1. Define generalized seizure, tonic-clonic seizure, absence seizure, partial seizure, and status epilepticus. List an anti epileptic drug of choice for each type of seizure.
2.Consider you were diagnosed with a seizure disorder. How would this impact your life?
3. Describe safety measures that need to be implemented for patients with seizure disorders who are taking anti epileptic medications.
4. Develop a wall chart that compares and contrasts the prototype drug from each anti epileptic drug with other drugs within that class. After the chart is completed, discuss how drugs within each class compare to each other and with drugs in other classifications.
5. Select a patient in a clinical setting who is receiving an anti epileptic agent. Develop a teaching plan for the patient related to the prescribed medication.
6. You are caring for a 40-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed seizure disorder. Conduct an Internet search for information related to support groups and educational materials that would be appropriate for the patient. Summarize your findings.
7. You are caring for a 33-year-old adult who will be given a neuromuscular junction blocking agent (NMJ). What considerations are necessary when using NMJ blocking agents in adults?
8. You are caring for an 81-year-old adult who will be given a neuromuscular junction (NMJ) blocking agent. What considerations are necessary when using NMJ blocking agents in older adults?
9. Interview a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist. Ask which neuromuscular junction blocking agent is used most frequently in his or her organization. Determine why this is the drug of choice and summarize your findings. Compare and contrast the organization's primary neuromuscular junction blocking agent to the prototype drugs pancuronium and succinylcholine. If the organization primarily uses the prototype drug, compare and contrast the drug to other drugs in the same classification.
10. During a surgical observation, record all neuromuscular junction (NMJ) blocking agents that are used. Compare and contrast the drugs to the prototype drugs pancuronium and succinylcholine and to other NMJ blocking agents. Are the prototype drugs preferred over other NMJ blocking agents? Why?
11. Observe patient care in an intensive care unit that cares for intubated patients. What neuromuscular junction blocking agents are used? What nursing assessments and interventions do the nurses implement because of the drugs used? Why are these assessments and interventions essential for these patients?
12. Draw a neuromuscular junction and label the parts. Describe the function of the neuromuscular junction. Conduct an Internet search to find additional information. The Web site is a good place to start your search.