Week 1 - Pharmacology

Question 1

What is the chemical name of a drug?

Answer 1

A description of the composition and molecular structure of the chemical

Question 2

What is a generic name of a drug?

Answer 2

The official name which typically is related to its drug group

Question 3

What are the properties of an ideal drug?

Answer 3

Reversible action
Predictable
Easily administered
Free of drug interactions
Low cost
Chemically stable
Has a simple generic name

Question 4

How are drugs classified?

Answer 4

By effect on body systems

By therapeutic use or indications

By chemical action

Prescription/OTC/illegal

Question 5

What is a prototype drug?

Answer 5

One drug that represents a group of drugs

Question 6

Define pharmaceutics:

Answer 6

Study of how DOSAGE influences how body metabolizes drug and how drug AFFECTS BODY

Question 7

Dosage form can determine what?

Answer 7

Rate that the drug dissolution occurs (when drug becomes active)

Question 8

Define pharmacokinetics:

Answer 8

Study of what the body does to the drug and WHERE it moves through

Question 9

What are the 4 components of pharmacokinetics?

Answer 9

Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion

Question 10

Define absorption:

Answer 10

Movement of the drug from where it is administered into the bloodstream

Question 11

What are some factors that affect drug absorption?

Answer 11

Flood/fluids administered with the drug
Dosage formulation
Status of absorptive surface
Rate of blood flow
Acidity of stomach
Status of GI motility

Question 12

Describe the First-Pass effect:

Answer 12

The drug must be metabolized by the liver before it is available/active to the system

Question 13

Define distribution:

Answer 13

The transport of a drug via the bloodstream to its site of action

Question 14

Where in the body does drugs in the bloodstream move to first?

Answer 14

Areas that are extensively supplied with blood (e.g. liver, heart, kidneys, brain)

Question 15

Define metabolism (of drugs):

Answer 15

The transformation of a drug into usable compounds/active metabolites OR inactivates

Question 16

What can slowed drug metabolism cause?

Answer 16

Accumulation of the drug
Prolonged effects

Question 17

What can stimulated drug metabolism cause?

Answer 17

Diminished effects

Question 18

When do prodrugs become active?

Answer 18

AFTER metabolism

Question 19

Define excretion (of drug):

Answer 19

Elimination of drug from body

Question 20

Where does drug elimination occur?

Answer 20

Mostly kidneys
Also liver and bowel
(sometimes skin and lungs)

Question 21

Define half-life:

Answer 21

The time it takes for half of a given drug dose to be removed from the body

Question 22

Typically it takes how many half-lives to fully eliminate a drug from the body?

Answer 22

5 half-lives

Question 23

What does the half-life determine?

Answer 23

How long the drug is effective and how often it should be administered

Question 24

Define pharmacodynamics:

Answer 24

What the drug does to the body (interaction of drug with sites of activity)

Question 25

Define therapeutics effect:

Answer 25

The intended positive change a drug makes (alters function, cannot create new function)

Question 26

What are 4 drug-related variables?

Answer 26

Dosage Route Drug-diet interactions Drug-drug interactions

Question 27

Who supervises new drug development and clinical trials?

Answer 27

FDA

Question 28

What are Schedule I drugs?

Answer 28

Drugs with no accepted medical use and are HIGHLY addictive (e.g. LSD, MDMA, heroin)

Question 29

What are Schedule II drugs?

Answer 29

Drugs that are used medically but are HIGHLY addictive (e.g. opioids (codeine, methadone, oxycodone, morphine), CNS stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine) and barbituate sedatives (pentobarbital)

Question 30

What are Schedule III drugs?

Answer 30

Drugs that are slightly less addictive but can lead to psychological/physical dependence (e.g. steroids, ketamine, some CNS stimulants)

Question 31

What are Schedule IV drugs?

Answer 31

Drugs that are medically accepted but have some potential for abuse (e.g. benzodiazepines, sedatives, appetite suppressants)

Question 32

What are Schedule V drugs?

Answer 32

Drugs with moderate amounts of controlled substances but do not require prescription but has restrictions and safeguards in place to prevent abuse

Question 33

A drug label must have what on it?

Answer 33

Name and dosage

Question 34

What is synergism?

Answer 34

When 2 drugs used together increase the effects more than the sum of their individual effects

Question 35

A nurse administers a drug. What's next?

Answer 35

Monitor the drug effects

Question 36

What are the 6 rights?

Answer 36

Right patient Right Medication Right Dosage Right Route Right Time Right Documentation

Question 37

What are the 3 med checks? Where do they take place?

Answer 37

1. Check order from prescriber (at computer/MAR) 2. Check Medication against MAR (at computer/dispenser) 3. Check at bedside (right patient, MAR, and drug)

Question 38

What are 7 essential components of a medication order?

Answer 38

Full name/DOB/MRN Date/Time written Name of medication Dosage Route Time and frequency Prescriber signature

Question 39

How long does a nurse have to give a mediation for it to be "on time"?

Answer 39

60 minutes Can be administered between 30 min before and 30 min after time

Question 40

What are the essential components of a Medication Administration Record (MAR)?

Answer 40

Client info (Name, DOB, MRN) Allergies Date (when it was prescribed, start and stop dates) Medication name Time to administer med Provider signature Special Instructions (such as "if BP is over ..." etc.)

Question 41

What are a few reasons why a nurse would need to verify an order with a provider?

Answer 41

Dosage out of normal range Medication seems inappropriate for patient Patient says it is the wrong medication Route is inappropriate

Question 42

What is medication reconciliation?

Answer 42

Asking a patient about the medications they are currently taking at home and documenting them

Question 43

When should the medication reconciliation occur?

Answer 43

Within an hour of the patient's admission

Question 44

Who is responsible for the medication reconciliation?

Answer 44

Nurse

Question 45

Body weight affects drug action mainly in relation to

Answer 45

dosage

Question 46

A single large dose or repeated small doses can lead to what?

Answer 46

Toxic concentrations

Question 47

What drug is used to relieve respiratory depression associated with morphine?

Answer 47

Naloxone

Question 48

During pregnancy, drugs can harm the fetus by passing through what?

Answer 48

The placenta

Question 49

What is the "universal antidote"?

Answer 49

Activated charcoal

Question 50

Insulin syringes hold up to how many mL?

Answer 50

100 mL

Question 51

What is an idiosyncratic response?

Answer 51

an unusual or opposite effect of what is intended

Question 52

Parts of a nursing diagnosis

Answer 52

(1) A description of the problem, response, or state (i.e. activity intolerance) (2) Identification of factors etiologically related to the problem (not the medical diagnosis) (i.e. R/T inadequate oxygenation) (3) Signs and symptoms that are characteristics of the problem (i.e. pt states dizziness etc.)

Question 53

Diagnostic label

Answer 53

the name of the nursing diagnosis as approved by NANDA International (Ex. Ineffective airway clearance)