Discussion: Hormone Replacement Therapy

In recent years, hormone replacement therapy has become a controversial issue. When prescribing therapies, advanced practice nurses must weigh the strengths and limitations of the prescribed supplemental hormones. If advanced practice nurses determine that the limitations outweigh the strengths, then they might suggest alternative treatment options such as herbs or other natural remedies, changes in diet, and increase in exercise.

Consider the following scenario:

· As an advanced practice nurse at a community health clinic, you often treat female (and sometimes male patients) with hormone deficiencies. One of your patients requests that you prescribe supplemental hormones. This poses the questions: How will you determine what kind of treatment to suggest? What patient factors should you consider? Are supplemental hormones the best option for the patient, or would they benefit from alternative treatments?

To prepare:

· Review Chapter 56 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text, as well as the Roberts and Hickey (2016), Lunenfeld et al (2015), and Makinen and Huhtaniemi (2011) articles in the Learning Resources.

· Review the provided scenario and reflect on whether or not you would support hormone replacement therapy.

· Locate and review additional articles about research on hormone replacement therapy for women and/or men. Consider the strengths and limitations of hormone replacement therapy.

· Based on your research of the strengths and limitations, again reflect on whether or not you would support hormone replacement therapy.

· Consider whether you would prescribe supplemental hormones or recommend alternative treatments to patients with hormone deficiencies.

With these thoughts in mind:

WRITE: 

· a description of the strengths and limitations of hormone replacement therapy. (I am looking for an explanation at the cellular or molecular level (whenever possible). 

· Based on these strengths and limitations, explain why you would or why you would not support hormone replacement therapy. 

· Explain whether you would prescribe supplemental hormones or recommend alternative treatments to patients with hormone deficiencies and why.

ITS IMPORTANT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS !

Create a one-page patient education tool that explains usage of a medication and factors that can affect outcomes. Then, write 2–3 pages in which you explain how the tool promotes patient safety and quality outcomes, and adheres to the principles and practices of cultural competence.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria: 

• Competency 1: Apply practice guidelines and standards of evidence-based practice related to pharmacology for safe and effective nursing practice.       
  • (IMPORTANT)  -Explain the appropriate use of a medication.
  • (IMPORTANT) -Explain how a patient education tool promotes patient safety related to pharmacology.
• Competency 2: Explain the relationship between quality patient outcomes, patient safety, and the appropriate use of pharmacology and psychopharmacology.       
  • (IMPORTANT) -Identify specific factors that may affect the efficacy of a medication.
  • (IMPORTANT) -Describe possible chemical reactions, side effects, or other negative reactions a patient may experience from a medication.
  • (IMPORTANT)  -Explain correct handling, storage, and disposal of a medication.
• Competency 3: Apply the principles and practices of cultural competence with regard to pharmacological interventions.       
  • (IMPORTANT) -Explain how a patient education tool adheres to the principles and practices of cultural competence.
• Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with the expectations of a nursing professional.       
  • (IMPORTANT) -Write content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
  • (IMPORTANT) -Correctly format paper, citations, and references using current APA style. 

Assessment Instructions 

Imagine your supervisor has asked you to develop a patient education tool for new medication starts in your current area of practice. This tool needs to provide important information to the patient, yet be concise enough to require no more than one page.

Preparation

Review the suggested list of possible topics in Part 1 of the Requirements and then search the Capella library and the Internet for supporting resources. You will need to provide support for the information you choose to include in the patient education tool.

Requirements

Complete both Part 1 and Part 2 of this assessment. You may submit both parts in one document or submit them as separate documents. Be sure you complete both parts!

Submit a total of 4–5 pages. Write no more than one page for Part 1. Write 2–3 pages, plus a separate reference page, for Part 2.

Part 1: Patient Education Tool

Complete the following:

1. Choose one of the following topics as the basis for your patient education tool:      
   • Antibiotics (Amoxil/Amoxicillin) for pediatric ear infections.
   • Statin therapy (Zocor/Simvastatin) for a newly diagnosed patient with hypercholesterolemia.
   • Antihypertensive (ACE inhibitors/Lisinopril/Zestril) for a patient who was discovered to have hypertension at a health screening at work.
   • Drugs for treating gastric acidity (Proton pump inhibitors/antacids/H2 blockers) for a patient complaining of chronic indigestion and heartburn.
   • Ear drops or eye drops (or both) for an elderly patient.
   • Any newly released medication for a patient in your area of practice. This might be a new drug for diabetes, hypertension, or arthritis or a new antibiotic.
2. Include the following in your patient education tool:      
   • Explain appropriate use of the medication.
   • Identify specific factors (age, access, culture, and so on) that may affect the efficacy of the medication.
   • Describe possible chemical interactions, side effects, or other negative reactions patients need to be aware of.
   • Explain correct handling, storage, and disposal of the medication.
   • Include any other information you feel would be beneficial and promote patient safety and quality outcomes.

You may format Part 1, the patient education tool, any way you wish, but be sure it is logical and understandable by the typical patient who would use it. Feel free to include pictures or diagrams to reinforce the information.

Part 2: Evidence-Based Practice

Provide evidence for the information you included in the patient education tool:

• Explain how the information in the patient education tool promotes patient safety and quality outcomes.
• Explain how the patient education tool adheres to the principles and practices of cultural competence. In other words, is the tool appropriate for all cultures, genders, ages, et cetera; or could it be easily adapted for specific needs?

Format Part 2 according to APA guidelines. This is not a document you would provide to a patient but, for this assessment, it will provide faculty with the academic and professional principles necessary to evaluate your work.

Additional Requirements

• At least 2 current scholarly or professional resources.
• For Part 2 only:      
  • Use Times New Roman font, 12 point, double-spaced font.