NUR 661
Advanced Pharmacology
Prescription Assignments
For each prescription assignment, students will be given a case that is relevant to the weekly content. This assignment will help you recognize advanced pharmacology guidelines which help you discern safe prescribing dosing, administration, and patient education that the APRN will be accountable for knowing and recognizing in their role.
Prescriptions should be written using the provided template. The prescriptions are to be uploaded no later than 11:55 PM on Sunday of each assigned week.
The following tips are provided to help you to complete the assignments.
· Remember to include the concentration or strength of all medications in the section labeled “Drug.” It is essential that you communicate that to the pharmacist. For example, you would write: Amoxicillin 500mg
· The “Sig” section is for directions for the patient/family. You need to provide information that is in layman’s terms and which are easily followed. Avoid abbreviations that would be misinterpreted. For example, you would write: Take one tablet by mouth twice daily for 10 days.
· Be sure to check your patient information- potentially the same medication might be used in pediatrics, or adults, or pregnant/lactating women; however, the dosage may change (i.e. with children medications are weight based and MUST be dosed this way) or (i.e. when pregnant/lactating, that medication may not the BEST med treatment to use while pregnant/lactating).
· The “Disp” section is information that tells the pharmacist the quantity that needs to be provided for the prescription. You must include BOTH the numeric value and the written value that should be dispensed. For example, you would write: #20 (twenty)
· The “Refills” section is information that tells the pharmacist and the patient how many refills you are authorizing for the prescription. You must include BOTH the numeric value and the written value. For example, you would write: #0 (zero)
· The “DAW” box stands for “dispense as written”. This indicates to the pharmacist if you want them to dispense a BRANDED product of the medication. You MUST check this box if you want the branded medication. If you are prescribing a generic medication, then leave list box unchecked.
· Your signature will be required for all prescriptions.
o You will get to practice how you would sign your name as an advanced practice provider if you are a nurse practitioner. As a nurse practitioner, you will sign your name: Name, highest degree earned, APRN, and last your certification.
§ If you are an FNP who certified through AANP, your initials would be FNP-C, if you certify through ANCC, you would sign your initials, FNP-BC. For an example of an FNP, who has their MSN, certified through AANP: Name, MSN, APRN, FNP-C.
§ If you are a WHNP, you would certify through ANCC and sign your initials: WHNP-BC.
· The “DEA” section on the prescription is where the provider writes in their DEA number. This will not be utilized UNLESS the prescription is a controlled substance. If it is NOT a controlled substance, you will leave this blank. It will be a part of your learning to know if the medication you are writing is considered a “controlled substance”. One good example of controlled substances are narcotic medications.
· You will be required to provide “Important Medication Information” on each prescription you write. Each section will need an intext citation written in APA formatting. This will include:
o Rationale for the medication (with intext citation)
o Patient Education (with intext citation)
o Adverse Effects (with intext citation)
o Provide at least 1 drug-to-drug interaction (with intext citation)
o Provide at least 1 food-to-drug interaction (with intext citation)
o References for where you got the information to write your prescription.
· You will utilize your textbook and resources provided for that week’s prescriptive assignment.
· Watch your spelling and grammar. We will deduct points for errors. Be sure that you understand that generic drug names are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. Brand names are always capitalized. For example, amoxicillin is branded as Amoxil.
· A reference list written in APA formatting will need to be provided indicating your sources used for the prescription assignment. When referencing your textbook, you will need to reference the chapter from the text. When referencing additional resources provided for that week’s prescriptive assignment, list where the resource originally was retrieved (i.e. this would be the CDC web address, etc.; not Blackboard).