Infusing Geropsychiatric Nursing into Curricula - Resources for Teaching Key Concept II.C. (Management: Pharmacotherapeutics)
The Geropsychiatric Nursing Collaborative has developed Geropsychiatric Nursing Competency Enhancements and 27 associated Key Concepts (see POGOe Product 20660) to draw attention to the special mental health issues of older adults and assist faculty to address them. The key concepts are organized into four domains: assessment, management, approach to older adults, and role. This product provides an index of resources addressing Key Concept II.C. -- Management: Pharmacotherapeutics.
Medications are commonly used to treat mental disorders in older adults, but pharmacologic management is complicated by issues such as physiologic age-related changes, co-morbid disorders, use of alcohol, recreational drugs and/or polypharmacy.
While medications can be effective in treating late life mental disorders, nurses must be aware of commonly used medications and their potential side effects. Consideration must also be given to prescribing principles pertaining to safe medication use for the older adult patient.
This product contains resources that address the following:
- Depression
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Alzheimer's disease
- Polypharmacy
- Sedative hypnotics
- Antipsychotics
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
Increase knowledge of medications, their actions, interactions and side effects, commonly prescribed for older adults with mental health disorders.
Each of the 27 products based on the Key Concepts provides access to curriculum/teaching materials to assist faculty to infuse the geropsychiatric nursing competency enhancements into course objectives, teaching strategies, didactic content, and/or clinical experiences of relevant educational programs. These include entry level and advanced practice nursing programs in psychiatric-mental health, adult/gerontological, family, women’s health or acute care, or stand-alone geropsychiatric nursing or continuing education courses. The resources may be adapted for use with a range of learners, as indicated in each description. Each resource has been identified as appropriate to teaching the Key Concept and is described in detail.