Outline:
Section 1: Introduction A. About This Course B. Learning Objectives Section 2: What is Polypharmacy? A. Meet Meme B. Adverse Drug Events C. Defining Polypharmacy D. Drug Categories E. Review F. Summary Section 3: How Does Polypharmacy Happen? A. It Happens B. Review C. Summary Section 4: Who is at Risk? A. Attributes B. Individual Characteristics C. Low Health Literacy D. Impairment E. External Transfer F. Review G. Summary Section 5: Consequences of Polypharmacy A. Consequences B. Regulatory Requirements C. Your Role D. Review E. Summary Section 6: Minimizing the Effects A. Medication Reconciliation B. The Process C. Reducing the Risk D. Reviewing Medications E. Guidelines for Practice F. Review G. Summary Section 7: Conclusion A. Summary B. Course Contributor C. Resources D. References E. Congratulations

Jennifer W. Burks, M.S.N., R.N. has over 25 years of clinical and teaching experience, and her areas of expertise are critical care and home health. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Virginia in 1993 and her Master of Science in Nursing from The University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1996. Her professional practice in education is guided by a philosophy borrowed from Florence Nightingale's Notes on Nursing, "I do not pretend to teach her how, I ask her to teach herself, and for this purpose, I venture to give her some hints." 

Disclosure: Jennifer W. Burks, M.S.N., R.N. has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.