This document discusses nursing management of drug therapy. It defines nursing management of drug therapy as the process of planning and implementing actions to maximize a drug's therapeutic effects and minimize adverse effects. The nursing process is used, including assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation. Three main sources of data for assessment are identified as the patient interview and history, physical examination, and medical record. Levels of control on medication administration include the nurse's regulation, employer policies, and individual nurse competence.

1. Week 8: Nursing
Management
of Drug
Therapy
Kathaleen
Appleby & Glynda
Doyle 1

2. Week 8 Questions:
1. Define the concept of nursing management
of drug therapy.
2. Describe the three main sources of data
used in assessment of core patient variables.
3. Provide examples from each of the "Levels
of Control on Medication Administration"
4. Discussion question
2

3. Outcomes
Students will:
 Identify key concepts relevant to nursing
management in pharmacotherapy
 Describe the main sources of data used in
assessment of core patient variables
 List Levels of Control on Medication
Administration for nurses
3

4. Q #: Define the concept of
nursing management of drug
therapy.
A. Discuss the nursing role and
responsibilities in drug therapy.
B. What are nursing priorities
related to medication
management?
4

5. …..“the process of planning and
implementing actions that will
maximize the therapeutic effects
and minimize the adverse effects
of a drug” (Aschenbrenner &
Venable, 2012, p. 3).
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Nursing Management of drug therapy is:

6. 6
1.Assessment
1.Nursing diagnosis
1.Plan of action
2.Intervention
1.Evaluation
A. Nursing process for med
administration:

7. 7
Core Drug Knowledge
• Pharmacotherapeutics
• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacodynamics
• Contraindications and precautions
• Adverse effects
• Drug interactions

8. 8
Core Patient Variables
• Health status
• Life span and gender
• Lifestyle, diet & habits
• Environment
• Culture and inherited traits

9. B. Priorities for medication
management include:
 Maximizing the therapeutic effect of a drug
 Minimizing adverse effects
 Patient and family education
9

10. Q #2 Describe the three main sources of data used
in assessment of core patient variables. What
types of information are determined from each
source?
1. Patient interview and history
2. Physical examination or assessment
3. Medical record (chart)
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11. 1. Patient interview and history
 Patient’s health status
 Allergies
 Medications
 Ask open-ended questions about:
Lifestyle
OTC meds and herbal remedies
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12.  General observations and baseline data
 Focused assessment
 Age
 Developmental ability
 Pregnancy status
2. Physical examination or
assessment
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13. 3. Medical Record (Chart)
 Diagnostic test results and lab values
 Health status
 Primary complaints
 Allergies
 Previous drug reactions
 Past medical history
13

14. Q#4 Give one or two examples from each of the
"Levels of Control on Medication Administration" as it
applies to your clinical practice as a nursing student.
1. Nurse’s (Registered) and Nurse Practitioner’s
Regulation
2. CRNBC Standards, Limits, Conditions
3. Employer Policies
4. Individual Nurse’s (Student’s) Competence
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15. Q#3: Discussion question:
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Observe a nurse passing medications in a hospital. If the
opportunity arises you may wish to explore these questions
with a Registered Nurse.
• Describe how the nurse evaluates drug therapy for each
patient.
• Describe nursing management techniques used during
and after the medications are given.
• Were there any additional nursing management
techniques that would have been helpful?

16. References
1. Aschenbrenner, D.S. (2012). Drug Therapy in Nursing (3rd ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
2. British Columbia Institute of Technology. (2014). BCIT nursing program (3
year) student guidelines, policies and procedures. Retrieved
from http://www.bcit.ca/files/health/nursing/pdf/bsn_policies.pdf
3. College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia. (2013). Practice
support: Medications [CRNBC Publication No. 3]. Retrieved
from https://crnbc.ca/Standards/Lists/StandardResources/3Medicatio
ns.pdf
4. Fraser Health (nd). Medication administration record daily protocol.
Fraser Health Clinical Policy. Retrieved from
http://fhpulse/clinical_resources/clinical_policy_office/Documents/Me
dicationAdministrationRecord(MAR)Daily_Protocol/ARCHIVE/Medicati
on%20Administration%20Record%20(MAR)%20-
%20Daily%20PROTOCOL%2022102013.pdf
5. Perry, A.G., Potter P.A., Ostendorf, W.R. (2014). Clinical Nursing Skills and
Techniques (8th ed). St. Louis., MO: Mosby, Inc.
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