Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders

Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders

...heart disease remains the No. 1 killer in America; nearly half of all Americans have
high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoke—some of the leading risk factors for
heart disease…

—Murphy et al., 2018
Despite the high mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disorders, improved
treatment options do exist that can help address those risk factors that afflict the
majority of the population today.  
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF
As an advanced practice nurse, it is your responsibility to recommend appropriate
treatment options for patients with cardiovascular disorders. To ensure the safety and
effectiveness of drug therapy, advanced practice nurses must consider aspects that
might influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes such as medical
history, other drugs currently prescribed, and individual patient factors.
Reference: Murphy, S. L., Xu, J., Kochanek, K. D., & Arias, E. (2018). Mortality in the United States, 2017. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db328.htm
To Prepare
 Review the Resources for this module and consider the impact of potential
pharmacotherapeutics for cardiovascular disorders introduced in the media piece.
 Review the case study assigned by your Instructor for this Assignment.
 Select one the following factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior factors.
 Reflect on how the factor you selected might influence the patient’s pharmacokinetic
and pharmacodynamic processes.
 Consider how changes in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes might
impact the patient’s recommended drug therapy.
 Think about how you might improve the patient’s drug therapy plan based on the
pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes. Reflect on whether you would modify
the current drug treatment or provide an alternative treatment option for the patient.
By Day 7 of Week 2
Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:
 Explain how the factor you selected might influence the pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic processes in the patient from the case study you were assigned.
 Describe how changes in the processes might impact the patient’s recommended drug
therapy. Be specific and provide examples.
 Explain how you might improve the patient’s drug therapy plan and explain why you
would make these recommended improvements.
Reminder: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title
page, introduction, summary, and references. The School of Nursing Writing Template
with Instructions provided at the Walden Writing Center offers an example of those
required elements (available at
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-
20293632). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

https://youtu.be/bLajK5Vy55M
case study
A 16-year-old boy comes to clinic with chief complaint of sore throat for 3 days. Denies fever or chills.
PMH negative for recurrent colds, influenza, ear infections or pneumonias. NKDA or food allergies.
Physical exam reveals temp of 99.6 F, pulse 78 and regular with respirations of 18. HEENT normal with
exception of reddened posterior pharynx with white exudate on tonsils that are enlarged to 3+. Positive
anterior and posterior cervical adenopathy. Rapid strep test performed in office was positive. His HCP
wrote a prescription for amoxicillin 500 mg po q 12 hours x 10 days disp #20. He took the first capsule
when he got home and immediately complained of swelling of his tongue and lips, difficulty breathing with
audible wheezing. 911 was called and he was taken to the hospital, where he received emergency
treatment for his allergic reaction.
Welcome to Week 2! This week we will focus on altered physiology. 
 
 
 
You will examine alterations in the immune system and the resultant disease processes. You will also
consider patient characteristics, including racial and ethnic variables, that may impact altered physiology.
 
 
 
The learning objectives this week include:
 
         Evaluate cellular processes and alterations within cellular processes
         Analyze alterations in the immune system that result in disease processes
         Identify racial/ethnic variables that may impact physiological functioning
         Evaluate the impact of patient characteristics on disorders and altered physiology
 
 Welcome to Week 2! This week we will focus on altered physiology. 
 
 

 
You will examine alterations in the immune system and the resultant disease processes. You will also
consider patient characteristics, including racial and ethnic variables, that may impact altered physiology.
 
 
 
The learning objectives this week include:
 
         Evaluate cellular processes and alterations within cellular processes
         Analyze alterations in the immune system that result in disease processes
         Identify racial/ethnic variables that may impact physiological functioning
         Evaluate the impact of patient characteristics on disorders and altered physiology
 
 
 
This week you will have a written assignment.