Exam 1 Flashcards
Assessment of a Drug
Drug’s action, signs/symptoms of allergic reaction, adverse effects, contraindications, dosages/routes, drug incompatibilities, antidotes
Compliance
Implementation or fulfillment of a prescriber’s or caregiver’s course of treatment or therapeutic plan
Adherence
Perceived as implying more collaboration and active role between patient and provider
Prescription must include:
- Patient’s name
- Date the drug order was written
- Name of drug
- Drug dosage
- Drug dosage frequency
- Route
- Prescriber’s signature
NURSING DRUG DIAGNOSES
- Deficient knowledge
- Risk for injury
- Noncompliance
Drug Outcome Identification
ULTIMATE GOAL IS THE SAFE, THERAPEUTIC, AND EFFECTIVE MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
Side Effects vs. Adverse Effects
Side effects are not life-threatening
Adverse effects can be life-threatening
SIX RIGHTS OF MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
- Right drug
- Right dose
- Right time
- Right route
- Right patient
- Right documentation
Three Types of Nursing Interventions
- Drug administration
- Provision of comfort measures
- Patient/family education
Evaluation of Drugs
Monitor fulfillment of outcomes and patient’s therapeutic response
Drugs have three different names…
- Chemical name (chemical composition)
- Generic name (used in most official drug lists)
- Trade name (drug’s registered trademark)
Pharmaceutics
Study of how various dosage forms influence the way the drug affects the body
Pharmacokinetics
Study of what the body does to the drug
Pharmacodynamics
Study of what the drug does to the body and involves drug-receptor relationships
Phases of Drug Activity
- Dose of formulated drug
- Pharmaceutical phase (disintegration of dosage form)
- Pharmacokinetic phase (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)
- Pharmacodynamic phase (drug-receptor interaction)
- Effect
Pharmacotherapeutics
Focuses on the clinical use of drugs to prevent/treat diseases and defines principles of drug actions
Pharmacognosy
Study of natural drug sources
Pharmacoeconomics
Economic aspects of drug therapy
Absorption
Movement of a drug into the bloodstream
Bioavailability
Extent of drug absorption
First-Pass Effect
Drugs absorbed by the intestines must pass through the liver before circulation
Oral drugs decrease bioavailability
IV drugs skip first-pass effect
Enteral Route
Drug is absorbed into circulation via mucosa of stomach/intestines
Sublingual Route
Goes under the tongue and is absorbed rapidly due to vascularization and bypassing the liver (same as buccal route)
Parenteral Route
Fastest absorption, most commonly an injection
Intradermally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, and intravenously
Bypasses the first-pass effect
Topical Route
Delivers a uniform amount of drug over a long period of time
Avoids first-pass effect (except for rectum)
Distribution
Transport of a drug by the bloodstream to its site of action
Areas of rapid distribution are heart, liver, kidneys, and brain
Drug molecules not bound to plasma proteins…
Go to the site of action
Drugs bound to proteins…
Are inactive
Hydrophilic Drugs (Water-Soluble)
Smaller volume of distribution and high blood concentrations
Lipophilic Drugs (Fat-Soluble)
Higher volume of distribution and low blood concentrations
Metabolism
Biochemical alteration of a drug into an inactive metabolite, a more soluble compound, a more potent active metabolite, or a less active metabolite
Excretion
Primary organ is the kidneys, but liver and bowel play roles
Drugs metabolized by the liver are polarized and water-soluble, making elimination easy
Half-Life
Measure of the rate at which the drug is eliminated from the body
Most drugs have 5 half-lives
Onset
Time required for the drug to elicit a therapeutic response
Duration
Length of time drug concentration is sufficient to elicit a therapeutic response
Peak Level
Highest blood level
If peak is too high, toxicity may occur
Trough Level
Lowest blood level
If trough is too low, drug may not produce a response
Pharmacodynamics
Drugs exert actions through receptors, enzymes, and nonselective interactions
Receptor
Reactive site on a cell surface
Drug binds to receptor and causes a pharmacologic response
Drug with the greatest affinity will elicit the greatest response
Enzyme Interactions
Drugs inhibit (more common) or enhance (less common) the action of a specific enzyme