How do you think your achievement of the course learning outcomes will help you be a better-prepared working professional?
Self-Reflection-Advanced Pharmacology
How do you feel you improved your knowledge, skills, abilities, and yourself in this course?
This class on advanced pharmacology has been very informative. I was able to learn the calculation of dosages in various populations, such as pediatrics. I have also known how different drugs can cause congenital malformations in pregnant patients. In addition to this, I have known about the metabolism of medications in the body and drug-food interactions. This knowledge has sharpened my skills in safe drug prescription and dispensing. The ability of drug dosage is very important in healthcare decision-making and the implementation of care plans for patients. I have also gained knowledge on the role of drug therapy in managing various medical conditions and the side effects the patients may experience. Lastly, I have sharpened my patient education skills. I will use this knowledge in drug dosing to make critical treatment decisions when implementing care plans for my patients.
How well did you do the work of the course? How do you think you might have performed better (if applicable)?
I attempted all my assignments and submitted them before the stated guidelines. I conducted my research and used scholarly articles from PubMed and CINAHL to complete my articles. I read all the recommended reading materials to complete the coursework. I attended all the quizzes provided by the instructor and did the work to the best of my knowledge and abilities. I might have performed a bit better if I had incorporated evidence-based clinical guidelines in answering my questions.
Were there any topics that you did not understand? How would you approach a similar challenge in the future?
The main topic I found challenging was managing patients with chronic conditions, particularly those with comorbid conditions. The course work presented cases of patients with comorbid conditions, and hence, dose adjustments and selection of appropriate medications were necessary. I found it challenging to select drugs that would manage these patients without causing more damage and ensuring patient compliance. In the future, I will approach my tutors whenever I am faced with similar challenges. They are more experienced with extensive knowledge, and I believe that they will appropriately guide me in managing these patients to ensure total compliance and full benefits from the medications.
What was your main success in the course? How will you learn from that in your future studies?
My main success in this course was my mastery of the pharmacological actions of medications in managing common conditions. I was able to learn how these drugs work in the body to elicit their pharmacological activities. I have also mastered how these drugs act on sites other than the therapeutic site to produce the side effects. This success is critical to me since it will help me prescribe appropriate medications to my patients to ensure they get the maximum benefits and comply fully. I was able to master the pharmacological actions by spending many hours reading and tackling clinical cases. I am now aware that I can only achieve success through reading and getting clinical cases in my future courses.
By achieving the course outcomes, I will be an ethical nurse who utilizes evidence-based practice in managing my patients. I will involve my patients in the decision-making process and implement patient care plans for my patients. This course will help me to apply ethical principles in managing my patients. I will consider the side effects, pharmacological actions, and drug interactions when managing my patients. I will be a better professional who uses evidence, applies ethical principles, and implements patient-centered care plans. This will help improve the quality of care, patient satisfaction, experience, and outcomes.