What Type Of Drug Should You Prescribe Based On Your Patient ✓ Solved

What type of drug should you prescribe based on your patient’s

What type of drug should you prescribe based on your patient’s diagnosis? How much of the drug should the patient receive? How often should the drug be administered? When should the drug not be prescribed? Are there individual patient factors that could create complications when taking the drug?

Should you be prescribing drugs to this patient? How might different state regulations affect the prescribing of this drug to this patient? These are some of the questions you might consider when selecting a treatment plan for a patient. As an advanced practice nurse prescribing drugs, you are held accountable for people’s lives every day. Patients and their families will often place trust in you because of your position.

With this trust comes power and responsibility, as well as an ethical and legal obligation to “do no harm.” It is important that you are aware of current professional, legal, and ethical standards for advanced practice nurses with prescriptive authority. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the treatment plans and administration/prescribing of drugs is in accordance with the regulations of the state in which you practice. Understanding how these regulations may affect the prescribing of certain drugs in different states may have a significant impact on your patient’s treatment plan. In this Assignment, you explore ethical and legal implications of scenarios and consider how to appropriately respond.

To Prepare Scenario 1: You see another nurse practitioner writing a prescription for her husband, who is not a patient of the nurse practitioner. The prescription is for a narcotic. You can’t decide whether or not to report the incident. Review the scenario assigned. Search specific laws and standards for prescribing prescription drugs and for addressing medication errors for your state (Texas) or region, and reflect on these as you review the scenario assigned by your Instructor.

Consider the ethical and legal implications of the scenario for all stakeholders involved, such as the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and patient’s family. Think about two strategies that you, as an advanced practice nurse, would use to guide your ethically and legally responsible decision-making in this scenario, including whether you would disclose any medication errors. Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following: Explain the ethical and legal implications of the scenario you selected on all stakeholders involved, such as the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and patient’s family. Describe strategies to address disclosure and nondisclosure as identified in the scenario you selected.

Be sure to reference laws specific to your state (Texas) Explain two strategies that you, as an advanced practice nurse, would use to guide your decision making in this scenario, including whether you would disclose your error. Be sure to justify your explanation. Explain the process of writing prescriptions, including strategies to minimize medication errors.

Paper For Above Instructions

In the complex realm of healthcare, the responsibilities of advanced practice nurses (APNs) are multifaceted, especially when it comes to prescribing medications. The ethical and legal implications surrounding prescription practices can significantly impact various stakeholders, including prescribers, pharmacists, patients, and their families. For this paper, I will explore the scenario of a nurse practitioner writing a narcotic prescription for her husband, who is not an established patient. This situation presents ethical dilemmas and legal concerns that warrant comprehensive examination and thoughtful decision-making.

Ethical and Legal Implications

When a nurse practitioner prescribes medication for a relative, especially a narcotic, it raises significant ethical and legal issues. Healthcare professionals have a duty to adhere to ethical standards and legal regulations designed to ensure patient safety and integrity of practice. In this scenario, the prescriber is at risk of violating ethical principles such as non-maleficence and beneficence, since the treatment is not based on a doctor-patient relationship which involves a thorough evaluation of medical necessity and risks associated with narcotic use.

In Texas, the Nursing Practice Act (Texas Occupations Code Chapter 301) regulates the conduct of nurses, including the prescriptive authority of APNs. Prescribing medications without a proper patient-provider relationship may be viewed as unprofessional conduct, leading to disciplinary actions by the Texas Board of Nursing. Furthermore, the implications for the pharmacist, who may inadvertently fill a prescription lacking a valid medical basis, can pass legal liability onto them if it is determined that the prescribed narcotic medications were unnecessary or administered inappropriately.

The patient in this scenario, although a family member, also faces legal and health risks. Receiving medication based on familial ties undermines the ethical framework of safe prescribing practices and could contribute to substance misuse, dependency, or legal actions against the prescriber. The family of the patient may experience emotional distress and ethical discomfort knowing that practices violate established healthcare norms.

Strategies for Disclosure and Nondisclosure

When confronting the dilemma of whether to disclose the prescribing violation, it is crucial to consider the implications of both disclosure and nondisclosure. As an advanced practice nurse, I would adopt the following two strategies:

1. Reporting to Appropriate Authorities: As a first step, it is imperative to report the incident to the Texas Board of Nursing. Reporting supports the principle of accountability and integrity within the healthcare profession. Through this, one not only protects the safety of future patients but also contributes to enforcing professional standards. This action requires careful analysis of personal responsibilities versus loyalty to colleagues, as failing to report could have serious repercussions for public health.
2. Engaging in Ethical Reflection and Guidance: Before deciding on full disclosure, seeking counsel from a mentor or ethics committee may offer perspectives that can shape decision making regarding patient safety and professional integrity. Engaging in discussions around the ethical principles involved, such as trustworthiness and professional conduct, provides a comprehensive understanding of how to address similar future dilemmas responsibly.

Writing Prescriptions: Strategies to Minimize Errors

The process of writing prescriptions is intricate and necessitates a keen attention to detail to uphold the highest standards of patient care. As an advanced practice nurse, it is vital to implement strategies that minimize the risk of medication errors:

1. Utilizing E-Prescribing Systems: Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) diminishes the likelihood of illegible handwriting errors and streamlines the prescription process, allowing for direct communication with pharmacies. This also ensures that multiple providers can access a patient’s medication history, enabling coordinated care.
2. Conducting Medication Reconciliation: Regularly reconciling medications during patient visits can help identify discrepancies and ensure that prescribed medications align with the patient’s overall treatment plan. This promotes patient safety by preventing adverse drug interactions or duplicative therapies.
3. Education and Collaboration: Educating patients about their medications, including indications, side effects, and proper usage, fosters patient engagement in their own care. Collaboration with pharmacists enhances the accuracy of prescriptions and allows for additional verification of medication appropriateness.

In conclusion, as advanced practice nurses, we bear the responsibility of ensuring ethical and legal compliance in our prescribing practices. The scenario of a nurse practitioner writing a narcotic prescription for a family member serves as a critical reminder of these challenges. Addressing such dilemmas involves a firm understanding of ethical principles, state-specific laws, and effective strategies for decision-making and prescription endorsement that prioritize patient safety and professional integrity.

References

• Texas Nursing Practice Act. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 301.
• American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements.
• Institute of Medicine. (2007). Preventing Medication Errors: Quality Chasm Series.
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2015). Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2017). The Role of Nurse Practitioners in Patient Safety.
• World Health Organization. (2016). Medication Safety in Polypharmacy: A Patient Safety Framework.
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2020). Prescriptive Authority State Practice Environment.
• Texas Pharmacy Act. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 551.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Prescribing and Dispensing Medication: An Overview.
• Harrison, J. (2018). Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing: A Comprehensive Overview.