Skip redundant pieces
School of Nursing
School of Nursing  :  Challenge Information  :  Masters Challenge Examination Guideline

NRSG 813 Applied Drug Therapy Challenge Exam Study Guide

Please review the course description, objectives, and information provided in the study guide below.

You will be required to answer 107 multiple-choice questions, which include case histories, and will be asked to complete 10 written sample prescriptions.

You will have four (4) hours for the examination. You may not use any notes, books, or any other material.  The minimum passing score is 70%.

Textbooks: If you wish to purchase any textbooks, you can contact the university bookstore at: http://www.kumedbooks.com

Welcome to the ADT Challenge Exam. This guide consists of some example questions, as well as, suggested areas you may want to review prior to taking the exam. Attached are numerous references from textbooks, current journal articles, websites, and some other pharmacology texts in common use. Areas for examination may include:

  1. Infectious Diseases
    1. Common Ear and Eye Infections
    2. Upper and Lower Respiratory Infections
    3. Genitourinary Tract Infections (including sexually transmitted diseases)
  2. Cardiovascular Diseases
    1. Hypertension
    2. Hypercholesterolemia
    3. Congestive Heart Failure
    4. Atrial Fibrillation/Cardiac Arrhythmias
    5. Angina
  3. Endocrine Diseases
    1. Diabetes (Type I & 11)
    2. Hyper and Hypothyroidism
  4. Respiratory Diseases
    1. Seasonal/Environmental Allergies
    2. Asthma Management
    3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD)
  5. Gastrointestinal Diseases
    1. Peptic Ulcer Disease/Duodenal Ulcer Disease (including H. Pylori treatment)
    2. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
    3. Diarrhea and Constipation
    4. Nausea and Vomiting
  6. Pain Management (Acute and Chronic)
  7. Women's Health Concerns
    1. Contraceptive Use
    2. Hormone Replacement Therapies
    3. Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment
  8. Neurologic & Mood Disorders
    1. Anxiety
    2. Depression
    3. Cognitive Impairment (including Dementias)
    4. Movement Disorders (including Parkinson's)
    5. Insomnia
  9. Medication use in Special Populations
    1. Pregnancy and Lactation
    2. Pediatrics
    3. Geriatrics

Sample Questions:

Casey Smith is a 78 year-old retired mathematics professor. He is brought to your office by his daughter who is concerned: “Dad just isn't himself. He seems to have a lot of difficulty with his usual routine, like dressing himself and balancing his checkbook.” Mr. Smith has a history of PUD, HTN and Hypercholesterolemia. His meds currently include: Cimetadine (Tagamet) 400mg hs; Regian (Metoclopramide) I Omg qid; Vasotec (Enalapril) 1 0 mg qd and Zocor (Simvastatin) 20 mg qd. He does not drink alcohol or smoke. Mini Mental Status Examination shows a mild cognitive deficit. In observing Mr. Smith during the interview you notice a tremor, some mild gait shuffling and difficulty signing his name.

  1. Given the above scenario, what might you tell Mr. Smith's daughter?
    1. Mr. Smith appears to have a cognitive and cerebellar problem indicative of a possible Parkinson's Disease and will need referral to a neurologist.
    2. Mr. Smith is experiencing common side effects that occur in older adults taking both blood pressure medication and lipid lowering agents.
    3. It is possible that Mr. Smith's tremor, fine and gross motor difficulties are due to one of his medications: specifically Reglan (Metoclopramide)
    4. At 78, Mr. Smith has become one of the 30% of older adults who experience dementia, however since his cognitive impairment is mild, he is a good candidate for Aricept (Donepezil).
  2. On review of clinical findings you note that Mr. Smith has a sitting blood pressure of 110/70; pulse is 72 and standing pressure of 104/78, pulse of 86. He does not complain of dizziness or lightheartedness and states he actually feels "great". Based on these findings you decide to:
    1. Monitor his blood pressure for a few more visits.
    2. Based on JNC recommendations, you know that Mr. Smith's diastolic pressure is still too high and since your target is a diastolic BP of 60-70, you decide to increase Mr. Smith's Vasotec to 1 Omg BID.
    3. Change Mr. Smith's antihypertensive to another agent, such as a Calcium Channel Blocker (for example Procardia XL 30 mg qd).
    4. Decrease Mr. Smith's Vasotec to 5 mg daily.

Rita Smith is a 25 year-old grad student who presents to your office with urgency, burning on urination and mild suprapubic discomfort. On further questioning you discover that she has been treated twice this year for urinary tract infections (once 11 months ago and once 4 months ago). She is unmarried, in a monogamous relationship for the past three years and on oral contraceptives. She is allergic to Sulfa (reaction is hives). Urine dip shows pH of 7.0 and SpG of 1.015, positive nitrite and 2+WBC. A urine culture is sent to the lab. Rita has no drug coverage on her insurance policy.

  1. What drug therapy would be appropriate for Rita?
    1. Bactrim DS twice daily by mouth for one week.
    2. Norfloxacin 400 mg by mouth twice daily for three days.
    3. Cipro 250 mg by mouth twice daily for three days followed by 6 months daily therapy with Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin) 50 mg at bedtime.
    4. Doxycycline 1 00 mg twice daily by mouth for 7 days plus 1 gram Azithromycin (Zithromax) by mouth for one dose.
  2. Rita comes in for a routine exam 6 months later. She has broken up with her significant other and had a "fling" with a fellow grad student a couple nights ago. They forgot to use a condom, and Rita reports going "off the pill" after her long-term relationship ended 2 months ago. She asks about Emergency Contraception. You explain to her:
    1. She has to take EC (Emergency Contraceptive) pills within 24 hours-that's why it's called "the morning after” pill. So she would not be a candidate.
    2. Since she tells you she is on day 13 of her menstrual cycle, you tell her she should not be concerned about the need for medication or possible pregnancy.
    3. You write a prescription for her for Ovral Contraceptives take two pills by mouth now and then two pills in 12 hours.
    4. You refer her to a gynecologist.
  3. Rita calls you two days later. She reports she has a burning genital discomfort around the clock and difficulty urinating. She thinks she might have another urinary tract infection, but this time she has "spots" on her genitalia that are really tender. You perform a pelvic exam and obtain cultures of some suspicious vesicular lesions on both labia. You also obtain cultures for gonorrhea and chlamydia, as well as a wet mount and KOH prep. Rita does not appear to have a cervicitis, but she does have some frothy discharge and Trichamonas are seen on microscopic exam. You treat Rita with the following combination of medications:
    1. Valtrex (Valacyclovir) 1 gram by mouth twice daily for one week with a single dose of Diflucan (Fluconazole) 150 mg by mouth for one dose.
    2. Famvir (Famciclovir) 250 mg by mouth three times daily for five days.
    3. Valtrex I gram by mouth twice daily for ten days with a single 2 gram dose of Flagyl (Metronidazole) by mouth.
    4. Acylovir (Zovirax) 400 mg by mouth three times a day for ten days with Clotrimazole Vaginal Cream (Gyne-Lotrimen 3 day pack).

Selected References for ADT Exam Preparation

You are welcome to review as many citations as you wish. These are merely references to assist your preparation. Exam questions are general in nature and not "pulled" from these specific citations, with the exception of national guidelines (for example, JNC guidelines for blood pressure control or NCEP guidelines on cholesterol management). Much of the information you may be interested in reviewing is probably available on various websites, so be sure to take a look at the URL's listed in this study guide.

Infectious Diseases

A special report. (1999) Update on superficial fungal infections. Postgraduate Medicine, July, 1-52.

American Thoracic Society (1993). Guidelines for the initial Management of Adults with Community-acquired Pneumonia: Diagnosis, Assessment of Severity; and initial Antimicrobial Therapy. American Revue of Respiratory Disease 148:1418-1426 (also available on website)

For commentary on ATS Guidelines for CAP see Gleason, P. P. (et al) (1997) Medical Outcomes and Antimicrobial Costs With the Use of the American Thoracic Society Guidelines for Outpatients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia. JAMA 278:32-39 (or see abstract on JAMA Website-July 2, 1997)

Caputo, GM (et al) (1997). Foot Infections in Patients with Diabetes. American Family Physician 56:195-202.

Carpenter, CJ (et al) (1998). Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection in 1998, Updated Recommendations of the International AIDS Society-USA Panel. JAMA 280 (1):78-86.

Fife, K. H. (1998). New Treatments for Genital Warts Less than Ideal (Abstract and Commentary) JAMA 279(24):2003-2004.

Fitzgerald, M (1994). Pharmacologic Highlights: Choosing an Antibiotic. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 6(6):286-288.

Fox, K.K. (et al) (1995). Vaginal Discharge: How to Pinpoint the Cause. Postgraduate Medicine 98(3):87-104.

Gonzales, R (et al) (1997). Antibiotic Prescribing for Adults with Colds, Upper Respiratory Tract Infections, and Bronchitis by Ambulatory Care Physicians. JAMA 278:901-904 (see also JAMA Website)

Gonzales, R (et al) (1999). Decreasing Antibiotic Use in Ambulatory Practice. JAMA 281:15121519. (See also JAMA Website)

Kennedy, M. M. (1998). Influenza Viral Infections: Presentation, Prevention and Treatment. The Nurse Practitioner 23(9):17-37.

La Rosa, S (1998). Primary Care Management of Otitis Externa. The Nurse Practitioner 23(6):125-133.

Leiner, S. (1997). Acute Bronchitis in Adults: Commonly Diagnosed but Poorly Defined. The Nurse Practitioner 22(l):104-119.

Mossad, S.B. (et al) (1996). Zinc Gluconate Lozenges for Treating the Common Cold. Annals of Internal Medicine 125:81-88. (also available on ACP website)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NAIAD) (1999). Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adult and Elderly Populations. Clinical Courier Jan. 1999, entire issue. This is also available on NIH website.

O'Dell, M. (1998). Skin and Wound Infections: An Overview. American Family Physician 57:2424-2432.

Orenstein, R. (et al) (1999). Urinary Tract Infections in Adults. American Family Physician 59:1225-1234.

Reifsnider, E. (1997). Common Adult Infectious Skin Conditions. The Nurse Practitioner 22(11):17-33/

Witt, R.L. (1997). Treating HIV in Adults: How to Use Combination Therapies. Clinician Reviews 7(2):99-116.

The Working Group on Prevention of lnvasive Group A Streptococcal Infections (1 998).

Prevention of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease Among Household Contacts of Case-Patients: Is Prophylaxis Warranted? JAMA 279:1206-1210.

Center for Disease Control/Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(1997).1998 Guidelines for Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. (See CDC Website, can download entire guideline)

Pediatric Infectious Disease

Dowell, S. F (et al) (1998). Appropriate Use of Antibiotics for URI's in Children (Parts I & American Part I (AFP 58:1113-23); Part II (AFP 58:1335-1342).

Hellerstein, S. (I998). Urinary Tract Infections in Children: Why They Occur and How to Prevent Them. American Family Physician 57.-2440-2446.

Kozyrskyj, AL (et al) (1998). Treatment of Acute Otitis Media with a Shortened Course of Antiobiotics, A Meta-analysis. JAMA 279:1736-1742.

Cardiovascular Diseases

No author (1998). Choice of lipid-lowering drugs. The Medical Letter, vol. 40 (issue 1042) December 8, pp 117-122

Akhtar, W. (et al) (1998). Indications for Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation. American Family Physician 58:130-136.

American College of Physicians. Clinical Guideline, Part 1: Guidelines for Using Serum Cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, and Triglyceride Levels as Screening Tests for Preventing Coronary Heart Disease in Adults. Annals of Internal Medicine 1996, 124:515-517. (See also ACP website)

Clinician Reviews Editorial Staff (1996). The Cholesterol Controversy, How Far Should Screening Go? Clinician Reviews 10(6):91-107. (This article highlights the differences between the ACP Guidelines and NCEP Guidelines)

Avorn, J. (et al) (1998). Persistence of Use of Lipid-Lowering Medications, A Cross-National Study. JAMA 279:1458-1462.

Baker, D.W. (et al) (1994). Management of Heart Failure, part 1: Pharmacologic Treatment. JAMA 272:1361-1366.

Brennan, D.C. (et al) (1998). Standing Up to Edema (Case study and Analysis), The Clinical Advisor Oct. 98:23-25.

Chrzanowski, D. D. (1998). Managing Atrial Fibrillation to Prevent Its Major Complication: Ischemic Stroke. The Nurse Practitioner 23(5):26-42.

Downs, J.R. (et al) (1998). Primary Prevention of Acute Coronary Events With Lovastatin in Men and Women With Average Cholesterol Levels (Results of AFCAPS/TexCAPS). JAMA 279:1615-1622.

Ewart, J.E. (1998). Continuing Education Forum: Screening and Treating Children at Risk for Coronary Heart Disease. Journal of the American Acacademy of Nurse Practitioners 10(8):365-373.

Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults(1993). Summary of the Second Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel 11). JAMA 969:3015-3023. (See also nih/nhlbi website)

Foody, J. (1998). Homocysteine, Discovering a New Predictor of Coronary Disease (interview). Clinician Reviews 8(5):203-210.

Gutstein, D. E. (1997). Management of Stable Coronary Artery Disease. American Family Physician 56:99-106.

Hurley, M.L. (1998). Special Report: New Hypertension Guidelines. RN 3/98:25-28.

Johnson, C.L. (1993). Declining Serum Total Cholesterol Levels Among US Adults, The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. JAMA 269:3002-3008.

JNC (1997). The Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Archives of Internal Medicine 157(24):2413-2445 (See also website: www.ama-assn.org/internal)

Kaplan, N.M. (1998). Treatment of Hypertension: Insights from the JNC-VI Report. American Family Physician 58(6):1323-1330.

Katz, P.O. (1998). Treating Unexplained Chest Pain. The Clinical Advisor, Oct. 98:61-65.

Kelley, C. D. (1997). Understanding Syndrome X, What It Is and How to Prevent It. Clinician Reviews 7(10):55-80.

Kupecz, D. (1997). Atorvastatin: A New Aging for Hyperlipidemia. The Nurse Practitioner 22(11):87-93.

MMWR Report: Changes in Mortality from Heart Failure-United States, 1980-1995. JAMA 280:874-875.

Mair, F.S. (1996). Management of Heart Failure. American Family Physician 54:245-254.

Moser, M. (1999). Hypertension Treatment and the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in the Elderly. American Family Physician 59:1248-1256.

Oparil, S. (et al) (1998). Managing the Patient with Hard-to-Control Hypertension. American Family Physician 57:1007-1014.

Pearson, T.A. (1998). Commentary: Lipid Lowering Therapy in Low-Risk Patients. JAMA 279:1659-1661.

Pennington, J.C. (et al) (1 997). Heart Protection: Controlling Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease. Geriatrics 52(12):40-50.

Ringel, M. (1999). Lipid-lowering drug therapy from a to z. Patient Care, Spring, 3-12.

Rhodes, C.M. (1998). Congestive Heart Failure: Symbiotic Treatment Using State-of-the Art Medicine with a Holistic Approach in a CHF Clinic. The American Journal for Nurse Practitioners 2(8):7-14.

Rosenson, R.S. (et al) (1998) Antiatherothrombotic Properties of Statins, Implications for Cardiovascular Event Reduction. JAMA 279:1643-1650.

Sempos, C.T. (et al) (1993). Prevalence of High Blood Cholesterol Among US Adults, An Update Based on Guidelines From the Second Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel. JAMA 269:3009-3014.

Walsh, B.W. (et al) (1998). Effects of Raloxifene on Serum Lipids and Coagulation Factors in Healthy Postmenopausal Women. JAMA 279:1445-1451.

Endocrine Diseases

Thyroid Diseases:

Schilling, J.S. (1997). Hyperthyroidism: Diagnosis and Management of Graves'Disease. The Nurse Practitioner 22(6):72-97.

Singer, P.A. (et al) (1995). Treatment Guidelines for Patients with Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism. JAMA 273:808-812.

Diabetes Mellitus:

American Diabetes Association (1999). Position Statement: Tests of Glycemia in Diabetes. Diabetes Care 22(suppi 1):S77-S79.

American Diabetes Association (1999). Position Statement: Management of Dyslipidemia in Adults with Diabetes. Diabetes Care 22(suppl 1):S56-S61.

American Diabetes Association (1999). Position Statement: Standards of Medical Care for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care 22(suppi 1):S32-S41.

American Diabetes Association (1999). Position Statement: Screening for Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 22 (suppl 1):S20-S23.

Boyne, M.S. (et al) (1999). Effect of Insulin Therapy on Macrovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 22(suppi 3):C45-C53.

Buse, J. B. (1999) Overview of Current Therapeutic Options in Type 2 Diabetes: Rationale for combining oral agents with insulin therapy. Diabetes Care 22 (suppl 3):C65-C70.

Cefalu, W.T. (1996). Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes: Clinical Considerations. Clinician Reviews 3/96:69-87.

Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. Report of the Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care 22(suppl 1):S5-Sl9.

Feinglos, M.N. (1999). Oral Agent Therapy in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care (suppl 3):C61-C65.

Lebovitz, H.E. (1999). Effects of Oral Antihyperglycemia Agents in Modifying Macrovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 22 (suppl 3):C41-C44.

Respiratory Diseases

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (1998). Task Force on Allergic Disorders,Promoting Best Practice: Raising the Standard of Care for Patients with Allergic Disorders. Available from Author (see also aaaai web site).

Andrews, J. (1998). Optimizing Smoking Cessation Strategies. The Nurse Practitioner 23(8):47-67.

Autio, L. (et al) (1999). Effectively Managing Asthma in Young and Middle Adulthood. The Nurse Practitioner 24(l):100-113.

Fagnan, L.J. (1998). Acute Sinusitis: A Cost-Effective Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment. American Family Physician 58:1795-1802

Gross, K.M. (et al) (1998). New Strategies in the Medical Management of Asthma. American Family Physician 58:89-100.

Heath, J.M. (et al) (1998). Chronic Bronchitis: Primary Care Management. American Family Physician 57:2365-2372.

National Institutes of Health (NHLBI) (1997). Expert Panel Report 2, Clinical Practice

Guidelines, Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. NIH Publication no.974051 (Available on NIH/nhlbi website)

Self, T (et al) (1995). Asthma Management: Effective Treatments for Optimal Outcomes. Clinician Reviews 2/95:47-70.

Gastrointestinal Diseases

Aronson, B. (1998). Update on Peptic Ulcer Drugs. American Journal of Nursing 98(l):41-46.

Ault, D.L. (et at) (1998). Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Infants and Children. The Nurse Practitioner 23(6):78-100.

Beam, E. (1995). Helicobacter pylori and Peptic Ulcer Disease: Understanding this Latest Pathogen. Clinician Reviews 5/95:51-66.

Middlemiss, C. (1997). Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Common Condition in the Elderly. The Nurse Practitioner 22(11):51-61.

Scott, M. (et al) (1999). Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Diagnosis and Management. American Family Physician 59:1161-1169.

Walsh, J.H. (et al) (1995). The Treatment of Helicobacter Pylon Infection in the Management of Peptic Ulcer Disease. New England Journal of Medicine 333(15):984-991.

Pain Management (Acute and Chronic)

American Geriatrics Society (1998). The Management of Chronic Pain in Older Persons. Clinician Reviews 8(9):69-106; also Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 5/98 Issue.

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) Guidelines. Acute Pain Management. See AHCPR website (can download)

Jones, A. K. (1997). Primary Care Management of Acute Low Back Pain. The Nurse Practitioner 22(7):50-68.

Women's Health Issues

Berarducci, A (et al) (1998). Osteoporosis in Perimenopausal Women: Current Perspectives. The American Journal for Nurse Practitioners 2(9):9-14.

Daugherty, J.E. (1998). Treatment Strategies for Premenstrual Syndrome. American Familv Physician 58:183-192.

Dickey, R.P. (1998). Managing Contraceptive Pill Patients (9th ed.). Emis, Inc., Durant, Oklahoma.

Hatcher, R.A. (et al) (1998) Contraceptive Technology (I 7th ed.). Ardent Media, New York.

Morgan, KW. (1997). Emergency Contraception: Preventing Unintended Pregnancy. The Nurse Practitioner 22(11):34-48.

Peters, S. (1998). Menopause: A New Era, New Strategies Offer More Choices to Women. Advance for Nurse Practitioners 7/98:61-64.

Scharbo-Dehaan, M. (1996). Hormone Replacement Therapy. The Nurse Practitioner (I 996) Supplement.

Shapiro, T.J. (et at) (1995). Breast Cancer: What the Primary Care Provider Needs to Know. The Nurse Practitioner 20(3):36-53.

Van Winter, J.T. (et al) (1998). Oral Contraceptive Use During the Perimenopausal Years. American Family Physician 58:1373-1377.

Walthall, J (et al) (1994). What's Happening: New and Developing Methods of Contraception. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 6(5):217-223.

Neurologic/Psychiatric Disorders

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (1996). Recognition and lnitial Assessment of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. AHCPR Publication No. 97-0702 (Nov 1996) See AHCPR website.

Cadieux, R.J. (1996). Azapirones: An Alternative to Benzodiazepines for Anxiety. AmericanFamily Physician 53:2349-2353.

Clauw, D.J. (1995). Fibromyalgia: More than just a musculoskeletal disease. American Family Physician,52, (3), 843-851.

Davis, K.M. (1998). Pharmacologic Management of Depression in the Elderly. The NursePractitioner 23(6):16-47.

Depression Guideline Panel (1994). Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians, Depression in Primary Care: Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 6(5):224-238. (See also AHCPR Website for Clinical Guidelines)

Diamond, S. (1999). Migraine in children: How to recognize-how to treat. Consultant July: 2045-2054.

Eddy, M. (et al) (1999). Insomnia. American Family Physician 59:1911-1915.

Huffstutler, S.Y. (1998). Management of Antidepressant Withdrawal Reactions. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 10(4):161-165.

Marin, P.A. (1998). Pharmacologic Management of Migraine. Journal of the American

Academy of Nurse Practitioners 10(9):407-412.

Marks, W.J. & Garcia, P.A. (1998). Management of seizures and epilepsy. American Family Physician, 57, (7), 1589-1600.

Nesse, R.E. (et al). Management of Depression in Patients with Coexisting Medical Illness. American Family Physician 53:2125-2133.

Sloan, R.W. (1997). Drug treatment of migraine: Part I. Acute therapy and drug-rebound headache. American Family Physician, 56, (8): 2039-2048.

Sloan, R.W. (1997). Drug treatment of migraine: Part II. Preventive therapy. American Family Physician, 56, (9): 2279-2286.

Starr, C. (1998). Emerging migraine treatments. Patient Care, Sept.15: 78-97.

Tapper, V.J. (1997). Pathophysiology, Assessment and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease. The Nurse Practitioner 22(7):76-95.

Weiss, J. (1999). Assessing and managing the patient with headaches. The Nurse Practitioner, 24, (7):18-34.

Medication Use in Special Populations

Websites: Lots of free and interesting review materials

  1. General sites:
    1. Links up to Main medical libraries in midwest: http://healthweb.org/
    2. Grateful Med: http://igm.nim.nih.qov/
    3. PharminfoNet (great info on drugs, etc): http://pharminfo.com/
    4. US Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research: http://www.fda.gov/cder/index.html
    5. DruginfoNet (package insert info for you and your patients): http://www.druginfonet.com/index.html
  2. Center for Disease Control (CDC main site: http://www.cdc.gov/)
    1. National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp.html (You can download the STD Guidelines here)
    2. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: http://www2.cdc-gov/mmwr (You can get a free subscription on-line)
    3. American Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP): http://aepo-xdvwww.epo.cdc.gov/wonder/prevquid/tp00008.htm
  3. National Institutes of Health (Main site: http://www.nih.gov/)
    1. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: http://WWW.nhlbi.nih.gov (You can download JNC VI report here, as well as link to NCEP guidelines on cholesterol)
  4. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) (Main site: http://www.ahcpr.gov/) This is a great site for downloading or viewing what many consider the "gold standard" in clinical practice guidelines. Look here for guidelines on Alzheimer's, Stroke Rehab, Congestive Heart Failure, Angina, Pain Management, and lots of others.
  5. Professional Interest Sites:
  1. Journal of the American Medical Association: www.ama-assn.org/special/infohome.htm
  2. American Family Physician: www.aafp.org
  3. Annals of Internal Medicine: http://WWW.acponline-org/iournals/annals/annaltoc.htm
  4. Archives of Internal Medicine: www.ama-assn.ora/internal
  5. The Nurse Practitioner: www.tnpo.com
  6. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: www.acog.org
  7. Planned Parenthood: www.plannedparenthood.org/MAIN.HTM
  8. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: http://www.aanD.ora/
  9. AWHONNNVomen's Health: http://clients.intervisage.com/awhonn/about/index.html
  10. American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org
  11. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: www.aaaai.org
  12. Asthma and Allergy Disease Management Center: http://www.aaaai.org/aadmc/