Assignment: Implications of Prescribing Drugs
Assignment: Ethical and Legal Implications of Prescribing Drugs
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 thispatient?
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 on a daily basis. 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. In this paper, you explore ethical and legal implications of the following scenario and consider how to appropriately respond.
Scenario:
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.
You might want to think about some of these considerations while choosing an appropriate treatment strategy for a patient. As an advanced practise nurse who prescribes medications, you are held accountable for the lives of those you care for on a daily basis. Because of your position, patients and their families will frequently repose their trust in you.. When you place your faith in someone or something, it gives you power and responsibility, as well as an ethical and legal obligation to do no harm. For advanced practise nurses with prescriptive authority, it is critical that you are informed of the current professional, legal, and ethical norms that must be followed. In this paper, you will examine the ethical and legal consequences of the following scenario, as well as how to respond in an appropriate manner.
Scenario:
You come into another nurse practitioner who is writing a prescription for her spouse, who is not a patient of the other nurse practitioner’s practise. The prescription is for a narcotic, as you might expect. You are unable to make a decision on whether or not to report the occurrence.
To prepare:
· Review the following:
·
Arcangelo, V. P., Peterson, A. M., Wilbur, V., & Reinhold, J. A. (Eds.). (2017). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (4th ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Chapter 1, “Issues for the Practitioner in Drug Therapy” (pp. 3–14)
This chapter introduces issues relating to drug therapy such as adverse drug events and medication adherence. It also explores drug safety, the practitioner’s role and responsibilities in prescribing, and prescription writing.
Chapter 59, “The Economics of Pharmacotherapeutics” (pp. 1009-1018)
This chapter analyzes the costs of drug therapy to health care systems and society and explores practice guideline compliance and current issues in medical care.
Chapter 60, “Integrative Approaches to Pharmacotherapy—A Look at Complex Cases” (pp. 1021-1036)
This chapter examines issues in individual patient cases. It explores concepts relating to Assessment, drug selection, patient education, and alternative treatment options.
As well as:
Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Code of federal regulations. Retrieved August 23, 2012, from http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/21cfr/cfr/1300/1300_01.htm
Anderson, P., & Townsend, T. (2010). Medication errors: Don’t let them happen to you. American Nurse Today, 5(3), 23–28. Retrieved from https://americannursetoday.com/medication-errors-dont-let-them-happen-to-you/
· Consider the ethical and legal implications of the scenario for all stakeholders involved such as the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and the 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.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post an explanation of the ethical and legal implications of the scenario you selected on all stakeholders involved such as the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and the patient’s family. Describe two strategies that you, as an advanced practice nurse, would use to guide your decision making in this scenario.
NURS_6521_Week1_Assignment_Rubric
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EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR
EXPLAIN THE ETHICAL AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE SCENARIO YOU SELECTED ON ALL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED SUCH AS THE PRESCRIBER, PHARMACIST, PATIENT, AND THE PATIENT’S FAMILY.
Points Range: 23 (23%) – 25 (25%)
The response accurately and thoroughly explains in detail the ethical and legal implications of the scenario selected on all stakeholders involved.
The response includes accurate, clear, and detailed explanations as to how these implications affect the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and the patient’s family.
Points Range: 20 (20%) – 22 (22%)
The response explains the ethical and legal implications of the scenario selected on all stakeholders involved.
The response includes accurate explanations as to how these implications affect the prescriber, pharmacist, patient, and the patient’s family.
Points Range: 18 (18%) – 19 (19%)
The response inaccurately or vaguely explains t
