NURS 3130 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Thyroid Function Tests, Complete Blood Count, Nursing Assessment
Document Summary
Psychiatric medications and other biologic interventions are indicated for target symptoms, which are specific measurable symptoms expected to improve with treatment. Standards of care guide nurses in monitoring and documenting the effects of medications and other biologic treatments on target symptoms. As yet, no drug has been developed that is so specific it affects only its target symptoms; instead, drugs typically act on a number of other organs and sites within the body. Even drugs with a high affinity and selectivity for a specific neurotransmitter will cause some responses in the body that are not related to the target symptoms. These unwanted effects of medications are called side effects. If unwanted effects have serious physiologic consequences, they are considered adverse reactions. The nurse monitors, documents, and reports the appearance of side effects and adverse reactions and implements nursing interventions for relief of medication side effects (table 11. 1). Phases of drug treatment and the nurse"s role.
