Assingments % - Psychiatric Medication

Understanding that prescribing medication is not the same for all individuals is imperative to becoming a safe and effective psychiatric nurse practitioner. In clinical practice, you will see many patients in different stages of their lives and need to consider these in developing your prescribing treatment plan.
For this Assignment, you will choose a vulnerable patient and develop a 2- to 3-page Medication Guide for them and their family. In your guide, you will consider their ages, birth-assigned sex, FDA approvals, and considerations for increased or decreased risk for side effects. You will choose the most appropriate medication for each of these individuals. Support your answers with evidence-based, peer-reviewed scholarly literature. APA style format title page, citations and references will apply.
Note: You will not set up this Medication Guide as a paragraph-formatted paper but, instead, as a creative, visually appealing guide.

Step 1: Choose one of the following vulnerable patients to create a Medication Guide for the patient (pick whichever scenario is of most interest to you!):
Patient 1:26-year-old female with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder who is increasing in isolation and poor self-care. She is in her third trimester of pregnancy.
Patient 2:16-year-old male with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, severe. He has seen a therapist weekly for the past 6 months and has had minimal change in symptoms. He has expressed thoughts of wanting to die.
Patient 3: 72-year-old male with diagnosis of major depressive disorder and panic disorder. He has cardiac history and takes antihypertensive medications.
Patient 4: 8-year-old Asian female with a diagnosis of severe depressive disorder presents to the office with a report of worsening symptoms. She has never taken psychotropic medication before.
Step 2: Create a Medication Guide for a patient. Please note, this should not be written in your classic “term paper” format. In your guide, you should provide the following specific instructions for the patient:
Describe the chosen classification of medications, from the classification category, for your chosen vulnerable patient. Explain your rationale for your choice.
Explain what dose you would start the chosen medication with and the frequency.
Discuss how the medication works to treat their symptoms.
Explain how long they should take the medication.
Discuss the typical or common side effects of the medication.
Explain the urgent or emergent considerations for the patient taking the medication.
The Medication Guide should also include:
Directions you would provide the patient on how to take the prescribed medication
Instructions on what the patient should do if a medication dose is missed
List of any other medications, over-the-counter medications, and/or supplements/herbals the patient should avoid while taking the prescribed medication
List of foods the patient should avoid when taking this medication
Date when the patient should return for follow-up visit with you
Discussion about the legal and ethical considerations for the medication being prescribed
Answers in consideration of Social Determinants of Health on how you would:
Assist the patient who cannot not afford to pay financially for the medication you are recommending/prescribing; and/or
Has difficulty with transportation that impacts their ability to present for regular appointments with you
Discuss how financial hardship and lack of transportation could relate to Social Determinants of Health, as well as why they are important considerations for you as a prescriber.

Grading Criteria
Selected patient guide describes how the medication works, length of use, side effects, and other considerations. The student patient guide addresses all of the specific information for the patient as outlined in the Assignment directions.
40 to >29.0 pts
Excellent
The response comprehensively and clearly explains medication use. The response clearly addresses all the specific information for the patient as outlined in the Assignment directions.
The medication guide is accurate in information and written for the appropriate patient audience. The medication guide is creative and visually appealing.
10 to >7.0 pts
Excellent
The medication guide is accurate in information and written for the appropriate patient audience. The medication guide is creative and visually appealing.
Ethical and Legal considerations are discussed.
20 to >18.0 pts
Excellent
The response comprehensively and clearly explains both the ethical and legal considerations of medication use.
Social determinants of health considerations are applied regarding financial responsibility and ability to attend appointments.
20 to >18.0 pts
Excellent
The response comprehensively and clearly explains considerations for social determinants of health.
Written Expression and Formatting—English writing standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation
5 to >4.0 pts
Excellent
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.
Written Expression and Formatting: The submission contains an APA format for title page, citations, and Reference List.
5 to >4.0 pts
Excellent
Uses correct APA format for title page, citations, and reference list with no errors.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Choose a Vulnerable Patient

Select one patient from the provided list:

Patient 1: 26-year-old pregnant female with major depressive disorder and social anxiety disorder.
Patient 2: 16-year-old male with severe major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation.
Patient 3: 72-year-old male with major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and a cardiac history.
Patient 4: 8-year-old Asian female with severe depressive disorder, new to psychotropic medication.

Step 2: Research and Select the Appropriate Medication

Choose a medication classification that is safe and effective for your patient.
Justify your choice with evidence-based research, considering the patient’s age, medical history, and risk factors.

Step 3: Structure Your Medication Guide

Your guide should be clear, visually appealing, and easy to understand. Include the following sections:

1. Medication Classification and Rationale

Describe the medication class (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, atypical antidepressants).
Explain why this classification is appropriate for your patient.

2. Initial Dose and Frequency

State the recommended starting dose.
Specify how often the patient should take it.

3. Mechanism of Action

Explain how the medication works in the brain to alleviate symptoms.

4. Duration of Use

Discuss how long the patient should take the medication before expecting results.
Explain whether long-term use is necessary.

5. Common Side Effects

List possible mild side effects (e.g., nausea, dizziness, weight changes).

6. Urgent or Emergent Considerations

Outline serious side effects that require immediate medical attention.

7. Patient Instructions

How to take the medication (e.g., with food, at a specific time of day).
What to do if a dose is missed.

8. Drug and Food Interactions

List medications, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, or foods to avoid.

9. Follow-Up Plan

Indicate when the patient should return for a follow-up visit.

10. Ethical and Legal Considerations

Discuss prescribing regulations and ethical concerns related to patient safety.

11. Social Determinants of Health Considerations

Strategies to help a patient who cannot afford medication.
Solutions for a patient who struggles with transportation to appointments.
Explanation of how these barriers impact health outcomes and medication adherence.

Step 4: Format Your Assignment

Use APA format for citations and references.
Ensure your guide is visually appealing (tables, bullet points, colors, or diagrams can be helpful).
Proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

By following this structured approach, you will create a comprehensive, engaging, and informative Medication Guide that meets all assignment requirements!