NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
Walden University NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS– Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
The introduction for the Walden University NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
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How to Write the Body for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
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Sample Answer for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
Discussion
Community-acquired pneumonia remains the single most common cause of death from infectious diseases in the elderly population. Adults aged over 65 years are a rapidly expanding cohort with growth rates more than twice that of younger populations with an expected 20% of the world’s population reaching elderly status by 2050, the burden of CAP will be even more significant in the coming years. Moreover, the annual incidence of CAP in elderly patients is estimated to be 25–44 cases per 1000 persons (Stupak et al., 2009). In the above case study patient is an elderly 68yrs old who has been admitted to the medical ward with community-acquired pneumonia for the past 3 days with his PMH is significant for COPD, HTN, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes who remains on empiric antibiotics, which include ceftriaxone 1 g IV qday (day 3) and azithromycin 500 mg IV qday (day 3). Since admission, his clinical status has improved, with decreased oxygen requirements however he is not tolerating a diet at this time with complaints of nausea and vomiting. Therefore, the following treatment and health needs are important.
Patient’s Health needs
- Treatment and need for longer hospitalization stay with longer IV ABX treatment
Mr. HH is 68ys old elderly patient and he is at risk of infection for a longer period. To prevent the spread of infection, he might need more than 7days of IV ABX treatment even though he is improving. Moreover, he is not tolerating the diet currently and complains of nausea and vomiting. Therefore, he may require a longer hospitalization stay with a longer duration of parenteral IV ABX therapy before switching to an oral antibiotic along with antiemetic medication. The oral course of ABX can be started once his nausea/vomiting stop and able to tolerate the diet. Moreover, Pharmacists should evaluate medication choices, check for allergies and interactions, and educate patients about side effects and the importance of compliance.
- Need for treatment of his co-morbidities
Mr. HH has other significant co-morbidities like COPD, HTN, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes and should be treated with a bronchodilator and steroids for COPD, anti-hypertensive for HTN, Statin and Cholesterol for hyperlipidemia and Metformin or insulin for diabetes along with treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.
- Need for hydration and nutritional diet
Particular attention should also be paid to nutritional status, fluid administration, functional status, and comorbidity stabilizing therapy in this group of frail patients (Simonetti et al., 2014).
Mr. HH is an elderly patient and risk of malnutrition since he is not tolerating his diet and complain of nausea and vomiting. Continuous iv fluids should be given for hydration and a nutritionist Consult should be done and parenteral nutrition should be started according to the needs of the patient.
- Need for financial support
The patient’s financial status for treatment should be assessed by the case manager. If a Patient has Medicare or Medicaid, it will be covered by insurance but if the patient does not have insurance or financial support then the hospital should provide financial support via a charity fund or a discount should be given if possible.
- Need for physical and psychological support
Physical support should be given by providing physical and occupational therapy to increase the activity of daily living, breathing exercises, and self-care. Help patient to maintain hygiene throughout the hospital stay. Similarly, emotional support should be provided by allowing him to express his feeling and allowing family time for emotional support that prevents depression.
Recommended Treatment
- In the presence of comorbid illness (chronic heart disease excluding hypertension; chronic lung disease – COPD and asthma; chronic liver disease; chronic alcohol use disorder; diabetes mellitus; smoking; splenectomy; HIV or other immunosuppression), a respiratory fluoroquinolone (high-dose levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gemifloxacin) or a combination of oral beta-lactam (high dose amoxicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefuroxime, cefpodoxime) and macrolide is recommended (Regunath & Oba, 2022).
- For patients with a CURB 65 score of greater than or equal to 2, inpatient management is recommended. A respiratory fluoroquinolone monotherapy or combination therapy with beta-lactam (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ampicillin-sulbactam, or ertapenem) and macrolide are recommended options for nonintensive care settings (Regunath & Oba, 2022).
- The pneumonia severity index score can be used to assess the severity and need for more hospitalization in patients with community-acquired pneumonia
- Diagnostic tests like chest X-ray, CT, or MRI can be done to identify infiltration or effusion
- A complete blood count with differentials, serum electrolytes, and renal and liver function tests are indicated for confirming evidence of inflammation and assessing severity.
- A chest x-ray will be needed to identify an infiltrate or effusion, which, if present, will improve diagnostic accuracy.
- Blood and sputum cultures should be collected, preferably before the institution of antimicrobial therapy, but without delay in treatment.
- Urine for Legionella and pneumococcal antigens must be considered as they aid in diagnosis when cultures are negative.
- Influenza testing is recommended during the winter season. If available, testing for respiratory viruses on nasopharyngeal swabs by molecular methods can be considered. CURB 65 (confusion, urea greater than or equal to 20 mg/dL, respiratory rate greater than or equal to 30/min, blood pressure systolic less than 90 mmHg or diastolic less than 60 mmHg),
- Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) are tools for severity assessment to determine the treatment setting, such as outpatient versus inpatient, but accuracy is limited when used alone or in the absence of effective clinical judgment.
- Serology for tularemia, endemic mycoses, or psittacican be sent in the presence of epidemiologic clues
Also Read:
OFF-LABEL DRUG USE IN PEDIATRICS
Education Strategy
The interpersonal level communication helps to use the community volunteer to alert the surrounding people about health hygiene, the impact of community-acquired pneumonia, treatment, antibiotic therapy, diagnosis, tests, and other health care services. Which can be conveyed even by conducting small-group educational programs. Moreover, elderly patients like HH should be provided education on the following topic:
The following education strategy for the Community-acquired Pneumonia
- Staying compliance with medication helps in full recovery
- Vaccination
- All adults 65 years and older and those considered at risk for pneumonia must receive the pneumococcal vaccination. There are two vaccines available: PPSV 23 and PCV 13.
- For all unvaccinated adults 65 years or older, first vaccinate with PCV 13, followed by PPSV 23 at least a year later for immune-competent patients and at least eight weeks or more apart for patients who are immune-compromised or asplenic.
- Influenza vaccination is recommended for all adult patients at risk for complications from influenza. Inactivated flu shots (trivalent or quadrivalent, egg-based or recombinant) are usually recommended for adults.
- Cessation of smoking: – Smoking is injurious to health and will damage the lungs by deteriorating their health condition. Educate patient on smoking cessation therapy and offer therapy like nicotine treatment
- Hand Hygiene and mask
- Proper hand hygiene and the use of a face mask while traveling in crowded places helps to prevent the transmission of disease and encouraged to wash hand with soap water or hand sanitizer
- Diet and exercise: – Eating a well balanced diet like protein-rich food, and green leafy vegetables help to increase the immune system and prevent infection as well as malnutrition. Breathing exercise helps to improve respiration
- Follow up with PCP to monitor the health status
Reference
- Regunath H, Oba Y. Community-Acquired Pneumonia. [Updated 2022 Nov 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430749/
- Stupka, J. E., Mortensen, E. M., Anzueto, A., & Restrepo, M. I. (2009). Community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients. Aging health, 5(6), 763–774. https://doi.org/10.2217/ahe.09.74Links to an external site
Sample Answer 2 for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
Case Study
A 46-year-old, 230lb woman with a family history of breast cancer. She is up to date on yearly mammograms. She has a history of HTN. She complains of hot flushing, night sweats, and genitourinary symptoms. She had felt well until 1 month ago and presented to her gynecologist for her annual GYN examination and to discuss her symptoms. She has a history of ASCUS about 5 years ago on her pap; other than that, Pap smears have been normal. Home medications are Norvasc 10mg QD and HCTZ 25mg QD. Her BP today is 150/90. She has regular monthly menstrual cycles. Her LMP was one month ago.
Treatment Regimen
After analyzing the symptoms, I concluded that the patient is experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms. For many people, menopause begins around age 45 though the onset of symptoms varies across different people. She is undergoing the early stages of menopause which is a stage that begins with experiencing changes in the uterus, breasts, increased fat deposit, and the urogenital tract undergoing several changes such as a shrinking cervix, and reduced muscle tone in the pelvic area. At that age, the level of estrogen production is low hence, leading to hot flashes and night sweats. Therefore, her treatment regime will focus on taking into consideration the patient has Hypertension already. Hormone therapy will be eliminated and prescribe vaginal cream that would help her manage genitourinary symptoms such as vaginal dryness and dyspareunia (Yoo et al., 2020). Mood changes and hot flashes are common symptoms of menopause hence the patient will be prescribed low-dose antidepressants such as venlafaxine and sertraline. Besides, herbal treatment has been proven to be effective in managing vasomotor symptoms hence the patient can be prescribed black cohosh which helps in reducing many menopausal symptoms (Mahady, et al., 2002).
As people continue to age, their bones become weak and this increases their chances of suffering born fractures. Therefore, the patient will be given vitamin D supplements to the increase production of estrogen which reduces with age and reduces cases of bone fractures.
During the clinical interview, I realized that the patient is taking Norvasc 10 mg and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 25 mg. I would advise her to discontinue taking Norvasc since the drug acts as a calcium blocker hence leading to hypertension and besides, its side effects increase menopause symptoms. Since she has hypertension, I would recommend that she takes lisinopril 20 mg daily. This should help alleviate the flushing that the patient has been experiencing (Li et al., 2016). Additionally, the patient has a history of ASCUS, hence I will advise her to continue with her PAP smear exams. With her blood pressure being high currently, and the fact that she is taking Norvasc, she will be encouraged to stop Norvasc but increase the HTCZ dosage to 50mg daily. The patient is expected to come regularly for assessment and examination of the drugs and symptoms.
Patient Education Strategies
Patient education has become an effective strategy to influence patients’ behavior to start living a quality life. The patient will be educated on ways to maintain weight through diet modification, become physically active, and practice relaxation as one way to reduce the severity of menopause symptoms and chances of getting breast cancer (Paterick et al., 2017). The patient will be educated about things she needs to avoid such as the use of exogenous hormones to reduce getting breast cancer going to her family history (Stuenkel et al., 2015). All this information will be passed to the patient through her patient portal which is deemed the best instructional method for her as she can access the information from the comfort of her home.
References
Li, R. X., Ma, M., Xiao, X. R., Xu, Y., Chen, X. Y., & Li, B. (2016). Perimenopausal syndrome and mood disorders in perimenopause: prevalence, severity, relationships, and risk factors. Medicine, 95(32).
Mahady, G. B., Fabricant, D., Chadwick, L. R., & Dietz, B. (2002). Black cohosh: an alternative therapy for menopause?. Nutrition in Clinical Care, 5(6), 283-289.
Paterick, T. E., Patel, N., Tajik, A. J., & Chandrasekaran, K. (2017, January). Improving health outcomes through patient education and partnerships with patients. In Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings (Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 112-113). Taylor & Francis.
Manson, J. E., & Kaunitz, A. M. (2016). Menopause management—getting clinical care back on track. N Engl J Med, 374(9), 803-6.
Stuenkel, C. A., Davis, S. R., Gompel, A., Lumsden, M. A., Murad, M. H., Pinkerton, J. V., & Santen, R. J. (2015). Treatment of symptoms of the menopause: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 100(11), 3975-4011.
Yoo, T. K., Han, K. D., Kim, D., Ahn, J., Park, W. C., & Chae, B. J. (2020). Hormone replacement therapy, breast cancer risk factors, and breast cancer risk: a nationwide population-based cohort. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 29(7), 1341-1347.
Sample Answer 3 for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
Hello Ruth! This is an in-depth and exceptional post about the case study. I agree with you that the patient is experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms. There are myriad treatment options for patients experiencing menopause, which usually depend on the seriousness of the symptoms. One of the treatment options that can be applied in this case is hormone replacement therapy to assist in replacing the lost estrogen and managing the symptoms of menopause (Cagnacci & Venier, 2019). Hormone replacement therapy is crucial in averting osteoporosis, lowering vasomotor symptoms, and preventing bone degeneration. It is important for the healthcare provider to collect a host of information before starting this treatment including data on BP, cardiovascular and breast screening, lipid panel, TSH, and HR. Reduction in estrogen is associated with bone degeneration and an increase in cardiovascular issues (Biglia et al., 2019). Therefore, the patient should be educated on the benefits of reducing weight, intake of sufficient calcium and Vitamin D, and avoidance of alcohol. The patient should also be educated on the benefits of consistently receiving mammograms due to her family history of breast cancer.
References
Biglia, N., Bounous, V. E., De Seta, F., Lello, S., Nappi, R. E., & Paoletti, A. M. (2019). Non-hormonal strategies for managing menopausal symptoms in cancer survivors: an update. ecancermedicalscience, 13. Doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2019.909
Cagnacci, A., & Venier, M. (2019). The controversial history of hormone replacement therapy. Medicina, 55(9), 602. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55090602
Sample Answer 4 for NURS 6521 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S HEALTH, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HEMATOLOGIC DISORDERS
A 46-year-old, 230lb woman with a family history of breast cancer. She is up to date on yearly mammograms. She has a history of HTN. She complains of hot flushing, night sweats, and genitourinary symptoms. She had felt well until 1 month ago and presented to her gynecologist for her annual GYN examination and to discuss her symptoms. She has a history of ASCUS about 5 years ago on her pap; other than that, Pap smears have been normal. Home medications are Norvasc 10mg QD and HCTZ 25mg QD. Her BP today is 150/90. She has regular monthly menstrual cycles. Her LMP was one month ago.
From a personal standpoint, being age 60, overweight and having a family history of breast cancer, and being hypertensive, I can relate to this case study. I take HRT daily.
I recommend Compounded hormone therapy. According to Thompson, Ritenbaugh&Nichter (2017), this medication is a form of bioidentical hormone therapy that is individually formulated for patients by pharmacists. Popularly, the term “bioidentical” refers to prescription hormones that have “the same molecular structure as a hormone that is endogenously produced and circulates in the human bloodstream.” Bioidentical hormone therapy may be manufactured in standard doses by drug companies and sold under brand names such as Vivelle (estradiol) and Prometrium (micronized progesterone). Alternatively, it may be individually formulated for patients by compounding pharmacists as CBHT. CBHT is available in an array of delivery methods (e.g., capsules, patches, creams, sublingual lozenges or “troches,” and vaginal suppositories) and dose strengths, although common compounded formulations include estriol alone, “bi-estrogen” or “bi-est” combinations (estradiol and estriol), or “tri-estrogen” or “tri-est” combinations (estrone, estradiol, and estriol)—as well as progesterone, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
According to Dalal&Aganwal (2015), Systemic estrogen therapy is the most effective treatment available for vasomotor symptoms and the associated sleep disturbance. Healthy women in the perimenopausal transition who are experiencing bothersome hot flashes but still menstruating may benefit from oral contraceptives.
I would recommend for the patient have yearly mammograms and pap tests, a weight program, and monitor blood pressure and heart rate at home. Follow up in 3 months for repeat blood work to see the efficacy of therapy.
References:
Dalal, P. K., & Agarwal, M. (2015). Postmenopausal syndrome. Indian journal of psychiatry, 57(Suppl 2), S222–S232. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.161483 Links to an external site.
Thompson, J. J., Ritenbaugh, C., &Nichter, M. (2017). Why women choose compounded bioidentical hormone therapy: lessons from a qualitative study of menopausal decision-making. BMC women’s health, 17(1), 97. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-017-0449-0
Main Post:
In the case of HH, a 68-year-old man with CAP and a history of COPD, HTN, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, evaluating and modifying his drug therapy programs to guarantee practical, safe, and high-quality patient care for favorable health outcomes is critical.
Empiric antibiotics: Ceftriaxone and azithromycin are suitable empiric antibiotic therapies for managing CAP. However, another look at the administration path is necessary. Transitioning to oral antibiotics when tolerated could be taken into account to maintain treatment continuity, as HH is experiencing nausea and vomiting Gomez (Antunez et al., 2020).
Allergy: It is essential to consider HH’s penicillin allergy. It is crucial to keep away from antibiotics with a penicillin base.
Comorbidities: It is critical to optimize HH’s inhaler regimen, given his history of COPD. Be careful to use the inhaler correctly, and consider whether this pneumonia episode requires short-acting bronchodilators or corticosteroids (Taştan et al., 2023).
Antihypertensive and diabetic drugs: Keep a close eye on his blood pressure and blood sugar levels and adjust his antihypertensive and diabetic medications. Medication dosages may need to be adjusted because stress and illness can impact these disorders.
HH’s nausea and vomiting caused. It might be brought on by the drugs or his underlying health issues (Hong et al., 2019). If the nausea is caused by an antibiotic, switching to a different antibiotic may be necessary. Antiemetic drugs such as ondansetron may be recommended.
Nutrition: Because HH is having trouble sticking to a diet, you should evaluate his nutritional condition and, if necessary, talk to a nutritionist about enteral or parenteral feeding. Interestingly, with a better clinical condition, HH might need less oxygen therapy (Morgans et al., 2021).
I plan for a post-discharge follow-up to ensure HH progresses and adequately treats his chronic diseases. This updated pharmacological therapy strategy considers the treatment of HH’s chronic illnesses and the acute episode of CAP. To achieve a successful patient outcome, it strives to address his symptoms, maintain antibiotic efficacy, and provide thorough care (Hong et al., 2019). Regular monitoring and contact with the patient and the medical staff are crucial throughout his hospital stay and when he transitions to outpatient treatment.
Gomez Antunez, M., Muino Miguez, A., Bendala Estrada, A. D., Maestro de la Calle, G., Monge Monge, D., Boixeda, R., … & SEMI-COVID-19 Network. (2020). Clinical characteristics and prognosis of COPD patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 3433-3445.
Hong, Y., Graham, M. M., Southern, D., & McMurtry, M. S. (2019). The association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronary angiography. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 16(1), 66–71.
Morgans, A. K., Shore, N., Cope, D., McNatty, A., Moslehi, J., Gomella, L., & Sartor, O. (2021, January). Androgen receptor inhibitor treatments: Cardiovascular adverse events and comorbidity considerations in patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer. In Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations (Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 52–62). Elsevier.
Taştan, E., Söner, S., Cömert, A. D., Altunbaş, M., Tüzün, R., Öztürk, C., … & Okşul, M. (2023). Effect of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors on coronary blood flow in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences, 27(16).
Discussion: Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatrics
Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatrics
Medications are frequently used for reasons other than what they are prescribed for. When this occurs, it called off label use, and the reason the medication is used is not listed on the medication insert. Using a medication that off-label does not mean that it is not proper for the child, off-label does not mean improper, illegal, contraindicated, or investigational use (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014, p. 563). When using medications for the off-label reason, the child has to be monitored closely.
Circumstance
There are not many clinical trials if that use children as participants, so results are not clear. However, just because there is limited prescribing guidance does not mean that the FDA does not allow prescribing these medications in children (Children Hospital, 2018). What is most feared about prescribing off-label drugs is the fear of harming the child. In certain circumstances when there are no recommended medications in the pediatric form for certain medical issues, the provider has to turn to off-label drugs. The use of these medications is usually determined by a clinician with a season experienced history among pediatrics (Kimland, 2014). Children are not little adults in addition to being small their bodies metabolize drugs differently than adults. It is appropriate to use off label prescribing when the treatment is a benefit to the patient (Pediatrics, 2014). If the benefit outweighs, the risk off-labeling may be the best choice. Even though the passage of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act and Pediatric Research Act and Equity Act has caused improvement in rational prescribing for children including more than 500 labeling changes off-label use is still a problem for infants, children, and adolescents because of a large number of drugs still have no information in the labeling for use in pediatrics (Pediatrics, 2014).
Strategies To Make Safer
A strategy for increasing safety in medication prescribing would be to conduct clinical trials to track the effects on children. The off-label use of drugs should be done in good faith, in the best interest of the patient to conform to accepted professional standards (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014, p. 565). When prescriber the provider should ensure that the benefit outweighs the risk. Also, the patient and guardian should be informed with all possible risk and side effects before treatment.
Reference:
Drugs, C. O. (2014, March 01). Off-Label Use of Drugs in Children. Retrieved February 6, 2019,
from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/133/3/563
Kimland (2014) Off-label and unlicensed drug use in children, Paediatrics and International Child Health, 34:1, 1-2, DOI: 10.1179/2046905513
Off-label and unlicensed drug use in children. (2014). Paediatrics & International Child Health, 34(1), 1–2. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1179/2046905513Y.0000000069
Off-Label Use of Drugs in Children COMMITTEE ON DRUGS Pediatrics Mar 2014, 133 (3) 563-567; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-4060