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.  

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.

https://cdn-media.waldenu.edu/2dett4d/Walden/WWOW/1001/pulse_check/instructor_feedback/index.html#/

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.

 

CASE STUDY BELOW FOR WEEK 2 ASSIGNMENT……….

This week, you will examine the impact of patient factors that may lead to changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapy for cardiovascular disorders. You will also explore ways to improve drug therapy plans for cardiovascular disorders based on patient factors and overall health needs. 

Students will:

• Analyze the influence of patient factors on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes
• Analyze the impact of changes in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes on patient drug therapies
• Evaluate drug therapy plans for cardiovascular disorders

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:

• 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

 

Assignment

Write a 2- to 3-page 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.