Overview

Write a 5 page article on a controversial topic related to pharmacology. Explain appropriate use of pharmacology; the relationship between quality patient outcomes, patient safety, and the use of pharmacology; and how the topic affects communities and organizations. Describe inequities regarding access to pharmacological treatments.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

Competency 1: Apply practice guidelines and standards of evidence-based practice related to pharmacology for safe and effective nursing practice.

Explain the appropriate use of pharmacology.

Competency 2: Explain the relationship between quality patient outcomes, patient safety, and the appropriate use of pharmacology and psychopharmacology.

Explain the relationship between quality patient outcomes, patient safety, and the use of pharmacology.

Explain how pharmacology affects communities and organizations.

Competency 3: Apply the principles and practices of cultural competence with regard to pharmacological interventions.

Describe inequities regarding access to pharmacology.

Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations of a nursing professional.

Write content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.

Correctly format paper, citations, and references using current APA style.

Context

Professional nursing practice is based on knowledge that comes from research. This research provides nurses with strategies to better communicate with patients, as well as answers to questions such as the following:

What are the most effective pharmacological agents to treat hypertension in an elderly Latino patient?

How do home visits benefit the family of a child with a severe chronic illness?

Are there new pharmacological treatments for mental illness?

Health care is ever changing. Research helps nurses understand what those changes are and build on their knowledge base as they continue to provide quality care to their patients.

Questions to Consider

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community.

What role does nursing play in clinical trials during the development of a new drug?

Suggested Resources

The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context.

Library Resources

Bench, S., Day, T., & Metcalfe, A. (2013). Randomised controlled trials: An introduction for nurse researchers. Nurse Researcher, 20(5), 38-44.

Edwards, B., & Chakraborty, S. (2012). Risk communication and the pharmaceutical industry: What is the reality? Drug Safety, 35(11), 1027-1040.

Folmsbee, S. (2014, October 5). Folmsbee: Medical marijuana deserves research. University Wire. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu

Hoffmann, D. E., & Weber, E. (2010). Medical marijuana and the law. The New England Journal of Medicine, 362(16), 1453-1457.

Bookstore Resources

The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assessments in this course and are not required.

Burchum, J., & Rosenthal, L. (2016). Lehen's pharmacology for nursing care (9th ed.) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders.

Chapters 3, 63, 96, 101, and 110.

Assessment Instructions

In your professional nursing practice, you will likely encounter both patients and coworkers whose personal or cultural views on pharmacology may be quite different from your own. Understanding the most current research on pharmacological topics will help you make informed choices.

For this assessment, imagine your supervisor asks you to write an article on a controversial topic for the organization's monthly newsletter in which you review the most recent research on the topic. She stresses you must present a balanced overview and equally address the pros and cons of the topic.

Preparation

Complete the following as you prepare to write your article:

Choose a topic from the list below:

The use of medical marijuana.

The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) versus traditional Western medicine.

Experimental drug programs and disease management.

Mandated vaccinations for children and the implications for parental choice not to vaccinate.

Search the Capella library and the Internet to locate peer-reviewed research articles on your selected topic. The information you use to support your work in this assessment must be as recent as possible.

Note: These are very broad topics. Limit your work to the scope of your practice and be mindful of the page-length requirements.
Requirements

Once you have identified your topic, organize your article as you wish. Be sure to include the following:

Explain the appropriate use of the pharmacology related to the topic. Include elements such as diseases or health concerns associated with the topic and the efficacy and applicability of the pharmacology.

Explain the relationship between quality patient outcomes, patient safety, and use of the pharmacology related to the topic. Remember to address both the benefits and limitations of the pharmacology in terms of specific diseases and populations.

Explain how the topic affects both the community and the organization in terms of promoting health and wellness.

Describe any inequities regarding access to the pharmacology related to the topic. Is access limited to specific groups or populations?

Who determines access? On what is it based? Does access influence choice?

Follow APA guidelines to format this assessment. Include a title page and reference page.

Additional Requirements

Number of pages: 5.

At least 4 current scholarly or professional resources.

Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced font.