Nursing Assignment: Medication Chart and Nursing Implications

Nursing Assignment
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Medication chart:
Name: Aspirin
Use: Aspirin is useful to reduce fever and relieve mild pain.
Side effects: Side effects of aspirin include stomach upset, heartburn, bleeding, difficulty in
hearing, ringing in the ears, alteration in quality and quantity of urine, persistent nausea and
vomiting, yellowing of eyes and skin, dizziness and tiredness.
Interaction: Aspirin and warfarin together can increase chances bleeding and patient might be
at risk of a major haemorrhage.
Nursing implication: Nurse should assess signs of bleeding James. Moreover, nurse should
advise to him to drink abundant amount of fluids while consuming fluids. Nurse should
discontinue aspirin if he is suffering through unrelieved GI discomfort1.
Name: Metformin
Use: Metformin is useful in type 2 diabetes patients to reduce blood glucose level. Metformin
is specifically useful in patients who are overweight.
Side effects: Metformin is associated with side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach
upset, diarrhea and weakness.
Interaction: Use of metformin with furosemide together augment the effect of metformin
which may lead to condition such as lactic acidosis. Combination use of ramipril with
metformin may lower the effect of metformin; hence, there might be possibility of too low
glucose level.
Nursing implications: Nurse should monitor gastrointestinal complains while administering
higher doses of metformin because higher doses are associated with gastrointestinal
complains. Hence, nurse should advise him to take metformin with meals to avoid
gastrointestinal complains. Nurse should advise him to take it on daily basis and do not
discontinue it abruptly. Monitor blood and urine glucose levels frequently for monitoring
effectiveness to assess effectiveness of metformin2.
1 Skidmore-Roth, L. (2012). Mosby's Drug Guide for Nursing Students - E-Book. 10th
edition.
Elsevier Health Sciences. Sydney Australia.
2 Tiziani, A. P. (2010). Havard's Nursing Guide to Drugs. 8th edition. Sydney
Australia. Elsevier Health Sciences.
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Name: Ramipril
Use: Ramipril is useful in the treatment of hypertension.
Side effects: Side effects of ramipril include dizziness, lightheadedness, tiredness, fainting,
and weakness.
Interaction: Combination use of ramipril with metformin may lower the effect of metformin;
hence, there might be possibility of too low glucose level.
Nursing implications: Nurse should assess BP for every 3-6 hours after its administration and
at the end of dosing interval prior to next dosing. Nurse should report to physician, in case of
diminished antihypertensive effect. Moreover, nurse should record the first dose of
hypotension. BUN and serum creatinine also should be monitored regularly because increase
in the BUN and serum creatinine might advocate reduction in dose or discontinuation of
ramipril. Nurse should educate patient to consume adequate amount of fluid and to avoid
consumption of potassium supplements3.
Name: Metoprolol
Use: Metoprolol is useful in the management of multiple cardiac issues such as heart failure,
heart attack and blood pressure.
Side effects: Side effects of metoprolol include hypersensitivity such as erythematous rah,
fever, respiratory distress and sore throat. Other side effects of metaprolol include dizziness,
fatigue, insomania, depression, bradycardia, palpitation, angina pectoris, nausea, heartburn,
diarrhea, gastric pain, eosinophilia, thrombocytopenic and nonthrombocytopenic purpura, dry
skin, skin eruption, dry mouth, hypoglycaemia, and bronchospasm.
Interaction: Coadministration of metoprolol and furosemide might affect lower blood
pressure and slow heart rate.
Nursing implications : Multiple readings of BP should be taken close to dosing interval.
Nurse should monitor patients with hypertension and congestive heart failure. Different
symptoms such as dyspnea, orthopnea, night cough, and edema should be monitored. Nurse
should evaluate different parametres such as blood cell counts, blood glucose, liver and
3 Wilson, B. A., Shannon, M., and Shields, K. (2018). Pearson Nurses Drug Guide
2018. Pearson Education. London, United Kingdom.
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kidney function on regular basis. Nurse need to monitor hypoglycaemia and associated
symptoms such as BP and HR because metoprolol mask hypoglycaemia; hence, there are
chances that hypoglycaemia can be extended after administration of metoprolol. Nurse should
ensure that dose of metoprolol should be reduced gradually at the time of discontinuation of
drug because sudden withdrawal lead to anginal attack and myocardial infraction4.
Name: Warfarin
Use: Warfarin is useful in treatment of blood clot which can reduce risk of stroke or heart
attack.
Side effects: Side effects of warfarin include major or minor haemorrhage, hypersensitivity
reactions, anorexia, abdominal cramps, stoamatitis, hepatitis and jaundice.
Interaction: Aspirin and warfarin together can increase chances bleeding and patient might be
at risk of a major haemorrhage. Cefazolin may increase the effectiveness of warfarin; hence,
there is possibility of more bleeding
Nursing implications: Nurse should determine prothrombin time before treatment and daily
after treatment until maintenance dose is decided. During the administration of maintenance
dose, prothrombin time should be determined after every 3-4 weeks. Urine analysis, stool
analysis and liver function tests should be carried out after the administration of maintenance
dose. Drug should be stopped immediately after occurrence of hypersensitivity reaction5.
Name: Furosemide
Use: Furosemide is used as a diuretic drug.
Side effects: Furosemide is associated with risk factors such as Dizziness, lightheadedness,
headache, blurred vision, loss of appetite, stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation, muscle
cramps, weakness, confusion, drowsiness, unusual dry mouth, unusual increased thirst,
nausea/vomiting, fast/irregular heartbeat, fainting, seizures.
4 Wilson, B. A., Shannon, M., and Shields, K. (2018). Pearson Nurses Drug Guide
2018. Pearson Education. London, United Kingdom.
5 Tiziani, A. P. (2010). Havard's Nursing Guide to Drugs. 8th edition. Sydney
Australia. Elsevier Health Sciences.
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