Med Administration 1 Terms

Question 1

adverse reaction

Answer 1

any noxious, unintended, and undesired result of taking a drug in appropriate doses; also called an
adverse effect;
often used synonymously with side eect,
but side effects
also include results that,
although not the intended therapeutic effects,
are harmless and possibly helpful

Question 2

allergic reaction

Answer 2

an immune response to a drug, ranging in intensity from mild itching to severe rash to anaphylaxis

Question 3

anaphylaxis

Answer 3

an immediate and life-threatening allergic response characterized by bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, and
a rapid drop in blood pressure

Question 4

buccal

Answer 4

pertaining to or directed toward the bucca (cheek), the eshy
portion of the side of the face that makes up
the lateral wall of the oral cavity

Question 5

compatible

Answer 5

capable of harmonious coexistence; used to refer to two or more medications that can be given
simultaneously without changing the effects
of each other or causing any new responses not seen with any of the drugs administered alone

Question 6

contraindication

Answer 6

a pre-existing condition that makes it unsafe or otherwise inappropriate to administer a particular drug

Question 7

dosage

Answer 7

the determination and regulation of the size, frequency, and number of doses of a medication to be given
to or taken by an individual patient; often used synonymously with dose, but dose refers to the amount to be given at one time, not the overall dosing regimen

Question 8

dose

Answer 8

a measured quantity to be administered at one time, such as a specied
amount of medication; often used
synonymously with dosage, but dosage refers to the overall dosing regimen, not necessarily a single dose

Question 9

drug

Answer 9

any chemical or other non-drug substance that can affect living processes

Question 10

duration of action

Answer 10

how long a drug actively produces a therapeutic effect

Question 11

enteral

Answer 11

within or by way of the intestines

Question 12

generic

Answer 12

referring to a noncommercial name assigned to a drug, usually less complex than the drug’s chemical
name and more complex than a brand or trade; also known as a nonproprietary name

Question 13

idiosyncratic reaction

Answer 13

an uncommon, unexpected, or individual drug response thought to result from a genetic predisposition

Question 14

indication

Answer 14

a reason for administering a particular medication

Question 15

instillation

Answer 15

administration of a liquid drop by drop

Question 16

intradermal

Answer 16

within or into the dermis (skin)

Question 17

intramuscular

Answer 17

within or into a muscle

Question 18

intravenous

Answer 18

within or into a vein

Question 19

medication

Answer 19

term used for drug when it is given to or taken by a particular individual for therapeutic purposes

Question 20

medication administration record

Answer 20

a document that is completed as per agency policy to verify that a patient’s medications were administered
as prescribed

Question 21

narcotic

Answer 21

an umbrella term that has been used to refer to opioids, controlled substances, illicit drugs, central
nervous system depressants, strong analgesics, and drugs capable of causing physical dependence; opioid
is the preferred term for the family of potent pharmacologic analgesics commonly referred to as narcotics

Question 22

nebulizer

Answer 22

a device for creating and delivering an aerosol spray

Question 23

NPO

Answer 23

nothing by mouth, derived from the Latin words nil per os

Question 24

onset of action

Answer 24

the point in time after administration when a drug begins to exert its therapeutic effect

Question 25

ophthalmic

Answer 25

pertaining to the eye

Question 26

over-the-counter

Answer 26

referring to drugs sold without a prescription

Question 27

paradoxical reaction

Answer 27

causing an effect

opposite of the intended effect

Question 28

parenteral

Answer 28

via a route other than the gastrointestinal tract, such as subcutaneous, intramuscular, intrathecal, or
intravenous

Question 29

peak action

Answer 29

the point in time after administration when a drug exerts its maximal therapeutic effect

Question 30

plateau

Answer 30

a steady level of a drug achieved after repeated doses; a state in which the amount of drug eliminated
between doses equals the amount administered with each dose

Question 31

polypharmacy

Answer 31

the concurrent use of multiple drugs

Question 32

PRN

Answer 32

as needed, derived from the Latin words pro re nata

Question 33

side effect

Answer 33

any unintended and usually predictable result of taking a drug in appropriate doses; often used
synonymously with adverse eect,
but adverse effects
are noxious or harmful in some way while side
effects
also include results that are harmless and possibly even helpful

Question 34

subcutaneous

Answer 34

under the skin

Question 35

sublingual

Answer 35

under the tongue

Question 36

synergistic effect

Answer 36

an increase in the effects

of any or all of two or more drugs taken together

Question 37

therapeutic effect

Answer 37

the beneficial

and intended result for which a drug is taken

Question 38

topical

Answer 38

applied externally

Question 39

toxic effect

Answer 39

a seriously adverse drug reaction; toxicity refers to an adverse drug reaction caused by excessive dosing

Question 40

transdermal

Answer 40

entering through the dermis (skin); usually refers to a drug applied to the skin via an adhesive patch

Question 41

unit-dose system

Answer 41

a system of drug distribution in which a portable cart containing a drawer for each patient’s medications is prepared by the hospital pharmacy with a 24-hour supply of the medications.