Top Pediatric Prescriptions
Children between the ages of 1 and 12 years metabolize medications in a manner distinct from adults. As such, there are a number of anatomical and physiological factors that the nurse practitioner must take into account in order to safely prescribe and administer medications in the pediatric population.
“Top Pediatric Medications” will aid the nurse practitioner in making pediatric pharmacology decisions with increased confidence. The presentation begins with an overview of concepts pertinent to pediatric medications, including a discussion of factors unique to pediatric pharmacology and the top 20 drugs prescribed for children. It then defines common pediatric conditions and provides detailed information on the treatment plans and medications available for those conditions, including signs and symptoms that warrant specific regimens, age-specific dosage information, first-line choices and alternatives, resistance and recurrence issues, and more. This session also contains a detailed discussion of pediatric pain medications.
Use this session to boost your knowledge, and keep it in your archives as a reference tool for your practice. The pediatric treatment regimens for the following conditions are covered:
- Ear infections
- Asthma
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Psychosis
12-Lead EKG: From Start to Competent in 3 Hours!
This 12-lead EKG presentation is designed to refamiliarize nurse practitioners (NPs) with EKG basics. Upon completing this lecture, the NP will be able to name the characteristics of a normal EKG, differentiate between right and left axis deviation, and describe changes that occur with bundle branch block, chamber enlargement, and other related conditions. Other topics covered in this presentation include:
- Systematic approaches
- Anatomy of a 12-lead EKG
- EKG basics (i.e., quadrant method, normal axis, axis deviations)
- Ischemia, injury, and infarction
- 10+ EKG case studies
Exploring the Top 20 Drugs
The top 20 prescribed drugs in the United States fall into several drug categories: Cardiovascular, endocrine, pain, CNS, infections, and gastrointestinal. Cardiovascular disease drugs, such as beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, statins, and diuretics, make up the largest group, while hydrocodone, used for pain, is the number one prescribed drug. In this presentation, safe prescribing and use of the top 20 prescribed drugs in the United States will be emphasized.
Following this presentation, the participant will be able to do the following:
- Discuss the pharmacology of the 20 top selling drugs in the United States and the pathophysiology of the patients most likely to be prescribed these drugs
- Describe the toxicities, side effects, Black Box warnings, and other concerns of the top 20 drugs
- Understand the importance of medication reconciliation for patients using the top prescribed drugs