Abstract
This paper presents a case study of a nurse who notices that a patient has been given an incorrect dosage of a drug by her team leader. The paper describes the values, ethical principles and legal rules that are involved in this case. It then goes on to discuss the options and alternatives that this nurse has and her possible course of action. The paper suggests that if the hospital has clear guidelines, many ethical dilemmas can be avoided.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Ethical Situation: A Dilemma
Values
Reactions
Ethical Principles
Legal Rules
Options and Alternatives
Course of Action
Action Plan
Evaluation

From the Paper
"The incident must be reported. The first reason for this is that the nurse must "always use the patient's perspective as a starting point" (CNO, 2004, p. 5). The wellbeing of the patient is always to be the top priority for any nurse, over all other considerations. Secondly, the nurse is morally accountable, and this does not mean making what other individuals would believe to be the right decision. Instead, "it does mean being able to defend and justify whatever decision one makes" (Yeo & Moorhouse, 1996, p. 31). There is a good reason for reporting the incident, which demonstrates the importance of accountability. Legal rules and guidelines focus on ensuring competency, quality, and safety to patients. The nurse, as a professional, must make decisions and act on those decisions which are concerned with independent practice and collaboration (Keatings & Smith, 2000)."

Tags:drugs, dosage, patient, reporting, dilemma

Abstract
The paper describes morphine and its absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, dosage, and effects on the body.

From the Paper
"Morphine has been characterized as the best known narcotic analgesic derived from the unripe seeds of the opium poppy which is given to relieve severe pain caused by myocardial infarction, major surgery, serious injury and cancer. It is occasionally used as a premedication to prepare a person for surgery. This analysis will describe absorption and distribution of morphine, metabolism and excretion issues, its overall effect on the body, concerns regarding administration frequency and dosage and a critical analysis..."

Tags:morphine, dosage, effects, administration

Abstract
This paper explains that society's dependence on pills and medications is fueled by our desire to find the easiest and quickest way out of problems instead of simply living a healthy lifestyle. The paper explores the specific causes of society's overmedication, which involve greedy and misleading drug companies, inattentive and disinterested doctors, and uninformed patients and caregivers. The paper focuses on the lack of monitoring of dosage and drug interactions in elderly and in children. The paper emphasizes that patients should maintain healthy lifestyles by eating right and exercising more with the understanding that we cannot fix every ailment with a pill.

From the Paper
"Our society prides itself on being quick and efficient - we order lunch while sitting in our cars at fast food restaurants, and we do our shopping on the internet and have our orders sent directly to our front doors. This need for immediate gratification carries over into the medical industry as well. Medication is available for every ailment and many times proves to be the quick fix that both patients and doctors want and need. Often times a patient has been struggling with a condition for years, only to learn that one tiny pill can make that condition bearable or possibly even cure it. This is the miracle of the science and an amazing benefit of our advanced technological knowledge. But the excitement over a "miracle cure" can cause both doctors and patients to overlook the negative effects of medication, and too many tablet-sized phenomena combined can cause unexpected and fatal outcomes."

Tags:drug, companies, pills, doctors, patients, dosage, interactions, dependence

Abstract
This paper offers a study of the herbal product bromelain. The writer firstly looks at the origin of bromelain. In this article, the writer examines the use of this product. The writer further looks at dosage information related to the use of bromelain. In this paper, the writer also discusses interactions of the bromelain product.

From the Paper
"Bromelain is the general name given to a family of sulfhydral proteolytic enzymes that are obtained from Ananas comosus the pineapple plant. It is usually distinguished from other fruit bromelain or stem bromelain, depending upon its source, with all commercially available bromelain derived from the stem. First introduced as a therapeutic compound in bromelain's actions, as identified by Kelly, include inhibition of platelet aggregation fribrinolytic activity, anti-inflammatory action, anti-tumor action, modulation of cytokines and immunity, skin treatment properties, enhanced absorption of other drugs .. "

Tags:medicine, bromelain, dosages

Abstract
The paper describes the antimicrobial activity of Vancomycin hydrochloride, a glycopeptide antibiotic that is effective in combating antibiotic-resistant staphylococci and staphylococcal infections. The paper looks at how Vancomycin is absorbed and then relates the regular dosage and the dosage when the patient suffers from renal failure. The paper explains how the dose of vancomycin is also dependent on the type of treatment being received.

From the Paper
"Critically ill patients are at increased risk of contracting Gram-positive nosocomial infections such as Enterococci and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus, pathogens that are particularly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Vancomycin hydrochloride is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is effective in combating antibiotic-resistant staphylococci and staphylococcal infections in patients with methicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant organisms or in patients who cannot be given these primary drugs (I-Hong Hsu, 2001). Patients suffering from catheter-related infections secondary to Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and patients undergoing dialysis are treated with vancomycin. It has been used clinically for over 40 years against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and other Gram-positive bacteria."

Tags:antibiotic, staphylococcal, infections, microorganisms, dialysis

Abstract
This paper presents an overview of corticosteroids. The paper discusses their purpose, recommended dosage and precautions and special conditions regarding their use. The paper also discusses the use of corticosteroids during cardiac surgery by first explaining the surgery itself and some of the risks associated with cardiac surgery and then by looking at how corticosteroids can help the postoperative course of cardiac surgery.

Table of Contents
Recommended Dosage for Corticosteroids
Precautions of Corticosteroids
Special Conditions Concerning Corticosteroids
Side Effects of Corticosteroids
Cardiac Surgery

From the Paper
"Corticosteroid ointments, creams and gels can be absorbed through the skin and travel into the bloodstream. This is not a problem unless large amounts are absorbed. Then, unwanted side effects in other parts of the body are possible. To reduce the chance of that happening, do not spread the medicine over too large an area and do not cover it with plastic wrap, adhesive bandage, or any other type of airtight covering unless told to by your physician."

Tags:reduce, itching, swelling, redness, allergic, reactions, treating, skin, problems, severe, allergies, asthma, arthritis

Abstract
This paper covers the history of glucocorticoids, and provides some drug examples and their actions, uses and interactions. The paper then covers the side effects and adverse reactions, contraindications, route, administration, dosage and cautions associated with these prototype drugs. Finally, the paper addresses the nursing implications of glucocorticoids, client teaching opportunities, new advances, future trends and controversies surrounding its use.

Outline:
Historical Information and Background
Drug Examples, Actions, and Uses
Pharmacokinetics
Interactions with Drugs, Herbal Remedies and Food
Side/Adverse Effects & Contraindications
Route, Administration, Dosage and Cautions with Prototype Drugs
Nursing Implications
Client Teaching
New Advances, Future Trends and Controversies

From the Paper
"Glucocorticoids are also known as corticosteroids or steroids. They include a wide array of drugs that are related to corticosteroid hormones produced in the adrenal glands. The most abundant hormone produced by the adrenal glands is cortisol. "Cortisol and other glucocorticoids also have a potent anti-inflammatory effect on the body" (Kimball, 2005, para. 3). They are prescribed for many different inflammatory conditions that affect the digestive tract, eyes, skin, lungs, joints and other body systems. Common diseases that "frequently require treatment with glucocorticoids include asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and some types of arthritis (Wei, MacDonald & Walker, 2004, p. 764). They are important in reducing inflammation and suppressing cell-mediated and humoral immunity."

Tags:steroids, inflammation, drugs, gluconeogenesis, glucose, asthma, arthritis

Abstract
This paper studies Alzheimer's Disease, which affects more than two million Americans. The paper provides an overview and definition of the disease, which is a progressive form of dementia. Next, the paper examines possible causes of the disease as well as risk factors, such as gender, age and obesity. The paper then turns to preventative factors, including a daily dosage of ibuprofen and Vitamin E. The paper concludes that longevity has an effect on brain deterioration.

Outline
Introduction
Definition of Alzheimer's
Possible causes of Alzheimer's
Preventative Factors
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Alzheimer's is the most common type of irreversible dementia. Some early signs of the disease include mood changes, difficulties with attention spans and memory. There can also be problems with anxiety and restlessness. Some people experience depression as they realize their difficulties. It is important individuals receive proper social support and counseling to cope with their diagnosis. Alzheimer's patients move through disease progression at different rates. There often is a broad distinction made between the early middle, and advanced stages of Alzheimer's. In the early stages the only signs may be mild forgetfulness. As the disease progresses, individuals often have difficultly traveling alone and become confused in unfamiliar surroundings. Finally as the disease progresses to the end stage individuals have difficultly with verbal abilities, incontinence, and trouble walking (Snowdon, 2001)."

Tags:dementia, elderly, brain, prevention, women, obesity, treatment, medicine

Abstract
This paper examines how fundamental the principles of thermodynamics are to pharmacy. The paper covers the topics of Gibbs free energy change, heat of formation, partial molar free energy, energy change and entropy, and discusses how all these are important in pharmaceutics in deciding drug delivery and dosage form. The paper presents the reader with a clearer insight into how important the above are, with extensive explanations into the three laws of thermodynamics and how they all help the modern day pharmaceutical scientist. Many of the complicated calculations involved in thermodynamics are exemplified through examples.

From the Paper
"A pharmacist is regarded as a professional scientist. Thus he is expected to know more than ever, is a thorough knowledge of thermodynamics. This discipline forms a rudimentary backbone of most of the material sciences as many other disciplines do "borrow" heavily from this. 1,3 In studying thermodynamics, it attempts to integrate the factual knowledge of pharmacy and it aids the pharmaceutical scientist to predict the solubility, stability, feasibility, compatibility and biological action of drug products fairly accurately. Processes such as partitioning of solutes between immiscible solvents, the solubility of drugs, micellisation and drug-receptor interaction can all be treated in thermodynamic terms. 1Thermodynamics is concerned with the quantitative relationships between heat and other forms of energy, including mechanical, chemical, electric and radiant energy. 1The main feature to remember in the study of thermodynamics is that it is not possible to know the absolute value of the energy of a system but it is possible to record changes in energy that happen when a system undergoes transformation."

Tags:acid, boltzman, enthalpy, entropy, equilibrium, gibbs, ionisation, pilocarpine, thermochemistry

Abstract
This paper examines Evista, also known as raloxifene hydrochloride, a drug manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. It looks at how it is classified as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), which activates the estrogen receptors, but has differential physiological effects on other tissues, such as the breast and endometrium.

Outline
Indication of Usage
Mechanism of Action
Pharmacokinetics
Metabolism
Dosage and Administration
Contradictions, Precautions, and Warnings
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
Comparative Efficacy
Cost Analysis
Personal Perspective of Evista
References

From the Paper
"The safety of raloxifene in the treatment of osteoporosis was assessed in a large (7705 patients) multinational, placebo-controlled trial (Barrett-Connor et al. 1270). Duration of treatment was 36 months and 5129 postmenopausal women were exposed to raloxifene (2557 received 60 mg/day and 2572 received 120 mg/day). The majority of adverse events occurring during the study were mild and generally did not require discontinuation of therapy. Therapy was discontinued due to an adverse event in 11% of EVISTA?-treated women and 9% of placebo-treated women. Common adverse events related to EVISTA? therapy were hot flashes and leg cramps. Hot flashes were most commonly reported during the first 6 months of treatment and were not different from placebo thereafter."

Tags:HCl, placebo, bone, density, calcium