NURS 6630N Week 2: Neurotransmitters and Receptor Theory Essays
NURS 6630N Week 2: Neurotransmitters and Receptor Theory Essays
Receptors and neurotransmitters are like a lock-and-key system. Just as it takes the right key to open a specific lock, it takes the right neurotransmitter to bind to a specific receptor. Not surprisingly, as it concerns psychopharmacology, the pharmacotherapeutics that are prescribed must trigger the release of certain neurotransmitters that bind to the correct receptors in order to elicit a favorable response for the patient. The mechanism of this binding and the response that follows reflects receptor theory and lies at the foundation of pharmacology. NURS 6630N Week 2: Neurotransmitters and Receptor Theory Essays
This week, you will continue your examination of neuroanatomy and neuroscience as you engage with you colleagues in a Discussion. You will also explore the potential impacts of foundational neuroscience on the prescription of pharmacotherapeutics.
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Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze the agonist-to-antagonist spectrum of action of psychopharmacologic agents
- Compare the actions of g couple proteins to ion gated channels
- Analyze the role of epigenetics in pharmacologic action
- Analyze the impact of foundational neuroscience on the prescription of medications
Learning Resources – NURS 6630N Week 2: Neurotransmitters and Receptor Theory Essays
Discussion: Foundational Neuroscience
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, it is essential for you to have a strong background in foundational neuroscience. In order to diagnose and treat patients, you must not only understand the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders but also how medications for these disorders impact the central nervous system. These concepts of foundational neuroscience can be challenging to understand. Therefore, this Discussion is designed to encourage you to think through these concepts, develop a rationale for your thinking, and deepen your understanding by interacting with your colleagues.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Cultura RF
For this Discussion, review the Learning Resources and reflect on the concepts of foundational neuroscience as they might apply to your role as the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in prescribing medications for patients.
By Day 3 of Week 2
Post a response to each of the following:
- Explain the agonist-to-antagonist spectrum of action of psychopharmacologic agents, including how partial and inverse agonist functionality may impact the efficacy of psychopharmacologic treatments.
- Compare and contrast the actions of g couple proteins and ion gated channels.
- Explain how the role of epigenetics may contribute to pharmacologic action.
- Explain how this information may impact the way you prescribe medications to patients. Include a specific example of a situation or case with a patient in which the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner must be aware of the medication’s action.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 6 of Week 2
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days in one of the following ways:
- If your colleagues’ posts influenced your understanding of these concepts, be sure to share how and why. Include additional insights you gained.
- If you think your colleagues might have misunderstood these concepts, offer your alternative perspective and be sure to provide an explanation for them. Include resources to support your perspective.
Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!
Week 2: Initial Discussion Post Example
An agonist is a drug that binds to and activates the receptor, producing a response. An example of an agonist would be Methadone (Human Indian Health Service 2021). Whereas an antagonist, such as Naltrexone, is a drug that binds to the receptor either on the primary site, or on another site, which stops the receptor from producing a response (Human Indian Health Service 2021). The most obvious difference between these two drugs is that one simulates and stops/ decelerates responses. Buprenorphine or Buprenorphine/Naloxone are examples of partial agonists and are not as efficient as a full agonist. (Human Indian Health Service 2021). An Inverse agonist’s effects are opposite of an agonist’s, while still binding to the same receptor site of as an agonist. Pimavanserin is an inverse agonist that decreases psychosis in patients with Parkinson’s disease with psychosis and reduces extrapyramidal side effects. (Khilnani, G., & Khilnani, A. K. 2011). Understanding inverse agonisms is crucial for newer drug development. It is now possible to develop medications, which have desired therapeutic effect without unwanted side effects. (Khilnani, G., & Khilnani, A. K. 2011).
Ion gated channel are similar to pores in the membrane. They open when an ion linked receptor binds a ligand and opens a channel across the membrane allowing the passing of ions, while receptors linked with G-protein, also known as seven transmembrane (7-TM) receptors, bind a ligand and activate a membrane protein called a G-protein, resulting in an interaction with an ion channel or one of the enzymes in the membrane. (Khan Academy. 2020).
Many diseases, such as cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, are often associated with epigenetic alterations.(Rasool, M., Malik, A., Naseer, M. I., Manan, A., Ansari, S., Begum, I., Qazi, M. H., Pushparaj, P., Abuzenadah, A. M., Al-Qahtani, M. H., Kamal, M. A., & Gan, S. 2015). Epigenetics can affect pharmacological action medications have for every individual. For patients who do not respond to conventional drugs, specific drugs must be used. Epigenetics control biological factors related to drug metabolism including drug transporters, the involvement of receptors and drug metabolizing enzymes with genetic variation affects the drug reaction in many different diseases. (Rasool, M., et.al. 2015)
As a provider, knowledge of this information is helpful when prescribing medications because it allows one to understand the action of how medications work, and the most effective type of medicine can be prescribed for the specific individual and situation. If a patient comes into the facility with psychotic features this patient needs a dopamine-antagonizing medication because psychotic symptoms and states are a result of an over-production of dopamine and knowing the mechanism of action would help you understand why this type of medication would be effective.
Reference
Rasool, M., Malik, A., Naseer, M. I., Manan, A., Ansari, S., Begum, I., Qazi, M. H., Pushparaj, P., Abuzenadah, A. M., Al-Qahtani, M. H., Kamal, M. A., & Gan, S. (2015). The role of epigenetics in personalized medicine: challenges and opportunities. BMC medical genomics, 8 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1755-8794-8-S1-S5
Stefanska, B., & MacEwan, D. J. (2015). Epigenetics and pharmacology. British journal of pharmacology, 172(11), 2701–2704. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.13136
Human Indian Health Service (2021). Pharmacological Treatment. Retrieved from: https://www.ihs.gov/opioids/recovery/pharmatreatment/
Khilnani, G., & Khilnani, A. K. (2011). Inverse agonism and its therapeutic significance. Indian journal of pharmacology, 43(5), 492–501.
Khan Academy. (2020). Ligands and Receptors. Retrieved from: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/cell-communication-and-cell-cycle/signal-transduction/a/signal-perception
Rubric Detail – NURS 6630N Week 2: Neurotransmitters and Receptor Theory Essays
Select Grid View or List View to change the rubric’s layout
| Excellent
Point range: 90–100 |
Good
Point range: 80–89 |
Fair
Point range: 70–79 |
Poor
Point range: 0–69 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Posting:
Response to the Discussion question is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. |
40 (40%) – 44 (44%)
Thoroughly responds to the Discussion question(s). NURS 6630N Week 2: Neurotransmitters and Receptor Theory Essays Is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. No less than 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three current credible sources. |
35 (35%) – 39 (39%)
Responds to most of the Discussion question(s). Is somewhat reflective with critical analysis and synthesis representative of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. 50% of the post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible references. |
31 (31%) – 34 (34%)
Responds to some of the Discussion question(s). One to two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Post is cited with fewer than two credible references. |
0 (0%) – 30 (30%)
Does not respond to the Discussion question(s). Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible references. |
| Main Posting:
Writing |
6 (6%) – 6 (6%)
Written clearly and concisely. Contains no grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Written concisely. May contain one to two grammatical or spelling errors. Adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Written somewhat concisely. May contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors. |
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
| Main Posting:
Timely and full participation |
9 (9%) – 10 (10%)
Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts main Discussion by due date. |
8 (8%) – 8 (8%)
Posts main Discussion by due date. Meets requirements for full participation. |
7 (7%) – 7 (7%)
Posts main Discussion by due date.
|
0 (0%) – 6 (6%)
Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post main Discussion by due date. |
| First Response:
Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. |
9 (9%) – 9 (9%)
Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. |
8 (8%) – 8 (8%)
Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting.
|
7 (7%) – 7 (7%)
Response is on topic, may have some depth.
|
0 (0%) – 6 (6%)
Response may not be on topic, lacks depth.
|
| First Response: Writing |
6 (6%) – 6 (6%)
Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in Standard, Edited English. |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. NURS 6630N Week 2: Neurotransmitters and Receptor Theory Essays Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in Standard, Edited English. |
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. |
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. |
| First Response: Timely and full participation |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. |
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. |
3 (3%) – 3 (3%)
Posts by due date.
|
0 (0%) – 2 (2%)
Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. |
| Second Response: Post to colleague’s main post that is reflective and justified with credible sources. |
9 (9%) – 9 (9%)
Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Responds to questions posed by faculty. The use of scholarly sources to support ideas demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. |
8 (8%) – 8 (8%)
Response has some depth and may exhibit critical thinking or application to practice setting.
|
7 (7%) – 7 (7%)
Response is on topic, may have some depth.
|
0 (0%) – 6 (6%)
Response may not be on topic, lacks depth.
|
| Second Response: Writing |
6 (6%) – 6 (6%)
Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in Standard, Edited English. |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Communication is mostly professional and respectful to colleagues. Response to faculty questions are mostly answered, if posed. Provides opinions and ideas that are supported by few credible sources. Response is written in Standard, Edited English. NURS 6630N Week 2: Neurotransmitters and Receptor Theory Essays |
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Response posed in the Discussion may lack effective professional communication. Response to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Few or no credible sources are cited. |
0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Responses posted in the Discussion lack effective communication. Response to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. |
| Second Response: Timely and full participation |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Meets requirements for timely, full, and active participation. Posts by due date. |
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Meets requirements for full participation. Posts by due date. |
3 (3%) – 3 (3%)
Posts by due date.
|
0 (0%) – 2 (2%)
Does not meet requirements for full participation. Does not post by due date. |
| Total Points: 100 |
|---|
