Pharmacotherapeutics - CORRECT ANSWER is the use of medications to prevent illnesses or as
an intervention to treat diseases.
Pharmacokinetics - CORRECT... [Show More] ANSWER what the body does to a medication and entails four
very important processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the drug
Pharmacodynamics - CORRECT ANSWER explores what the drug does to the body.
The nursing process - CORRECT ANSWER evidence-based framework that is used to guide
professional nursing practice. The nursing process consists of five steps: assessment, nursing
diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Critical decision making underscores the
nursing process in action. The nurse collects both subjective and objective information in
utilizing the steps of the nursing process. The nurse addresses the multifaceted concerns of the
patient, including physiological, psychological, spiritual, cultural, and socioeconomic needs.
Drug interactions - CORRECT ANSWER can occur at any time.
The reasons that clients may experience drug interactions include
polypharmacy: the simultaneous use multiple drugs;
patient's lack of knowledge of medication instructions; and
interactions that may occur when taking over-the-counter and herbal supplements.
Strategies to Prevent Drug Interactions - CORRECT ANSWER The patient should understand
the reason for taking the medication, instructions for how to take the medication, and how long
he or she should take the medication.
Encourage the patient to keep a current list of medications and bring it to each physician
appointment.
Educate the patient about interactions with food and other medications that may increase or
decrease efficacy.
Support the patient in asking his or her healthcare provider and pharmacist to verify his or her
medication list, and if supplements or herbal therapies interact.
Have the patient return to demonstrate patient teaching regarding how to take the medications.
Designate friends or family members to assist patients with medication administration when the
patient has vision or memory problems.
Incorporate the use of a pillbox, calendar, or storage containers with labels to assist with
organizing medications.
Discard old or expired medications.
Pharmacological responses - CORRECT ANSWER the physiological reactions that occur within
the body. These medication-body reactions may be therapeutic or toxic.
Administration Routes - CORRECT ANSWER There are two general types of drug
administration routes—enteral (via the GI tract) and parenteral (by injection).
Common routes include oral (PO), intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SQ).
intravenous (IV) - CORRECT ANSWER Advantages:
Complete absorption
100% bioavailability
Precise control of dosing
Quick dilution of irritating drugs
Disadvantages:
Irreversible administration
Drug concentration, formulation, and rate of injection sensitivity
Risks of overloading body fluid volume, infection, and embolism
intramuscular (IM) - CORRECT ANSWER Advantages:
The use of poorly water-soluble drugs
The use for depot drug formulation (e.g., Penicillin G)
Disadvantages:
Discomfort and inconvenience
Local tissue injury caused by chronic administration
Risk of nerve damage because of improper injection
Moderate to low bioavailability
subcutaneous (SQ) - CORRECT ANSWER Advantages:
The use of poorly water-soluble drugs
The use for depot drug formulation
Disadvantages:
Discomfort and inconvenience
Local tissue injury caused by chronic administration
Risk of nerve damage because of improper injection
Moderate to low bioavailability
oral (PO) - CORRECT ANSWER Advantages:
Convenient and inexpensive
Higher safety of administration
Disadvantages:
Variability of drug absorption and difficulty of drug concentration control
Inactivation of certain drugs because of acidic environment of the stomach (e.g., Penicillin G)
and/or the liver "first-pass" effect (nitroglycerin)
Patients consciousness requirement
Local irritation of the GI tract to cause vomiting and nausea
transdermal - CORRECT ANSWER Advantages:
Good control of drug release (e.g., nitroglycerin and contraceptive hormones)
Convenient to use (e.g., patch and ointment)
Disadvantages:
Inconvenient administration for liquid formulation of drug
adverse drug event (ADE) - CORRECT ANSWER refers to any undesirable occurrence related
to either the administration of a medication or the failure to administer a medication. If a
medication is given at the appropriate therapeutic dosage and any unexpected, undesired, or
unintended reaction occurs, this would be called an adverse drug reaction.
Lifespan Considerations - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse will make certain decisions about
how to administer medication, keeping in mind the patient's age, developmental level, emotional
status, health status, and ability to participate in the medication administration process.
Administering Medications to Children - CORRECT ANSWER Dosages are based on weight or
body surface area (BSA).
Medication Therapy During Pregnancy - CORRECT ANSWER Gestational age: During the 1st
trimester, the fetus is at most risk due to the occurrence of rapid growth. During the 3rd
trimester, drugs are most likely to cross over from the circulation of the mother to that of the
child.
Breast feeding: A wide variety of drugs easily cross from the mother's circulation into the breast
milk, and subsequently to the breastfeeding infant.
Pregnancy safety category: The FDA classifies drugs based on their safety for use during
pregnancy.
Medication Therapy in Older Adults - CORRECT ANSWER Of specific concern in the older
adult population is polypharmacy, which describes the practice of taking multiple medications
simultaneously. [Show Less]
