NURS 6521 Week 1 Initial Discussion Post.docx - NURS 6521 Week 1 Initial Discussion Post Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics It is very important for

NURS 6521 Week 1 Initial Discussion Post Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics It is very important for Advanced Practice Nurses to understand that pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drugs. According to Arcangelo and Peterson (2013), pharmacodynamics refers to how the drug affects the body including its therapeutic and toxic effects both on cellular and systemic level, while pharmacokinetics refers to how the body affects the drug including administration, absorption, distribution, and elimination from the body. Arcangelo and Peterson (2013) discussed the importance of understanding that knowing the blood concentration is very important even though the most important to know is how the amount of drug that reaches the receptor or site of action affects the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. There are many factors that could affect how the body responds to drugs. Description of Case Selected Mrs DJ was a 75 year old patient who was admitted for a fractured femur and persistent diarrhea after a course of antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection. The patient was having so much diarrhea that it was difficult for her to get some sleep. Her daughter stated that the patient takes diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for sleep at home and requested for her to have a sleep aid.