NURS6521 Week 11 Discussion: Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatrics

The unapproved use of approved drugs, also called off-label use, with children is quite common. This is because pediatric dosage guidelines are typically unavailable since very few drugs have been specifically researched and tested with children.

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When treating children, prescribers often adjust dosages approved for adults to accommodate a child’s weight. However, children are not just “smaller” adults. Adults and children process and respond to drugs differently in their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Children even respond differently during stages from infancy to adolescence. This poses potential safety concerns when prescribing drugs to pediatric patients. As an advanced practice nurse, you have to be aware of safety implications of the off-label use of drugs with this patient group.

To prepare for NURS6521 Week 11 Discussion: Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatrics:

Review the Bazzano et al. and Mayhew articles in the Learning Resources. Reflect on situations in which children should be prescribed drugs for off-label use.

Think about strategies to make the off-label use and dosage of drugs safer for children from infancy to adolescence. Consider specific off-label drugs that you think require extra care and attention when used in pediatrics.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3

Post an explanation of circumstances under which children should be prescribed drugs for off-label use. Then, describe strategies to make the off-label use and dosage of drugs safer for children from infancy to adolescence. Include descriptions and names of off-label drugs that require extra care and attention when used in pediatrics.

By Day 6

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who provided a different rationale than you did, in one or more of the following ways:

Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.

Checklist

The module course checklist below outlines the assignments due for the course.

For full assignment details and directions, refer to each module of the course. All assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time (MT) on the day assigned (which is 1:59 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) the next day). The time stamp in the classroom will reflect Eastern Time (ET), regardless of your time zone. As long as your submission time stamp is no later than 1:59 a.m. Eastern Time (ET), you have submitted on time.

To View the Calendar

To view the Course Calendar:

Course Calendar

To View a Printable Course Schedule

For full assignment details and directions, refer to each Module of the course.

Click on the NURS 6521 Course Schedule (PDF) link to access the Course Schedule.

Document: NURS 6521 Course Schedule (PDF)

Checklist

Week	Assignment	Title
Module 1: Foundational Concepts of Advanced Pharmacology
Week 1	Basic Pharmacotherapeutic Concepts/Ethical and Legal Aspects of Prescribing
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Discussion	Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
	Assignment	Ethical and Legal Implications of Prescribing Drugs
Module 2: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
Week 2	Cardiovascular System
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Assignment	Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders
Week 3	Respiratory System NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Syllabus
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Assignment	Asthma and Stepwise Management
Module 3: Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Systems
Week 4	Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Assignment	Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders
Module 4: Endocrine System
Week 5	Endocrine System Disorders and the Treatment of Diabetes
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Discussion	Diabetes and Drug Treatments
Module 5: Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Systems
Week 6	Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Assignment	Decision Tree for Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders (start)
Week 7	Midterm Exam
	Midterm Exam
Module 6: Psychological Disorders
Week 8	Pharmacology for Psychological Disorders
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Discussion	Decision Making When Treating Psychological Disorders
	Assignment	Decision Tree for Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders (submit)
Module 7: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infections, and Hematologic Systems
Week 9	Women’s and Men’s Health
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Discussion	Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders
Week 10	Infections and Hematologic Systems
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Discussion	Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders
Module 8: Pediatrics NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Syllabus
Week 11	Pediatrics
	Learning Resources	Required Readings Required Media
	Assignment	Off-Label Drug Use in Pediatrics
	Final Exam

Bibliography

The bibliography contains the references for all learning materials in the course. For your convenience, a link has been provided to download and save the bibliography.