NURS FPX 4905 Assessment 3 Technology and Professional Standards

NURS FPX 4905 Assessment 3 Technology and Professional Standards Student Name Capella University NURS FPX 4905 Professor Name Submission Date   Technology and Professional Standards Quality of life, safety, and continuity of care can be greatly enhanced by technology and professional standards among individuals with a mental health disorder. Cognitive impairment may adversely impact medication adherence in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) who also have dementia, since they may have difficulty regulating their medications and may miss taking their medication. A systematic review established that cognitive impairment had a significant impact on reduced medication adherence (Harris et al., 2025). This article presents a discussion on the role of registered nurses (RN) prepared to complete a BSN degree as one of the factors in enhancing adherence and outcomes among this group of patients, covering the following areas: process change, interdisciplinary teamwork, governmental recommendations, current and future technology, and the challenges in implementation. Role in Process Change and Professional Standards Evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and professional nursing standards enable the BSN-prepared RN to initiate the process of change. The experience at the Mayo Clinic of an RN working to curb medication barriers and simplify processes. The interdisciplinary group enables the RN to work with other disciplines to improve the treatment of adults with MDD and dementia through a collaborative approach. The Scope and Standards of Practice of the American Nurses Association identify quality improvement and leadership as some of the central areas of practice of the RN (American Nurses Association, 2021). In the capacity of a nursing student, I was part of the observation related to the existing medication reconciliation process and the records of patient medication adherence in the electronic health record (EHR) at Mayo Clinic. In the interactions with the psychiatric nurse practitioner and the clinic RN, I discussed the issue of medication adherence. Nevertheless, as a licensed RN, I will be able to establish systematic adherence screening procedures and assist family caregivers of adults with dementia to be part of the adherence monitoring process. Research has determined that medication reconciliation and adherence monitoring activities are better coordinated, which results in improved medication safety and continuity of care for adult patients with MDD (Fatemi-Nejad et al., 2025). Additionally, Minnesota has given nurses the authority to assess, implement, evaluate, and coordinate care and take part in quality improvement programs by the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act (Minnesota Board of Nursing, 2024). Thus, the role of the BSN-prepared RN is crucial to improving medication adherence for adults with MDD and dementia. Interprofessional Collaboration Effective medication administration of older adults with MDD and dementia can be facilitated by interprofessional collaboration. The interprofessional team at Mayo Clinic comprised a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, a pharmacist, a care coordinator, a primary care provider, and family caregivers, who collaborated to facilitate medication safety and continuity of care. The psychiatric nurse practitioner prescribed and changed medications for the patient. The registered nurse assisted with the patient intake procedure, medication reconciliation, medication education, and medication adherence checks. An observational study suggested that collaboration between nurses, prescribers, pharmacists, and caregivers having proven a positive impact on medication adherence and adverse drug-related events in older adults who use multiple medications (Perron, 2024). More opportunities for collaboration with patients on various psychotropic drugs could be established by expanding regular pharmacist consultations. This collaborative approach might also be enhanced by including family caregivers in medication education and follow-up visits. My practicum experience allowed me to support indirect collaboration with the psychiatric nurse practitioner by including medication adherence problems in the EHR, which would be reported to the nurse. Nevertheless, as a student nurse, I could not make independent decisions to use interprofessional interventions. Assuming that I was a licensed RN who was working in this setting, I would refer to the primary care provider and advise the patient to make a referral to the pharmacist to assist with the polypharmacy. I would also arrange educational activities among caregivers on medication reconciliation meetings and join team case conferences to discuss medication adherence issues. I would also report the progress of the patient to other health care professionals. I would also ensure the advocacy of adherence support services, which are recommended by the evidence-based practice, to enhance medication adherence, safety, and outcomes among older adults with MDD and dementia. Recommendations of Government and Accreditation Agencies Suggestions of different governmental and accreditation agencies strengthen the safe medication handling of adult patients with MDD. The guidelines of the Joint Commission also valued the significance of appropriate medication reconciliation, as well as periodic review of suicide risk, to avoid medication errors and ensure patient safety in behavioral health care contexts (The Joint Commission, 2025). Both practices assist in diagnosing possible medication-related problems at a young age and result in effective treatment in MDD and dementia. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has placed emphasis on the following treatment practices. In particular, they proposed measuring adherence with antidepressants at both the acute and continuation stages of the treatment to enhance patient outcomes and reduce the likelihood of a relapse (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2024). Measurement: Quality indicators promoted continuous performance improvement in nursing, fostered by the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) (Nelson-Brantley et al., 2026). Another possible quality indicator that enhances accountability in general and could positively affect continuity of care is adherence measurement. These government guidelines will probably ensure safer medication management of patients with MDD and dementia at Mayo Clinic, as shown above. Current Technology Used at the Practicum Site Mayo Clinic uses one enterprise-wide EHR as its primary technology to incorporate medication management in patient care. The system features electronic prescribing, medication reconciliation, clinical documentation, and secure communication features to help clinicians have an up-to-date list of medications the patient is taking and improve continuity of care. Patients can also access their own medication lists and engage in secure communication with their care team using a patient portal. Reconciliation is the best process towards the reduction