Chapter 11 Flashcards
As an EMT you will ... medications help patients ... medicine ask patients about ... and ... report patient's medication info to hospital personnel
administer; self-administer; medication use; allergies;
…: the science of drugs, including their ingredients, preparation, uses, and actions on the body
pharmacology
… a substance used to prevent/treat disease, relieve pain
medication
…: the process by which medication works on the body–> meds can either increase/decrease a normal function of the body
pharmacodynamics
…: medication that stimulates receptions
…; med that binds to a receptor and blocks other meds/chemicals from attaching their
agonist; antagonist
…: the amount of medication that is given, which depends on: patient’s … and .. and the desired … of the medication
does; weight; age; action
…: the therapeutic effect that a medication is expected to have on the body
action
…: reasons or conditions for which a particular medication is given
indications
…: when a med would either harm the patient or have no positive effect
…: when medication should never be given
…: when benefits outweigh risks
contraindications; absolute contraindications; relative contraindications
…: any actions of a medication other than the desired ones
… effects: effects that are undesirable but pose little risk to patient
… effects: effects that can be harmful to patient
side effects; unintended; untoward
… name: simple, clear, nonproprietary name which isn’t capitalized
generic
…. name: brand name that a manufacturer gives to drug; capitalized
trade
… drugs are distributed only by pharmacists and require a physician’s order
prescription
… drugs may be purchased directly w/out prescription
over-the counter
other kinds of drugs: ... drugs (e.g. heroin, cocaine) ... remedies ... drugs ... supplements
recreational; herbal; enhancement; vitamin
Any medication that a patient takes can be ….and can cause an effect, so ask patients about any and all medications or drugs they are taking.
pharmacologically active
(routes of admin) …: the process by which meds travel through tissues to the bloodstream
absorption
(routes of admin) … medications enter the body through the digestive system: often in …/… form
medications administered via this route tend to be absorbed … and are not commonly used in an emergency setting
enteral; pill; liquid; slowly
(routes of admin) … medications enter the body by some other means. often in … form administered through … or …; absorbed more quickly and offer a more .. and … response
parenteral; liquid; needles; syringes; predictable; measurable
(routes of admin) enteral routs of admin:
… (SL) –> rapid
… (PR) –> rapid
.. (PO) –> slow
sublingual; per rectum; by mouth
(routes of admin) parenteral routes of admin: ... (IV) --> imeediate ... (IO) --> immediate ... --> rapid ... (IN) --> rapid ... (IM) --> moderate ... (SC) --> slow ... --> slow
intravenous; intraosseous; inhalation; intranasal; intramuscular; subcutaneous; transcutaneous
fastest delivery of med is
intravenous
IO injection reaches the bloodstream through the … and requires drilling a needle into the outer layer of bone
bone marrow
forms of inhalation meds include …, fine … and …
aerosols; powders; sprays
SL meds enter through the … under the tongue and is absorbed into bloodstream within minutes
e.g nitro tabs
oral mucosa
transcutaneous (transdermal): applied as a …; … effect than other routes
patch; longer-lasting
IN is relatively new: med is pushed through a device called a … that aerosolizes the liquid for delivery into the nostril
e.g. flu vaccine, naloxone
mucosal atomizer device (MAD)
manufacturer chooses form of medication to ensure:
proper …
timing of the med’s … into the bloodstream
… on the target organs/body systems
route of admin; release; effects
form of a med usually dictates route of admin: ... and ... ... and .. ... ... medications ... medications ... ... for inhalation
tablets; capsules; solutions; suspensions; metered-dose inhalers; topical; transcutaneous; gels; gases
capsules are .. shells filled with .. or … medication
gelatin; powdered; liquid
… often contain other materiasl that are mixed with the med and compressed
most medications given by … are in tablet/capsule form
tablets; mouth
…: a liquid mixture of one or more substances that cannot be separated simply
Solution
. Solutions can be given by almost any route.
When given by mouth, solutions may be absorbed from the stomach fairly …because the medication is already dissolved
Many solutions can be given as an IV, IM, or SC injection.
quickly;
…: a mixture of finely ground particles that are distributed evenly throughout a liquid by shaking or stirring but do not dissolve
these will … if they stand or are filtered
it’s important to … or … these before administration
suspension; separate; shake; swirl
Liquids or solids broken into small enough droplets or particles may be …
… directs these substances through the mouth and into the lungs
inhaled; Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
MDIs deliver the … amount of meds each time it’s used. often used for .. illnesses like asthma/emphysema
same; respiratory
topical meds include .., … and …
applied to skin surface affect …
lotions; creams; ointments; only that area
transcutaneous meds: designed to be absorbed ... also referred to as .. may have ... effects if you touch the med with your skin, you will absorb it as well
through the skin; transdermal; systemic
gels: …, administered in … or through …
semiliquid; capsules; plastic tubes
gases for inhalation: usually delivered through a … or …
.. is the medication most commonly used in gas form in EMS
nonrebreathing mask; nasal cannula; oxygen
six rights in administering medication. Right: ... ... ... ... ... ...
patient; med; dose; route; time (check expir date); documentation
circumstances to administer meds:
..
…
…
peer-assisted; patient-assisted; EMT-administered
…: you administer meds to yourself/partner
peer-assisted
…: you assist the patient with administering his/her own meds
patient-assisted
… med: the emt directly administers the med to the patient
the patient may be severely … or unable to understand the … for the medication
EMT-administered; confused; need
…, … and … … determine what an EMT may administer
medical control; state and local protocols
oral meds:
advantages: ..
disadvantages: digestive tract can be easily affected by …, … and …
ease of access; foods; stress; illness
(activated charcoal) reduces the amount of medication … in the stomach by binding the drug to its surface (..)
ground into a fine powder, frequently suspended with … (a sugar) which has a … effect that causes the med and the charcoal to move quickly through the digestive system
absorbed; adsorption; sorbital; laxative
(activated charcoal) may stain clothing
should not be given to patients who:
have altered … (LOC) (risk of …)
have ingested an …, an …, or a … product
level of consciousness; aspiration; acid; alkali; petroleum
oral glucose:
a sugar that cells use for energy; necessary for brain cells
…: extremely low blood glucose –> oral glucose can counteract the effects of this
An EMT can give glucose only by …–> available as a gel designed to be spread on the … between the check and gum; also available as tablets
never administer oral medications to an … patient or one who is unable to … or … the airway
hypoglycemia; mouth; mucous membranes; unconscious; swallow; protect
aspirin:
reduces …, …, and …
inhibits platelet .., which is useful during a potential …
fever; pain; inflammation; aggregation; heart attack
contraindications for aspirin use:
… to aspirin
preexisting … damage, … disorders, and …
should not be given to ..
hypersensitivity; liver; bleeding; asthma; children
(sublingual meds) advantages: easy to talk with awake and alert patients and advise them to place a pill under their tongue, absorption is relatively ..
disadvantages: any med placed in the mouth requires constant evaluation of the …, should not be used if the patient is … or …
quick; airway; uncooperative; unconscious
(sublingual meds) nitro relieves .. pain in cardiac patients
increases blood flow by relieving the … and causes arteries to … by relaxing muscles of the … arteries and veins
also relaxes veins throughout the body so that less … is returned to the heart, decreasing workload and …
spasms; dilate; coronary; blood; blood pressure
(sublingual meds) before administering nitro:
check the patient’s blood pressure. if systolic blood pressure is less than … mm Hg, nitro may be harmful
even a patient who has adequate blood pressure should sit/lie down with the head … before taking is medication (to avoid …)
if a significant drop in blood pressure occurs and the patient feels dizzy/sick, have the patient …
100; elevated; fainting; lie down
(sublingual meds) obtain a medical order or follow local protocols to administer nitro
can have potentially fatal interactions with … medications taken within the past .. hrs:
sildenafil (Viagra)
tadalafil (Cialis)
vardenafil (Levitra)
erectile dysfunction drugs may be used by both men and women
erectile dysfunction medications; 24
(sublingual meds) nitro:
administration by tablet: sublingually, patient should experience a slight … or … sensation, should be stored in its original glass container with the cap screwed on tightly
administration by metered-dose spray: deposits medication on or under the tongue; one spray equals …
tingling; burning; one tablet
(intramuscular meds) advantages: provides quick and easy access to the .. system without the need for placing a needle within a vein
blood flow to the muscles is relatively .. even with severe illness/injury
disadvantages: use of a needle and subsequent pain
circulatory system; stable
(intramuscular meds) epinephrine: also known as …, released inside body under …
controls .. response
… (mimics effect of sympathetic nervous system)
adrenaline; stress; fight-or-flight; sympathomimetic
(intramuscular meds) effects of epinephrine:
increases … and causes …, which increases ….
… passages in lungs
heart rate; vasoconstriction; blood pressure; dilates
(intramuscular meds) epinephrine may be dispensed from an … to treat life-threatening … –> automatically delivers a preset amount of med (usually … mg)
some services do not permit EMTs to carry epinephrine but do allow them to assist patients in administering their own
auto-injector; anaphylaxis; 0.3
(IN meds) naloxone: used to reverse the effects of an …
most common technique for naloxone admin is via the … route: place the atomizer in one nostril, pointing up and slightly outward
administer a .. dose ( … mL max) in each nostril
opioid overdose; intranasal; half; 1;
(inhalation meds) oxygen:
generally administered iva a nonrebreathing mask at … to … L/min
via nasal cannula at .. to .. L/min
must also provide … if the patient is not breathing (using a bag-valve mask at … L/min)
ensure there are no open flames, lit cigs, or sparks in the area
10; 15; 2; 6; artificial ventilations; 15
(inhalation)
metered-dose inhalers and nebulizers: used to administer liquid meds that have been turned into a fine … or .. by a flow of … or …
medication is .., breathed into the lungs, and delivered to the ..
mist; spray; air; oxygen; atomized; alveoli
(inhalation) advantages: … and relatively … route to access; is also portable
disadvantages: patient needs to be .. and control …
cannot be used for … patients
fast; easy; cooperative; breathing; unconscious
(inhalation) an MDI requires a great deal of … to administer. may be difficult to achieve when a person is having trouble breathing
use a … (adapter) to avoid spray misdirection: this fits over the inhaler, has an opening for the inhaler and for mouthpiece, patient sprays prescribed dose into the chamber and breathes in and out of the mouthpiece until the mist is completely inhaled
coordination; spacer
(inhalation) the only medications that will be effective during an acute attack of shortness of breath are fast-acting … (e.g. … [Proventil or Ventolin])
rescue inhalers; albuterol
Patient assessment includes finding out which …the patient is taking.
Provides vital clues to the patient’s …
Guides …
Will be useful to …
ask about any …
medications; condition; treatment; emergency dpt; nonprescription drugs
inappropriate use of a medication could lead to …
if a medication error occurs:
provide appropriate ..
notify ..
document thoroughly, accurately, and honestly
talk with your … or …
patient harm; patient care; medical control; supervisor; medical director
Ensure that the environment does not contribute to errors.
1. Ensure ...is sufficient. 2. ...equipment. 3. Limit ...as much as possible. 4. Consider using a ... to help yourself remember all crucial steps to medication administration.
lighting; Organize; distractions; “cheat sheet”
