Week 9 Discussion: Pharmacotherapy for Hematologic Disorders In the 1970s, the average lifespan for patients diagnosed
discussion
with sickle cell disease was 14 years. Today, the average lifespan has increased
to 50 years and beyond (TriHealth, 2012). The patient prognosis for many other
hematologic disorders such as hemophilia and cancer continue to improve as
well. This can be attributed to advancements in medical care—specifically drug
therapy and treatment. When managing drug therapies for patients, it is
essential to continuously examine current treatments and evaluate the impact of
patient factors on drug effectiveness. To prepare for your role as an advanced
practice nurse, you must become familiar with common drug treatments for
various hematologic disorders seen in clinical settings.
To prepare:
Select one of the following hematologic disorders: anemia,
hemophilia, cancer, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, thrombolytic disorders, or
white blood cell disorders. Consider the types of drugs that would be
prescribed to patients to treat symptoms associated with this disorder.
Select one of the following factors: genetics, gender,
ethnicity, age, or behavior. Reflect on how this factor might impact the
effects of prescribed drugs, as well as any measures you might take to help
reduce negative side effects.
With these thoughts in mind:
By Day 3
Post a description of the hematologic disorder you selected
including types of drugs that would be prescribed to patients to treat
associated symptoms. Then, explain how the factor you selected might impact the
effects of prescribed drugs, as well as any measures you might take to help
reduce negative side effects.
By Day 6
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond
to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who selected a
different hematologic disorder than you did. Provide recommendations for
alternative drug treatments and patient education strategies for treatment and
management.
