Question

Choose a medication type from the following list, note why the medication is used, and consider adverse effects. Invent a scenario where giving this medication could result in an ethical or legally charged situation. Try not to choose a category that has been well addressed by your peers.

Bethanaechol / cholinergics: Consider risks of inducing urgency or bradycardia in a clients with dementia issues

Benztropine /anticholinergics: Consider harms that can occur with comorbidities like glaucoma or BPH

Albuterol /adrenergics: Consider harms that can occur is asthmatic children are in charge of their own inhalers

Atenolol/ beta blockers: Consider harms that could occur if heart rate was low or patient was asthmatic

Lorazepam /benzodiazepines: Consider vulnerability issues related to sedation and induction of memory loss

Oxycodone / opiates: Consider addiction, drug seeking and patient vulnerability in impaired nurses

Amitriptylline /tricyclics: Consider vulnerability issues with risk of suicidal overdose given anticholinergic effects

Phenelzine /MAOIs: Consider consequences of nonadherence to dietary restrictions on these medications

Haloperidol / neuroleptics: Consider risks of chemical sedation, especially long term risks

Lithium: Consider risks of mismanagement by clients whose behaviors are unpredictable

Phenytoin / antiepileptics: Consider risks of Class D in young women vs risks of going without anti-epileptics

Secobarbital / barbituates: Consider risks related to availability of barbituates to teens via the internet

Kava or Valerian: Consider risks of availability of compounding poorly controlled over the counter sedatives

Sumatriptan / triptans: Consider risks of cerebral ischemia when giving vasoconstrictors for migraine control

Cyclobenzaprine for back spasms: Consider risks of impaired function when nurses take muscle relaxants

Prednisone / steroids: Consider long term effects, when other immune suppressors are too expensive to access.

Aspirin / NSAIDs: Consider vulnerability of elders due to over the counter, affordable nature of this analgesic

Answer 1

Atenolol is a selective 1 receptor antagonist, a drug belonging to the group of beta blockers, a class of drug used primarily in cardiovascular disease. It works by blocking the action of certain natural chemicals in your body, such as epinephrine, on the heart and blood vessels. This effect lower the heart rate, blood pressure and strain on the heart.

Adverse reaction:

- slow, uneven heart rate

- fainting, feeling light headed

-swelling of your feet or ankles

- shortness of breath

- nausea, dark urine, loss of appetite

- depression

While prescribing Atenolol you should be cautious if the patient is know case of heart rhythm problems, breathing issues such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis etc

A 65year old female admitted to ICU with a hypertensive emergency is adviced Atenolol 100mg once a day by the doctor. As patient is conscious and alert the night duty staff asked the patient to take her tablet after breakfast and could not follow up patient due to her busy work area. Morning duty staff was given charge that she has take her Atenolol dose. When the morning shift staff checked the patients vitals blood pressure was 210/100 to reassure the staff asked the patient whether she has taken her morning dose and patient says sorry nurse I forgot to take. This is medication error and it leads to consequences of legal and ethical issues.