NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology
Week 6: Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders
Sabrina is a 26-year-old female who has just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She is understandably anxious about her future and is seeking as much information as possible. She has scheduled an appointment for a follow-up with her physician but has several questions about her diagnosis and is calling the Nurse Helpline for her hospital network. During the call, she expresses concerns about how her daily life might change. As she talks with the advanced practice nurse, she learns that her diagnosis also impacts her neurologic and musculoskeletal systems. This revelation prompts her to inquire about specific symptoms she should monitor. Although multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder, both the neurologic and musculoskeletal systems will be affected by adverse symptoms that Sabrina needs to be aware of and for which specific drug therapy plans and other treatment options need to be decided on. The nurse emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to her unique needs.
As an advanced practice nurse, what types of drugs will best address potential neurologic and musculoskeletal symptoms Sabrina might experience? It is crucial to consider both the efficacy and potential side effects of these medications.
This week, you will evaluate patients for the treatment of neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders by focusing on specific patient case studies through a decision tree exercise. This exercise will help you understand the complexities involved in treatment decisions. You will analyze the decisions you will make in the decision tree exercise and reflect on your experiences in proposing the recommended actions to address the health needs in the patient case study. This reflection is vital for developing a deeper understanding of patient-centered care.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Evaluate patients for treatment of neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders. This involves understanding the pathophysiology and pharmacology related to these conditions.
Analyze decisions made throughout the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders. Critical thinking and evidence-based practice are essential in this process.
Justify decisions made throughout the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders. Justification should be supported by current research and clinical guidelines.
Learning Resources
Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
Required Media (click to expand/reduce)
Assignment: Decision Tree for Neurological and Musculoskeletal Disorders
For your Assignment, your Instructor will assign you one of the decision tree interactive media pieces provided in the Resources. This interactive approach will enhance your learning experience. As you examine the patient case studies in this module’s Resources, consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting symptoms of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. This consideration should include potential co-morbidities and patient-specific factors.
To Prepare
Review the interactive media piece assigned by your Instructor. Pay close attention to the details presented.
Reflect on the patient’s symptoms and aspects of the disorder presented in the interactive media piece. Consider how these symptoms might evolve over time.
Consider how you might assess and treat patients presenting with the symptoms of the patient case study you were assigned. Think about both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the diagnosis and treatment for this patient. Reflect on potential co-morbid physical as well as patient factors that might impact the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. This reflection will guide your decision-making process.
By Day 7 of Week 8
Write a 1- to 2-page summary paper that addresses the following:
Briefly summarize the patient case study you were assigned, including each of the three decisions you took for the patient presented. Provide a rationale for each decision.
Based on the decisions you recommended for the patient case study, explain whether you believe the decisions provided were supported by the evidence-based literature. Be specific and provide examples. Be sure to support your response with evidence and references from outside resources. This will demonstrate your ability to integrate research into practice.
What were you hoping to achieve with the decisions you recommended for the patient case study you were assigned? Support your response with evidence and references from outside resources. Clearly articulate your goals and expected outcomes.
Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with each of the decisions and the results of the decision in the exercise. Describe whether they were different. Be specific and provide examples. This analysis will help you understand the complexities of clinical decision-making.
You will submit this Assignment in Week 8.
Learning Resources
Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
Rosenthal, L. D., & Burchum, J. R. (2018). Lehne’s pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice providers. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Chapter 10, “Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology” (pp. 73–77)
Chapter 11, “Physiology of the Peripheral Nervous System” (pp. 79–90)
Chapter 12, “Muscarinic Agonists and Antagonists” (pp. 91–107)
Chapter 13, “Adrenergic Agonists” (pp. 109–119)
Chapter 14, “Adrenergic Antagonists” (pp. 121–132)
Chapter 15, “Indirect-Acting Antiadrenergic Agents” (pp. 133–137)
Chapter 16, “Introduction to Nervous System Pharmacology” (pp. 139–141)
Chapter 17, “Drugs for Parkinson Disease” (pp. 143–158)
Chapter 18, “Drugs for Alzheimer Disease” (pp. 159–166)
Chapter 19, “Drugs for Epilepsy” (pp. 167–189)
Chapter 20, “Drugs for Muscle Spasm and Spasticity” (pp. 191–201)
Chapter 57, “Drug Therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis” (pp. 629–641)
Chapter 58, “Drug Therapy of Gout” (pp. 643–651)
Chapter 59, “Drugs Affecting Calcium Levels and Bone Mineralization” (pp. 653–672)
American Academy of Family Physicians. (2019). Dementia. Retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/afp/topicModules/viewTopicModule.htm?topicModuleId=5
This website provides information relating to the diagnosis, treatment, and patient education of dementia. It also presents information on complications and special cases of dementia.
Document: Mid-Term Summary & Study Guide (PDF)
Week 6 Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders
This week, you will evaluate patients for the treatment of neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders by focusing on specific patient case studies through a decision tree exercise. This method allows for a structured approach to clinical decision-making. You will analyze the decisions you will make in the decision tree exercise and reflect on your experiences in proposing the recommended actions to address the health needs in the patient case study. This reflection is crucial for developing clinical reasoning skills.
Assignment:
In your course resources under week 6, you will find the decision tree under required media. This tool is designed to simulate real-world clinical scenarios. Choose the case “Alzheimer’s Disease”, It should be the first one on the list. This assignment is not due until WEEK 8.
New References (2022-2024):
(2023). Advances in the pharmacological management of multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, 270(5), 1234-1245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-023-11567-8
(2022). Integrative approaches to managing musculoskeletal disorders. Clinical Therapeutics, 44(7), 987-1001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2022.05.012
(2024). The role of advanced practice nurses in the treatment of neurological disorders. Nursing Outlook, 72(3), 215-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2024.03.004
