Chapter 32: Medication Administration (IRAT/GRAT #2) Flashcards
___ of American adults take at least one medication.
___ take five or more.
82%
29%
_____ emergency department visits and _______ are due to adverse drug events annually
700,000
120,000
_____ is spent on extra medical costs of adverse drug events annually
$3.5 billion
At least ____ of cost of ambulatory (non-hospital) adverse drug events are estimated to be preventable.
40%
In what steps do nurses play an essential role in safe medication?
- preparation
- administration
- evaluation of medication effects
- documenting patient response to treatment
- patient teaching including side effects
- ensuring adherence to medication regimen
- evaluating the patients or caregivers ability to self-administer
What medication regulations has the most influence on the nursing practice?
your state’s Nursing Practice Act
In relation to medication regulations, be aware of
federal, state and institutional regulations
Violations of the Controlled Substances Act are punishable by
fines, imprisonment, and/or the loss of the nurse’s license
What policies should you follow for the proper storage and distribution of medication and narcotics?
your institution’s policies
Pharmacokinetics: Factors that influence absorption
- route of administration
- ability of the medication to dissolve
- blood flow to site of administration
- body surface area
- lipid solubility of medication
medications placed on mucous membranes and respiratory airways
are absorbed quickly
What form of medications are absorbed more quickly?
medications already in a liquid state are absorbed more quickly
What areas absorb more quickly?
vascular areas absorb more quickly (mucous membranes)
The majority of medications are absorbed in
the small intestine
because small intestine is highly permeable, has high blood flow, and large surface area
What type of medications can cross cell membranes easily?
highly lipid soluble medications cross cell membranes easily.
food in the stomach may also be a factor in absorption.
Pharmacokinetics: Factors that in influence distribution
- circulation
- membrane permeability
- protein binding
The effect of Circulation on distribution of medications
ex) patients with heart failure have impaired circulation, therefore slowing medication delivery
The effect of Membrane Permeability on distribution of medications
blood brain barrier allows only fat-soluble medications to pass into the brain and cerebral spinal fluid
The effect of Protein Binding on distribution of medications
the degree to which medications bind to serum proteins (albumin) affects distribution
Metabolism
failure of organs that metabolize drugs puts patients at risk for medication toxicity
(ex. liver degrades many harmful chemicals before entering the tissues, so if liver is impaired, elimination of drugs is slower, causing an accumulation of drugs and risk for toxicity.)
Excretion
-elimination of drug through lungs, liver, kidneys, bowels, and exocrine glands.
Therapeutic Effects
the expected or predicted response
Side Effects
predictable often unavoidable, r/t normal therapeutic doses
Adverse Effects
unintended, undesirable, often unpredictable. May be severe or life threatening.