title: Neuroleptic therapy. How much do nurses know?
abstract: 1. Nursing home nurses play an integral and crucial role in neuroleptic therapeutic regimens as they are responsible for administering medications and monitoring for potential side effects. 2. The geriatric population residing in nursing homes is particularly vulnerable to side effects associated with neuroleptics for a variety of reasons including decreased drug distribution/metabolism/excretion, concomitant polypharmacy, and increased prevalence of tardive dyskinesia. 3. Nursing home nurses need to be better informed regarding neuroleptic use; education should be specifically targeted to include changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics associated with aging, drug-drug interactions, and ongoing evaluation of side effects. 4. There is a pressing need to continue to examine the judicious use of neuroleptics in nursing home residents.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20422, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mion
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents