Written assignment

1. What is balance anesthesia? Provide examples of drugs that may be used with balance anesthesia (1 learning Objective)
2. Describe the differences between the action of a general and local anesthetic.Give examples when each type of anesthetic is used.(2 learning Objective)
3. You are caring for an 11 year old child who will be receiving a general anesthetic for surgery to repair a fractured femur. prepare teaching handouts for the parents and the child that address preoperative and postoperative needs(6 learning Objective)
4. you are caring for a 30 year old female patient going into surgery for a cholecystectomy. The patient will receive general anesthesia. outline the preoperative and postoperative needs of the patient related to general anesthesia.(4 learning Objective)

Group assignment

1. For each prototype drug (thiopental, midazolam, nitrous, oxide, halothane, benzocaine and lidocaine), determine which type of procedure this drug would be used for. Compare and contrast each drug with the other drugs in the classification. consider differences and similarities among drugs in the same and different classifications.(5 learning Objective)
2. List nursing considerations safety measures, and teaching needs for patients receiving anesthetics. Explain you rational for all statements. (6 learning Objective)
3. Create a chart with the heading local Anesthesia and General Anesthesia. Compare and contrast the preoperative and postoperative needs with each type of anesthesia. (4 learning Objective)

Clinical Assignments

1. Spend a day observing surgical procedures. Record the names of all anesthetics used during the day. Classify each anesthetic as general, regional or local. For each classification of anesthetic, record the therapeutic action, indication, pharmacokinestics, contraincations, the most common adverse reactions and important drug - drug interactions.(3 learning Objective)
2. Interview a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist. determine which anesthetics he or she uses most frequently. What are the most common adverse reaction observe? what special considerations does he or she use with the mostly commonly used anesthetics? (3 learning Objective)

Web Assignment

1. Conduct an Internet search to determine which three anesthetics are used most frequently. the web site http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org provides a good starting point for your research. Summarize the findings of your research and discuss why these anesthetics are the drugs of choice. (3 learning Objective)