Medication Management in the Older Adult - 2 Contact Hours

Course overview

Appropriate medication use is a key determinant of quality of life for older adults with respect to effective management of chronic illness and disease. The nurse plays a central role in monitoring the older adult's medication use by collaborating with the healthcare team on developing reasonable medication schedules, assessing for ADEs (adverse drug events), and educating patients and their families on proper medication administration. As a nurse, it is important to be alert to the potential dangers of any medication prescribed and taken. The purpose of this course is to identify and describe potential adverse drug outcomes for older adults related to the following risks: changes in pharmacodynamics and physiology, use of multiple medications, use of over-the-counter medications, changes in cognition, and deviation from a prescribed drug regime.