Understand the use of psychoactive drugs

This course is designed for professionals in psychiatric and non-psychiatric settings, including emergency rooms, nursing homes, and home care, who must be familiar with psychoactive medications.  You’ll learn about the major drug groups listed below and their actions, contraindications, and side effects.  Appropriate nursing behaviors and interventions will be stressed, and newer therapeutic agents will be featured.  Key topics covered include antipsychotics; anti-depressants, including tricyclics and SSRI’s; anti-anxiety agents; and non-traditional psychoactive medications.

You'll learn to:

• Identify four major groups of psychoactive medications.
• List major actions and indications for the four groups of medications.
• Recognize common side effects associated with psychoactive medications.
• Develop patient education materials appropriate to work setting and client population.