Exam (elaborations) NR 661 CAPSTONE PORTFOLIO CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY OF NURSING (CAPSTONE DR. LUNDE ASHLEY HALL)

Reflection Postings Advanced Pharmacology Reflecting over the eight weeks in this course, the achievements of the course outcomes in this course have prepared me to meet the MSN program outcome #3, MSN Essential IX, and NP Core Competencies # 5. The MSN Essential IX: Recognizing that nursing practice, at the master’s level, is a broadly defined as any form of nursing intervention that influences healthcare outcomes for individuals, populations, or systems. Master’s-level nursing graduates must have an advanced level of understanding of nursing and relevant sciences as well as the ability to integrate this knowledge into practice. Nursing practice interventions include both direct and indirect care components. Applying the science of pharmacology and integrating it into APN practice is what this course did. Throughout this course, treatment was based on using evidence-based therapies and researching up to date medications. This ensures patients get the best possible care. “Nurse practitioners have a professional responsibility to follow state and national guidelines and to be aware of best practices for safe opioid prescribing to protect patients, the public, and themselves if they become the subject of an investigation” (Hudspeth, 2016). Program outline #3: Use contemporary communication modalities effectively in advanced nursing roles. One of the most challenging aspects of prescribing medications is the possibility of dangerous interactions with those patients on multi-drug therapies. When it comes to prescriptive authority, sound critical thinking in decision making is crucial. Medications can and do alter people’s lives and the ability to prescribe them is an awesome responsibility. Part of the fear in having this responsibility lies in the fact that many times, as providers, we do not always know what medications a patient is already taking. Certainly, patients do their best in relaying their medical history and providing up-to-date lists of their current medications; however, we know that information is often forgotten or omitted from our conversations with them. This causes concern when prescribing new medications, as there may be harmful drug interactions that we are not able to avoid without all the pertinent information from the patient. It is our role an APN to communicate with all members of the patients care team to avoid any medication errors. This also must consider Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies #5 Technology and Information Literacy Competencies because as APN we must be able to integrate all the patients’ history and medications into a central file so that all members of the team are aware of the care plan (Allanetal, 2005). Of course, the future of my APN practice will be influenced by daily pharmacologic aspects. These influences are broad and will include: safety, cost, effectiveness, accessibility, and practical usage. As I progress in my clinical experiences and enter my own practice as an APN, I expect that these concerns and decisions will eventually become more and more familiar. However, pharmacology is an area of medicine that is constantly changing and evolving, so keeping up-to-date on new