Chapter 3: Key points Flashcards
Box 3.1 Focus on Safe Medication Administration
Before administering any drug to a patient, it is important to review the contraindications and cautions associated with that drug, as well as the anticipated adverse effects of the drug. This information will direct your assessment of the patient, helping you to focus on particular signs and symptoms that would alert you to contraindications or to proceed cautiously, and helping you to establish a baseline for that patient so that you will be able to identify the adverse effects that occur. When teaching the patient about a drug, you should list the adverse effects that can most often be anticipated, but not every adverse effect listed for that drug, along with the appropriate actions that the patient can take to alleviate any discomfort associated with these effects. Being alert to adverse effects—what to assess and how to intervene appropriately—can increase the effectiveness of a drug regimen, provide for patient safety, and improve patient compliance to the drug regimen.
All drugs have:
all drugs have effects other than the desired therapeutic effect.
What can primary actions of a drug be extensions of?
Primary actions of the drug can be extensions of the desired effect.
What are secondary actions of a drug?
Secondary actions of the drug are effects that the drug causes in the body that are not related to the therapeutic effect.
When can drug allergies or hypersensitivity reactions occur?
Drug allergies or hypersensitivity reactions can often occur when a patient develops antibodies to a drug after exposure to the drug.
What can adverse drug effects include?
Adverse drug effects can include skin irritation ranging from rashes and hives to potentially fatal Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
What are common adverse drug effects?
Superinfections, or infections caused by destruction of protective normal flora bacteria; blood dyscrasias caused by bone marrow suppression of blood-forming cells; and stomatitis or mucous membrane eruptions are common adverse drug effects.
Summary- drugs and adverse effects
No drug does only what is desired of it. All drugs have adverse effects associated with them.
Summary- adverse drug effects range from?
Adverse drug effects can range from allergic reactions to tissue and cellular damage. The nurse, as the health care provider most associated with drug administration, needs to assess each situation for potential adverse effects and intervene appropriately to minimize those effects.
Summary- adverse effects can be extensions of?
Adverse effects can be extensions of the primary action of a drug or secondary effects that are not necessarily desirable but are unavoidable.
Summary- when can allergic reactions occur?
Allergic reactions can occur when a person’s body makes antibodies to a drug or drug protein. If the person is exposed to that drug at another time, an immune response may occur. Allergic reactions can be of various types. The exact response should be noted to avoid future confusion in patient care.
Summary- what does tissue damage include?
Tissue damage can include skin problems, mucous membrane inflammation, blood dyscrasias, superinfections, liver or renal toxicity, poisoning, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, electrolyte disturbances, various CNS problems (ocular damage, auditory damage, anticholinergic effects, extrapyramidal symptoms, NMS), and teratogenicity.
