and potential drug interactions.
Education and Counseling: Providing comprehensive education and counseling to patients about their medications, including how to take them, potential side effects, and what to do if a dose is missed, is a critical responsibility.
Monitoring and Follow-Up: APRNs must establish a plan for monitoring the patient’s response to the medication, managing side effects, and adjusting therapy as needed. This includes scheduling follow-up visits and lab tests.
Collaboration: Working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, and specialists, to ensure comprehensive patient care and optimize medication therapy outcomes.
Legal and Ethical Considerations: APRNs must adhere to legal and ethical guidelines, including state and federal regulations governing prescribing practices. They must maintain an up-to-date knowledge of these regulations and ensure their practice complies with them.

Evidence-Based Practice: Utilizing evidence-based guidelines and protocols to inform decision-making and ensure the selected medication is supported by the latest clinical research.
Patient-Centered Care: Taking into account the patient’s preferences, values, and specific health needs when determining the most suitable medication.
Clinical Judgment: Applying clinical expertise and judgment to evaluate the risks and benefits of potential therapies, considering the patient’s overall health status and specific clinical scenario.
Pharmacologic Knowledge: Understanding pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to predict how the drug will behave in the body and how the body will respond.
Risk-Benefit Analysis: Weighing the potential benefits of the medication against the risks, including side effects and possible interactions with other medications the patient is taking.
Cost-Effectiveness: Considering the cost of the medication and the patient’s ability to afford it, ensuring that the chosen therapy is not only effective but also accessible.

Medication Instructions: Clearly explaining how to take the medication, including the dosage, timing, route of administration, and any specific instructions (e.g., taking with food or on an empty stomach).
Side Effects: Informing patients about potential side effects and what to do if they experience them, including when to seek medical attention.
Adherence: Stressing the importance of adhering to the prescribed regimen and discussing strategies to help patients remember to take their medication as directed.
Lifestyle Modifications: Advising on lifestyle changes that may enhance the effectiveness of the medication, such as dietary adjustments, exercise, and smoking cessation.
Interactions: Educating patients about possible interactions with other medications, supplements, or foods, and advising them to inform all their healthcare providers about all the substances they are taking.
Monitoring: Instructing patients on how to monitor their own response to the medication, including recognizing signs of efficacy or adverse reactions, and keeping a symptom diary if appropriate.

Schedule I: These drugs have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use (e.g., heroin, LSD). APRNs are not permitted to prescribe Schedule I drugs.
Schedule II: Drugs with a high potential for abuse but with accepted medical uses (e.g., oxycodone, fentanyl). Prescriptions must be written and cannot be refilled. APRNs may prescribe Schedule II drugs in many states, but often with restrictions such as requiring a supervising physician’s approval.
Schedule III: Drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence (e.g., buprenorphine, ketamine). These can be prescribed by APRNs, typically with fewer restrictions than Schedule II drugs.
Schedule IV: Drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence (e.g., diazepam, tramadol). APRNs can prescribe these with fewer restrictions, and refills are permitted.
Schedule V: Drugs with the lowest potential for abuse and containing limited quantities of certain narcotics (e.g., cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters). APRNs can prescribe Schedule V drugs with minimal restrictions.

Buppert, C. (2020). Nurse Practitioner’s Business Practice and Legal Guide (7th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Phillips, S. J. (2020). 33rd annual APRN legislative update: Improvements in practice environment. The Nurse Practitioner, 45(1), 24-46.