NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Week 3: Cardiovascular System

Alterations of the cardiovascular system can cause serious adverse events and may lead to death when not treated in a timely and safe manner. Unfortunately, many patients with cardiovascular disorders are unaware until complications appear. Consider hypertension. An estimated 68 million people in the United States have this disorder (CDC, 2012).

However, about 30 percent of these patients are not treated at all, and of those who are treated, less than 50 percent have properly controlled blood pressure levels (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2009). In clinical settings, patients often present with symptoms of hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders making it essential for you, as the advanced practice nurse, to be able to recognize these symptoms and recommend appropriate drug treatment options.

This week you examine the impact of changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapy for cardiovascular disorders. You also explore ways to improve drug therapy plans for these disorders.

Learning Objectives: NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

By the end of this week, students will:

Evaluate the influence of patient factors on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics processes
Analyze the impact of changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapy
Evaluate drug therapy plans for cardiovascular disorders
Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to prescribing drugs to treat cardiovascular disorders

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Learning Resources –NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.

Required Readings – NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

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 19, “Hypertension” (pp. 257-272)
This chapter examines the relationships between the cardiovascular, nervous, and renal systems. It then describes diagnostic criteria for hypertension patients, drugs used to treat hypertension and possible adverse reactions, monitoring patient response, and patient education.

Chapter 20, “Hyperlipidemia” (pp. 275-286)
This chapter explores causes of hyperlipidemia, treatments for hyperlipidemia patients, and methods for monitoring patient response. It also reviews strategies for risk assessment and patient education.

Chapter 21, “Chronic Stable Angina” (pp. 289-303)
This chapter begins by exploring factors that contribute to chronic stable angina, types of drugs used in treatment, and diagnostic criteria for initiating drug therapy. It also examines methods for monitoring patient response to treatment and educating patients on self-care. NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Chapter 22, “Heart Failure” (pp. 305-322)
This chapter examines the process of prescribing drugs to treat heart failure and explores effects of prescribed drugs, proper dosages, and possible adverse reactions.

Chapter 50, “Pharmacotherapy for Venous Thromboembolism Prevention and Treatment, Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation, and Thromboembolism Prevention with Mechanical Heart Valves” (pp. 863-886)

This chapter covers drug therapy options for three disorders requiring anticoagulants: venous thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation, and ischemic stroke. It also explains the process of initiating and managing drug therapy for patients with these disorders.

Required Media: NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012). Hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Baltimore, MD: Author. This media presentation outlines hypertension and hyperlipidemia including contributing factors, evaluation, treatment, and implications.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 10 minutes.

Optional Resources

Refer to the Optional Resources listed in Week 1.

NURS 6521 Week 3 Discussion: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders

As the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, cardiovascular disorders account for 7 million hospitalizations per year (NCSL, 2012). This is the result of the extensive treatment and care that is often required for patients with these disorders. While the incidences of hospitalizations and death are still high, the mortality rate of cardiovascular disorders has been declining since the 1960s (CDC, 2011). Improved treatment options have contributed to this decline, as well as more knowledge on patient risk factors.

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. NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Consider the following case studies:

Case Study 1:

Patient AO has a history of obesity and has recently gained 9 pounds. The patient has been diagnosed with hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Drugs currently prescribed include the following: NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Atenolol 12.5 mg daily
Doxazosin 8 mg daily
Hydralazine 10 mg qid
Sertraline 25 mg daily
Simvastatin 80 mg daily

Case Study 2:

Patient HM has a history of atrial fibrillation and a transient ischemic attack (TIA). The patient has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and ischemic heart disease. Drugs currently prescribed include the following: NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Warfarin 5 mg daily MWF and 2.5 mg daily T, TH, Sat, Sun
Aspirin 81 mg daily
Metformin 1000 mg po bid
Glyburide 10 mg bid
Atenolol 100 mg po daily
Motrin 200 mg 1–3 tablets every 6 hours as needed for pain

Case Study 3:

Patient CB has a history of strokes. The patient has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Drugs currently prescribed include the following: NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Glipizide 10 mg po daily
HCTZ 25 mg daily
Atenolol 25 mg po daily
Hydralazine 25 mg qid
Simvastatin 80 mg daily
Verapamil 180 mg CD daily

To prepare:

Review this week’s media presentation on hypertension and hyperlipidemia, as well as Chapters 19 and 20 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text.
Select one of the three case studies, as well as 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. NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

With these thoughts in mind: NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

By Day 3

Post an explanation of how the factor you selected might influence the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in the patient from the case study you selected. Then, describe how changes in the processes might impact the patient’s recommended drug therapy. Finally, explain how you might improve the patient’s drug therapy plan.

By Day 6

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who selected a different case study than you did, in one or more of the following ways: NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Provide alternative recommendations for drug treatments.
Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Discussion Rubric

Submission

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 6

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 3 Discussion

NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

Week 3 Quiz

This week’s Quiz covers the content you have explored this week. The Quiz may include the following topics:

Drug classifications by indication—ACE-I, ARB, anticoagulants, antiplatelet, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, cardiovascular system, DRI
Drug dosage calculations
Drug interactions

By Day 7

You have 60 minutes to complete this 26-question Quiz.

This quiz is a test of your knowledge in preparation for your certification exam. No outside resources including books, notes, websites, or any other type of resource are to be used to complete this quiz. You are expected to comply with Walden University’s Code of Conduct.

Submission and Grading Information

Submit Your Quiz by Day 7

NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper

NURS 6521 Week 3 Cardiovascular System Paper