Exam II - Medication Administration

Question 1

Nurse practice acts (NPAs)

Answer 1

Define the scope of nurses’ professional functions and responsibilities

Question 2

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 2

The study of four major processes: medication absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Question 3

Absorption

Answer 3

The movement of medication molecules into the blood from the site of medication admin

Question 4

Injection

Answer 4

IV injection produces the most rapid absorption because medications are available immediately when they enter the systemic circulation

Question 5

Biotransformation

Answer 5

Occurs under the influence of enzymes that detoxify, break down, and remove biologically active chemicals. Most of this occurs in the liver, although the lungs, kidneys, blood, and intestines also metabolize medications.

Question 6

Therapeutic effect

Answer 6

The intended or desired physiological response of a medication. Sometimes a single medication has many therapeutic effects.

Question 7

Adverse drug effects (ADEs)

Answer 7

Unintended, undesirable, and often unpredictable responses to medication.

Question 8

Side effects

Answer 8

Are predictable and often unavoidable secondary effects produced at a usual therapeutic drug dose.

Question 9

Toxic effects

Answer 9

Develop after prolonged intake of a medication or when a medication accumulates in the blood because of impaired metabolism or excretion.

Question 10

Idiosyncratic reaction

Answer 10

An unpredictable effect, in which a patient overreacts or under reacts to a medication or has a reaction different from normal.

Question 11

Anaphylactic reactions

Answer 11

Life threatening. Characterized by sudden constriction of bronchiolar muscles, edema of the pharynx and larynx, severe wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Question 12

Medication tolerance.

Answer 12

Occurs over time. It is usually clinically noted when patients receive more and more medication (higher doses) to achieve the same therapeutic effect.

Question 13

Medication interaction

Answer 13

In a medication interaction, one medication modifies the action of another. Medication interactions are common in individuals who take several medications.

Question 14

In a synergistic effect:

Answer 14

…the combined effect of two medications is greater than the effects when given separately.

Question 15

Minimum effective concentration (MEC)

Answer 15

The plasma level of a medication below which the effect of the medication does not occur.

Question 16

Safe Therapeutic Range

Answer 16

The plasma level between the MEC and the toxic concentration.

Question 17

To determine a peak and trough level, a blood sample is collected ___ before administering the drug (trough) and at the time the drug is expected to reach its ___ concentration

Answer 17

30 Minutes; Peak

Question 18

Sublingual Medication

Answer 18

Instruct patients not to swallow a sublingual medication or drink anything until the medication is completely dissolved to ensure that the medication will produce the desired effect.

Question 19

A med is administered by this route by placing the solid medication in the mouth against the mucous membranes of the cheek until it dissolves.

Answer 19

Buccal route.

Question 20

Parenteral Administration

Answer 20

In this administration, you inject a medication into body tissues and not by GI tract.

Question 21

Intradermal (ID) injection

Answer 21

Injection into the dermis. 5 to 15 degrees. TB test.

Question 22

Subcutaneous (SQ) Injection

Answer 22

Injection into tissues just below the dermis of the skin. 45 to 90 degree angle. Abdomen, lateral aspect of upper arm, thighs.

Question 23

Intramuscular (IM) injection

Answer 23

Injection into the muscle. usually 90 degree angle. Sometimes a shorter needle if person has underdeveloped muscle or is emaciated. Deltoid muscle, Dorsogluteal (not recc), Ventrogluteal, Vastus lateralis (thigh).

Question 24

Intravenous (IV) injection

Answer 24

Injection into a vein. 15 to 35 degree angle.

Question 25

Transdermal Disk

Answer 25

or a patch has systemic effects. The disk secures the medicated ointment to the skin. The nurse may leave a topical application in place for 12 to 7 days.

Question 26

Intraocular medication delivery

Answer 26

Involves administering medication into the eye by drops, ointment, or disks. Come in very high concentrations because of fluid lost through the eye.

Question 27

Prescriptions

Answer 27

Orders for medication. It is sometimes possible for prescriptions to come in household measurements.

Question 28

Metric System

Answer 28

Most logically organized and safest to use. Each basic unit of measurement is organized into units of 10.

Question 29

A solution can be:

Answer 29

• A mass of solid substance dissolved into a known volume of fluid
• A given volume of fluid dissolved in a known volume of another fluid.

Question 30

Verbal or telephone order precautions

Answer 30

Only used when written orders are not possible. Limit these to urgent situations. Health care facilities should provide guidelines for clear and effective communication of verbal orders.

Question 31

Medication error

Answer 31

Can cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or harm to the patients. Med errors include inaccurate prescribing; administering the wrong meds, dose, route,, and time interval, person, and administering too many doses or not at all.

Question 32

Medication reconciliation

Answer 32

You play an important role in reconciliating a patients list of medications during the transfer of discharge process.

Question 33

List the six rights of medication administration:

Answer 33

1. Right medication
2. Right Dose
3. Right patient
4. Right route
5. Right Time
6. Right documentation

Question 34

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Answer 34

A direct, patient-centered counseling approach that aims to help people change problem behaviors (such as medication nonadherance, smoking, weight gain) by helping patients explore and resolve ambivalence to change.

Question 35

Polypharmacy

Answer 35

The use of multiple medications, the use of potentially inappropriate or unnecessary medications, or the use of a medication that does not match a diagnosis. You suspect polypharmacy if your pt uses two or more medications with the same or similar actions to treat several illnesses simultaneously or mixes nutritional supplements or herbal products with medication.

Question 36

Ophthalamic medications

Answer 36

…in the form of eyedrops and ointments are given for eye conditions such as glaucoma and conjunctivitis.

Question 37

Pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs)

Answer 37

Deliver inhaled medications that produce local effects in the airway such as bronchodilation.

Question 38

Z-track method

Answer 38

A technique for pulling the skin during an injection, is recommended for IM injections.