Pharmacological Treatments Scoring Guide CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED Identify the pharmacological agents most often used in the treatment of a disease or health condition. Does not identify the pharmacological agents most often used in the treatment of a disease or health condition. Identifies pharmacological agents used in the treatment of a disease or health condition, but the agents are not those used most often for the disease or health condition. Identifies the pharmacological agents most often used in the treatment of a disease or health condition. Identifies the pharmacological agents most often used in the treatment of a disease or health condition and explains how the agents are typically used. Explain the types of actions, side effects, indications, and contraindications that may be expected from a pharmacological treatment. Does not explain the types of actions, side effects, indications, and contraindications that may be expected from a pharmacological treatment. Lists the types of actions, side effects, indications, and contraindications that may be expected from a pharmacological treatment. Explains the types of actions, side effects, indications, and contraindications that may be expected from a pharmacological treatment. Explains the types of actions, side effects, indications, and contraindications that may be expected from a pharmacological treatment and discusses which may be serious or life threatening (or both). Describe the treatment regime, including pharmacology, most often prescribed for a disease or health condition. Does not describe the treatment regime, including pharmacology, most often prescribed for a disease or health condition. Describes the treatment regime most often prescribed for a disease or health condition but does not include pharmacology or only describes the pharmacological treatment. Describes the treatment regime, including pharmacology, most often prescribed for a disease or health condition. Describes the treatment regime, including pharmacology, most often prescribed for a disease or health condition and explains how non- pharmacological treatments work in tandem with pharmacological treatments. Describe how a treatment regime, including pharmacology, may impact a client's lifestyle. Does not describe how a treatment regime, including pharmacology, may impact a client's lifestyle. Describes how a treatment regime may impact a client's lifestyle but does not include pharmacology in the treatment regime or only describes how the pharmacology treatment impacts a client's lifestyle. Describes how a treatment regime, including pharmacology, may impact a client's lifestyle. Describes how a treatment regime, including pharmacology, may impact all aspects of a client's lifestyle, including diet, physical a.

1. Pharmacological Treatments Scoring Guide
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT
DISTINGUISHED
Identify the
pharmacological
agents most often
used in the
treatment of a
disease or health
condition.
Does not identify the
pharmacological
agents most often
used in the treatment
of a disease or health
condition.
Identifies
pharmacological
agents used in the
treatment of a disease
or health condition, but
the agents are not
those used most often
for the disease or
health condition.
Identifies the
pharmacological

2. agents most often
used in the treatment
of a disease or
health condition.
Identifies the
pharmacological
agents most often used
in the treatment of a
disease or health
condition and explains
how the agents are
typically used.
Explain the types of
actions, side effects,
indications, and
contraindications
that may be
expected from a
pharmacological
treatment.
Does not explain the
types of actions, side
effects, indications,
and contraindications
that may be expected
from a
pharmacological
treatment.
Lists the types of
actions, side effects,
indications, and
contraindications that

3. may be expected from
a pharmacological
treatment.
Explains the types of
actions, side effects,
indications, and
contraindications
that may be
expected from a
pharmacological
treatment.
Explains the types of
actions, side effects,
indications, and
contraindications that
may be expected from
a pharmacological
treatment and
discusses which may
be serious or life
threatening (or both).
Describe the
treatment regime,
including
pharmacology, most
often prescribed for
a disease or health
condition.
Does not describe
the treatment regime,
including
pharmacology, most

4. often prescribed for a
disease or health
condition.
Describes the
treatment regime most
often prescribed for a
disease or health
condition but does not
include pharmacology
or only describes the
pharmacological
treatment.
Describes the
treatment regime,
including
pharmacology, most
often prescribed for
a disease or health
condition.
Describes the
treatment regime,
including
pharmacology, most
often prescribed for a
disease or health
condition and explains
how non-
pharmacological
treatments work in
tandem with
pharmacological
treatments.

5. Describe how a
treatment regime,
including
pharmacology, may
impact a client's
lifestyle.
Does not describe
how a treatment
regime, including
pharmacology, may
impact a client's
lifestyle.
Describes how a
treatment regime may
impact a client's
lifestyle but does not
include pharmacology
in the treatment regime
or only describes how
the pharmacology
treatment impacts a
client's lifestyle.
Describes how a
treatment regime,
including
pharmacology, may
impact a client's
lifestyle.
Describes how a
treatment regime,
including
pharmacology, may

6. impact all aspects of a
client's lifestyle,
including diet, physical
activity, sleep patterns,
moods, pain, memory,
et cetera.
Describe how to
monitor a client
following a
prescribed treatment
regime, including
pharmacology, in
order to obtain a
quality patient
outcome.
Does not describe
how to monitor a
client following a
prescribed treatment
regime, including
pharmacology, in
order to obtain a
quality patient
outcome.
Describes how to
monitor a client in
order to obtain a
quality patient outcome
but does not associate
the description to a
prescribed treatment
regime or does not
include pharmacology.

7. Describes how to
monitor a client
following a
prescribed treatment
regime, including
pharmacology, in
order to obtain a
quality patient
outcome.
Describes how to
monitor a client
following a prescribed
treatment regime,
including
pharmacology, in order
to obtain a quality
patient outcome and
identifies specific
warning signs that may
require intervention.
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CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT
DISTINGUISHED
Explain the
controversies
related to a

8. pharmacological
agent.
Does not explain the
controversies related
to a pharmacological
agent.
Lists the controversies
related to a
pharmacological
agent.
Explains the
controversies related
to a pharmacological
agent.
Explains the
controversies related to
a pharmacological
agent and compares
the benefits to the
risks.
Write content clearly
and logically with
correct use of
grammar,
punctuation, and
mechanics.
Does not write
content clearly,
logically, or with
correct use of

9. grammar,
punctuation, and
mechanics.
Writes with errors in
clarity, logic, grammar,
punctuation, or
mechanics.
Writes content
clearly and logically
with correct use of
grammar,
punctuation, and
mechanics.
Writes clearly and
logically with correct
use of spelling,
grammar, punctuation,
and mechanics; uses
relevant evidence to
support a central idea.
Correctly format
citations and
references using
current APA style.
Does not correctly
format citations and
references using
current APA style.
Uses current APA style
to format citations and

10. references but with
numerous errors.
Correctly formats
citations and
references using
current APA style
with few errors.
Correctly formats
citations and
references with no
errors.
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Overview
Create a 10–12-slide PowerPoint presentation to identify
medications associated with a chosen disease or health
condition, explain the actions and side effects of the
medications, and discuss any controversies related to the
medications. Explain a treatment regime, including
pharmacology, for the disease or health condition you selected,
along with how the treatment regime may affect a client's
lifestyle.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assessment criteria:
•Competency 1: Apply practice guidelines and standards of
evidence-based practice related to pharmacology for safe and
effective nursing practice. ◦Identify the pharmacological agents
most often used in the treatment of a disease or health

11. condition.
◦Describe the treatment regime, including pharmacology, most
often prescribed for a disease or health condition.
◦Explain the controversies related to a pharmacological agent.
•Competency 2: Explain the relationship between quality patient
outcomes, patient safety, and the appropriate use of
pharmacology and psychopharmacology. ◦Explain the types of
actions, side effects, indications, and contraindications that may
be expected from a pharmacological treatment.
◦Describe how a treatment regime, including pharmacology,
may impact a client's lifestyle.
◦Describe how to monitor a client following a prescribed
treatment regime, including pharmacology, in order to obtain a
quality patient outcome.
•Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly,
professional, and consistent with expectations of a nursing
professional. ◦Write content clearly and logically with correct
use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
◦Correctly format citations and references using current APA
style.
Context
By having a thorough understanding of pharmacology, nurses
can eliminate possible medication errors in their nursing
practices. The basic principles of pharmacology include
pharmacokinetics (what the body does to a drug) and
pharmacodynamics (what a drug does to the body).
Pharmacology plays a significant role in the nursing profession,
so it is extremely important for nurses to understand the actions
of the pharmacological agents they will administer to patients in
order to intervene appropriately if necessary.
Another critical skill for a nurse is the ability to apply and
evaluate evidence-based practices, principles, models, and
pharmacological guidelines and protocols commonly used in
nursing practice. Understanding how specific protocols and
guidelines are developed will aid nurses in treating patients

12. with a multitude of physiological and psychological conditions.
Nurses must be able to measure outcomes of pharmacological
interventions when caring for patients. The effective use of
evidence-based practice guidelines, models, and principles is
one way that nurses can analyze quality outcomes for the
pharmacological treatments used for patients.
Pharmacology includes different categories of major drugs used
in the treatment of primary diseases. The same drug may be
used to treat more than one disease or condition, while two
patients with the same disease may require different drug
treatments. In addition, the professional nurse must be aware of
what types of things can influence a patient's response to a
drug. Some things are obvious—other medications, for
example—while some are less so. Things like age, weight,
herbs—even foods people eat every day—can influence how a
person responds to a particular drug. At times, even a strong
cultural belief can influence how a drug will react. Nurses who
administer drugs have a responsibility to assess patients for
both the desired response, as well as for any unwanted and
potentially harmful reactions that may occur.
Questions to Consider
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider
the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a
work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your
professional community.
•What constitutes a medication error? How can medication
errors be prevented?
•How do you use evidence-based practice in your workplace?
Suggested Resources
The following optional resources are provided to support you in
completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For
additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and
Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your

13. courseroom.
Library Resources
•Ward-Abel, N., Vernon, K., & Warner, R. (2014). An exciting
era of treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 10(1), 21–28.
•Cohen, M. R. (2015). Medication errors. Nursing, 45(3), 72.
•Hernandez, J., Goeckner, B., & Wanzer, L. (2011).
Perioperative pharmacology: Pharmacotherapeutics,
pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. AORN Journal,
93(2), 259–266; 267–269 (quiz).
•Cooper, G. A. A., Kronstrand, R., & Kintz, P. (2012). Society
of Hair Testing guidelines for drug testing in hair. Forensic
Science International (Online), 218(1), 20–24.
•Drach-Zahavy, A., Somech, A., Admi, H., Peterfreund, H.,
Peker, H. & Priente, O. (2014). How do we learn from errors?
A prospective study of the link between the ward's learning
practices and medication administration errors. International
Journal of Nursing Studies, 51(3), 448–457.
•Eisenberg, S. (2012). NIOSH safe handling of hazardous drugs
guidelines becomes state law. Journal of Infusion Nursing,
35(5), 316–319.
•Molloy, L., Field, J., Beckett, P., & Holmes, D. (2012). PRN
psychotropic medication and acute mental health nursing:
Reviewing the evidence. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing &
Mental Health Services, 50(8), 12–15.
•Fleming, S., Brady, A., & Malone, A. (2014). An evaluation of
the drug calculation skills of registered nurses. Nurse Education
in Practice, 14(1), 55–61.
•Bench, S., Day, T., & Metcalfe, A. (2013). Randomised
controlled trials: An introduction for nurse researchers. Nurse
Researcher, 20(5), 38–44.
•Jenny, J. L., Jenny, C., Jayadevan, S., Jayakumary, M.,
Mohamed, A., Arun, S., & Mohamed, F. M. (2012). Nurses
opinion on the attributes of polypharmacy in patient safety.
Acta Medica Iranica, 50(7), 516–521.

14. •Patel, N. K., Wood, R. C., & Espino, D. V. (2012). Cultural
considerations: Pharmacological and nonpharmacological means
for improving blood pressure control among Hispanic patients.
International Journal of Hypertension, 2012, 831016.
•Cleary-Holdforth, J., & Leufer, T. (2013). The strategic role of
education in the prevention of medication errors in nursing: Part
2. Nurse Education in Practice, 13(3), 217–220.
Internet Resources
Access the following resources by clicking the links provided.
Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the
following links have either been granted or deemed appropriate
for educational use at the time of course publication.
•Institute for Safe Medication Practices. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://ismp.org/
•Healthy People 2020. (2015). Retrieved from
http://www.healthypeople.gov/
•National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
•Heart Failure Society of America. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.hfsa.org/ ◦You may wish to explore this Web site
and review information related to heart failure classification.
•Montalvo, I. (2007). The National Database of Nursing Quality
Indicators (NDNQI). OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in
Nursing, 12(3).
Bookstore Resources
•Burchum, J., & Rosenthal, L. (2016). Lehen's pharmacology
for nursing care (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders.
◦Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 43, 47, 48, 21, 23, 31, 32, 50, 57, 58, and
76.
Assessment Instructions
Imagine your supervisor has asked you to conduct a lunch and
learn session to educate your fellow nursing staff on
pharmacological interventions.
Preparation

15. Select a disease or health condition that requires
pharmacological intervention. You may choose any disease or
health condition you wish, but the disease or health condition
must be relevant to nurses from a variety of settings (for
example: ER, pediatrics, public health, et cetera).
Requirements
Once you have selected a disease or health condition, create a
PowerPoint presentation you could use in your lunch and learn
session, including the following:
•Identify the disease or health condition you have chosen, along
with the areas where nurses are likely to see it. (Do this in the
agenda slide or next slide after the agenda.)
•Identify the three drugs used most often in the treatment of the
disease or health condition.
•Explain the types of actions, side effects, indications, and
contraindications that could be expected from the
pharmacological treatment.
•Describe the treatment regime most often prescribed for the
disease or health condition. This should include pharmacology
but not be limited to pharmacology.
•Explain how the treatment regime (including pharmacology)
may impact a client's lifestyle. Consider things such as
finances, ease or complexity of administration, instructions
(frequency, duration), et cetera.
•Describe how a nurse should monitor a client being treated for
the disease or health condition in order to obtain a quality
patient outcome.
•Explain any controversies associated with the drugs used in the
treatment. For example, is there a black box warning with any
of the drugs?
Use the notes section of each slide to expand your points or
draft your mock oral presentation (or both) and reference your
resources. Use at least 3 peer-reviewed or professional
resources to support your work in this assessment. Be sure your
PowerPoint includes a title slide, a slide with your agenda or

16. list of topics to be covered, and a reference slide. Follow
current APA style and formatting guidelines for your citations
and references.
Additional Requirements
•Number of slides: 10–12, not including the title and reference
slides.
•Be creative. Consider your intended audience.