Course Reflection
By Kayla Papez
How has your understanding changed about identifying the most commonly prescribed
agents in the major drug classes?
My understanding has changed based on multiple factors you must consider as the
provider when prescribing medication in major drug classes. Such as considering age
factors, health status, sex, and sedentary lifestyle. The most commonly prescribed
agents also depend on selecting the right one to meet your patient's health needs
while also being safe. You must also consider the mechanism of action, short or long-
term use, baseline labs, monitoring labs, contraindications, side effects, adverse
effects, and black box warnings.
How confident do you feel about analyzing factors pertinent to making the most effective
drug selection for a patient with a specific diagnosis in the primary care setting? What
resources are needed, if any, to help you feel more confident?
After this course I feel more confident in making safe, efficient, and appropriate drug
selections for patients in the primary care setting. Incorporating clinical practice
guidelines as a nurse practitioner to stay educated on the most up to date
medication selection and safety measures is key and knowing when to ask for help
for guidance and direction when needed.
How has your understanding changed regarding analyzing client indicators of therapeutic,
ineffective, adverse responses, and side effects to drug therapy?
My understanding has changed when analyzing client indicators of therapeutic,
ineffective, adverse responses, and side effects to drug therapy since so many factors
need to be considered. These factors include a patient’s medical history, family
history, current diagnoses, medication list, and sedentary lifestyle. Drug therapy is an
ongoing and consistent assessment when providing patient care and the need to
collect the proper baseline labs and monitoring labs to help guide on dosage change,
medication change or knowing when to discontinue is crucial. Our role is to maintain
a safe and effective outcome during treatment for the patient.
Reflect on your preparedness to write appropriate prescriptions according to evidence-
based practice guidelines. What resources are needed, if any, to help you feel more
prepared?
Resources like GoodRx can help assist providers to write appropriate prescriptions
according to evidence-based practice guidelines. It is important to use these types of
resources to ensure that providers make the right medication selection, and dosage.
It will also help reiterate the medication side effects, adverse effects, therapeutic
effects, and its mechanism of action. The provider will also have the resources to
properly educate the patient on the medication and ensure it is also cost effective
for the patient.
