Chapter 1: Foundations for Drug Therapy in Nursing

Question 1

Adverse Effects

Answer 1

Unintended and undesired effects that come with the use of a drug.

Question 2

Contraindications and Precautions

Answer 2

Conditions under which the drug should not be used, or should be monitored closely.

Question 3

Core Drug Knowledge

Answer 3

The pharmacological facts relevant to each drug are - core drug knowledge.

Question 4

Core Patient Variables

Answer 4

Factors, individual to the patient, that may or will interact with the prescribed drug therapy.

Question 5

Culture and Inherited Traits

Answer 5

Religious, social and ethnic backgrounds that may effect an individuals receptiveness to drug therapy; also genetic traits which effect a drugs pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties.

Question 6

Drug Interactions

Answer 6

Effects that occur when a drug is given with another food, drug or substance.

Question 7

Drug Response

Answer 7

The anticipated therapeutic and adverse effects of a given drug.

Question 8

Environment

Answer 8

Geo location of a drugs administration (hospital, home, LTC, etc). Properties of the physical environment which may alter the effect of a drug. Exposure to potentially harmful substances, pathology induced from a harmful environment substance, whether or not a drug can be administered in a given environment.

Question 9

Health Status

Answer 9

Presence of disease, illness and allergy. Chronic conditions or organ disfunction. Diminished memory of mental status.

Question 10

Life Span and Gender

Answer 10

Age, physiological development, reproductive stage, and gender.

Question 11

Lifestyle, Diet, and Habits

Answer 11

Amount of activity/exercise.  
Sleep wake patterns.
Occupation.
Financial resources.
Health coverage.
Eating habits and patterns.
Abuse of substance (nicotine, alcohol, illegal drugs).
Use of OTC drugs.
Alt. health practices such as herbal medications.
Literacy.

Question 12

Nursing Management of Drug Therapy

Answer 12

Process of planning and implementing actions, which will maximize the therapeutic effect of a drug, while diminishing the adverse effects of the drug.

Question 13

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 13

The effects of the drug on the body.

Question 14

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 14

The changes that occur to the drug while its inside the body.

Question 15

Pharmacotherapeutics

Answer 15

The desired therapeutic effect of a drug.

Question 16

Prototype Drug

Answer 16

Is a typical example of a group of drugs within a drug class.