Neurological System

patient education strategies for treatment

According to an article published in the Los Angeles Times, drug misuse is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Some of the most common drugs found in association with drug-related deaths are drugs prescribed to treat neurological disorders.

These prescription drug-related deaths are often attributed to painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin, as well anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium and Xanax (Girion, Glover, & Smith, 2011).

This issue emphasizes the importance of the regulation and management of prescription drugs. You must be aware of this when prescribing controlled drugs commonly used to treat neurological disorders such as headaches, sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression.

As an advanced practice nurse, you have the responsibility to carefully diagnose and prescribe treatment, as well as to closely monitor the effects of drug therapies on the physical and mental health of your patients.

In the previous weeks of this course, you began to explore disorders and treatments as they relate to specific body systems. This week, you continue this exploration with the nervous system, but with special considerations in mind.

Treatments for nervous system disorders present unique issues not just because of the scope and breadth of the disorders, but also because the types of drugs that are often used for treatment. You examine types of drugs prescribed to treat neurological disorders, as well as the impact of patient factors on the effects of the drugs.

patient education strategies for treatment

Learning Objectives

By the end of this week, students will:

• Analyze types of drugs prescribed to treat neurological disorders
• Evaluate the impact of patient factors on the effects of prescribed drugs for neurological disorders
• Evaluate drug therapy plans for neurological disorders
• Analyze patient education strategies for treatment and management of neurological disorders
• Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to prescribing drugs to treat neurological disorders
• patient education strategies for treatment