22/07 (Medications) Flashcards
What is the Enrolled Nurses role in administering medication
The enrolled nurse can administer medication under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse.
S2 Drugs?
Substances dangerous to life if misused, but available to the public without restriction
E.g Panadol
S3 Drugs?
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.
S4 Drugs?
Restricted Substance
Substance which in the public interest should be supplied only on the written prescription of a medical practitioner, dentist or veterinary surgeon.
S4D drugs?
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.
S8 Drugs?
Drugs of addiction
Substances which produce addiction as defined by the poisons & therapeutic goods act.
RN compared to EN which scheduled medications can they administer?
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.
PRN meaning
As required “pro re nata”
D meaning
Daily
Mane meaning
in the morning
nocte meaning
at night
bd meaning
Bi daily
q12h meaning
Every 12 hours
TDS meaning
Three times a day
QID meaning
Four times a day
Stat meaning
Straight away
2/24 meaning
every 2 hours
ac meaning
before meals “ante cibum”
pc meaning
after meals “post cibum”
The 4 steps of Pharmacokinetics
- Absorbed
- Distributed to the cells
- Metabolised
- Excreted
Absorption process
- Drug moves into the blood stream from site of administration.
- Distribution occurs in the interstitial and intracellular fluids.
Distribution Process
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.
Metabolism process
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.
Excretion process
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.
Therapeutic effect
The desired effect, response that is expected
Side effect
A known or expected effect that is not desirable - nausea, vomiting, skin reactions
Adverse effect
An unexpected reaction to a drug
Usually mild but can be serious
Idiosyncratic reaction
An unusual or unexplainable reaction to a drug
Toxic reaction
Occurs when a drug builds up in the body and can cause damage
Allergic reaction
Caused when a person becomes sensitive to a drug. The effect can range from a mild rash to anaphylactic shock.
Factors affecting medication actions
Weight Gender Hereditary Psychological state Cognitive state Smoking Age
