22/07 (Medications)

Question 1

What is the Enrolled Nurses role in administering medication

Answer 1

The enrolled nurse can administer medication under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse.

Question 2

S2 Drugs?

Answer 2

Substances dangerous to life if misused, but available to the public without restriction

E.g Panadol

Question 3

S3 Drugs?

Answer 3

Substances that are used for therapeutic use and about which personal advice may be required by the user, excessive unsupervised use unlikely.

May be required for use urgently, so that prescription only would cause hardship

Some products are recordable by the pharmacy.

Question 4

S4 Drugs?

Answer 4

Restricted Substance

Substance which in the public interest should be supplied only on the written prescription of a medical practitioner, dentist or veterinary surgeon.

Question 5

S4D drugs?

Answer 5

Drugs which may be abused or are liable to cause dependence.

Should only be supplied with written prescription

These drugs have special storage & handing requirements over & above those for S4 substances.

Question 6

S8 Drugs?

Answer 6

Drugs of addiction

Substances which produce addiction as defined by the poisons & therapeutic goods act.

Question 7

RN compared to EN which scheduled medications can they administer?

Answer 7

RN can administer up to and including schedule 8 medications by all routes.

EN can administer up to and including 4D medications by all routes. May check S8 with an RN.

Question 8

PRN meaning

Answer 8

As required “pro re nata”

Question 9

D meaning

Answer 9

Daily

Question 10

Mane meaning

Answer 10

in the morning

Question 11

nocte meaning

Answer 11

at night

Question 12

bd meaning

Answer 12

Bi daily

Question 13

q12h meaning

Answer 13

Every 12 hours

Question 14

TDS meaning

Answer 14

Three times a day

Question 15

QID meaning

Answer 15

Four times a day

Question 16

Stat meaning

Answer 16

Straight away

Question 17

2/24 meaning

Answer 17

every 2 hours

Question 18

ac meaning

Answer 18

before meals “ante cibum”

Question 19

pc meaning

Answer 19

after meals “post cibum”

Question 20

The 4 steps of Pharmacokinetics

Answer 20

• Absorbed
• Distributed to the cells
• Metabolised
• Excreted

Question 21

Absorption process

Answer 21

• Drug moves into the blood stream from site of administration.
• Distribution occurs in the interstitial and intracellular fluids.

Question 22

Distribution Process

Answer 22

The movement of drugs throughout the body. Determined by blood flow to the tissues, it is ability of the drug to enter the vasculature system and the ability of the drug to enter the cell if required.

Question 23

Metabolism process

Answer 23

Metabolism is the process by which drugs are chemically altered to make them sufficiently water-soluble for excretion in urine or faeces. Metabolism occurs in a variety of body organs and tissues, but chiefly in the liver, gut wall, kidney and skin.

Question 24

Excretion process

Answer 24

The process by which drugs leave the body. Drugs that are sufficiently water-soluble will be excreted unchanged in the urine. Lipid-soluble drugs must be modified to water-soluble metabolites before excretion via the kidney or into the intestine via the bile.

Question 25

Therapeutic effect

Answer 25

The desired effect, response that is expected

Question 26

Side effect

Answer 26

A known or expected effect that is not desirable - nausea, vomiting, skin reactions

Question 27

Adverse effect

Answer 27

An unexpected reaction to a drug

Usually mild but can be serious

Question 28

Idiosyncratic reaction

Answer 28

An unusual or unexplainable reaction to a drug

Question 29

Toxic reaction

Answer 29

Occurs when a drug builds up in the body and can cause damage

Question 30

Allergic reaction

Answer 30

Caused when a person becomes sensitive to a drug. The effect can range from a mild rash to anaphylactic shock.

Question 31

Factors affecting medication actions

Answer 31

Weight 
Gender
Hereditary
Psychological state
Cognitive state
Smoking
Age