NURS 255 Exam 9 (Objectives) Flashcards
Onset (minimum effective concentration -Definition)
The time between drug administration and when therapeutic effects are felt
Peak (Definition)
When the concentration of medication in the blood is highest (when drug effects are their greatest)
Duration (Definition)
The length of time that a drug produces its therapeutic effects for
Therapeutic level (Definition)
The blood concentration of a drug that is enough to exhibit therapeutic effects without toxicity
Peak level (Definition)
The highest blood serum level that a drug can achieve
Trough level (Definition)
The serum concentration of a drug immediately before the next dose is administered.
Biological half life (Definition)
The time it takes for half a drugs concentration to disappear naturally
Drug interaction (Definition)
The process of food, drinks or other drugs interfering with the mechanism of action of a drug
Antagonistic drug relationship (Definition)
The process of one drug blocking another from performing its effects
Synergistic drug relationship (Definition)
The process of two drugs or a drug and a substance working together to potentiate the effects of each other
Drug incompatibility (Definition)
When a drug and a substance interact with one another and affect their stability, efficacy or safety.
Medication contraindications (Definition)
An interaction between a drug and another drug or condition that may be life threatening for the individual.
Why shouldn’t the dorsogluteal site be used as an injection site?
- Because of the presence of nerves and blood vessels in the area that may be damaged by injections.
What is drug tolerance?
An insensitivity to a drug usually from excessive use
What is drug misuse?
The nonspecific indiscriminate or improper use of drugs including alcohol, OTC, and prescription drugs. (MORE UNINTENTIONAL)
What is drug abuse?
The inappropriate intake of substance by amount, type or situation, continuously or periodically. (having alcohol is acceptable at some occasions but not others)
What is metabolism when it comes to drugs?
It is the chemical inactivation of a drug through its conversion into a more water soluble compound or into metabolites.
What are the 4 ways drugs can be excreted through the body?
- Kidneys
- Liver/GI tract
- Lungs
- Exocrine glands
What factors affect drug absorption?
- Bioavailability
- Route of administration
- Solubility of the drug
- pH and ionization in the body
- Blood flow to the area
What is a primary effect? (And the 5 types of effects it encompasses?)
The prescribed intended effects of a medication
- Palliative effects
- Supportive effects
- Substitutive effects
- Chemotherapeutic effects
- Restorative effects
What are secondary effects? (And the 5 types of effects it encompasses?)
The unintended effects of a medication
- Side effects
- Adverse reactions
- Toxic reactions
- Allergic reactions
- Idiosyncratic reactions
What are cumulative effects?
The increased response to repeated doses of a drug that occurs when the rate of administration is greater than the rate of metabolism.
What are nurses legally required to do if a prescription is incorrect?
- Look up medications and verify
- Ask another nurse or provider
- Contact the prescriber for clarifications
What 4 things should be assessed before giving medications?
- Measure vital signs
- Assess whether the patients general condition is appropriate
- Research the drug
- Identify biological factors that affect drug metabolism
What 4 things should be assessed while administering medications?
- Mental status
- Coordination
- Ability to self administer
- Swallowing
What 3 things should be assessed after giving a drug?
- Effectiveness of the drug
- Side effects
- Signs of adverse reaction or toxicity
What should not be done when a medication error is made?
Do not report it in the patients record
What 6 things are important about patient self medication to teach?
- Know and understand what you are taking
- Take the drug as prescribed
- Communicate with your prescriber
- Administer your drugs correctly
- Store your drugs safely
- Maintain your supply
When should each of the three checks of medications be done?
- Before pouring the medication
- After you prepare the medication
- At the bedside before administering
What are the 5 rights of medications?
- Right drug
- Right dose
- Right time
- Right route
- Right patient
What 2 things need to be remembered about preventing needle stick injuries?
- Never recap a contaminated needle
- Use reaping devices if you must with a sterile needle
What are the 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of using intradermal injections?
- Most rapid absorption
- Highly effective
- Causes patient anxiety
- Spinal route can cause nausea or headache
What are the advantages to oral medications?
- Convenient
- Sterility is not needed
- Economical
- Noninvasive
- Easy to administer
- Capsule can mask taste
- Capsule can be time released
What are the disadvantages of oral medications?
- Unpleasant taste
- Irritation
- Must be concious
- May be destroyed by digestive tract
- Can’t be used with difficulty swallowing
- Potential for aspirations
- May be harmful for teeth
- Onset is slow
What are the disadvantages and advantages of eternal medications
- Can be used for patients with swallowing impairment
- Not all tablets or capsules can be crushed
- NG tube itself presents some risk of aspiration
What are the advantages of sublingual medications?
- Used for local and systemic effects
- Convenient
- Sterility not needed
- Quick delivery to general circulation
- Bypasses stomach and intestines
What are the disadvantages of sublingual medications?
- May be accidentally swallowed
- Not useful for unpleasant tasting drugs
- May irritate the oral mucosa
- Patient must be conscious
- Useful for highly lipid soluble drugs only
- Patient has to hold drug for some time
- Limited period of effectiveness (frequent redoses)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of buccal medications?
- same as sublingual
What are the advantages of topical medications?
- Continuous dosing
- Sterility not needed
- For local or systemic effects
- Long acting systemic effects
- Useful if patient is unable to take oral medications
- Acceptable to most patients
What are the disadvantages of topical medications?
- Only work with lipid soluble drugs
- May cause local irritation if allergic to latex or tape
- Discarded patches may poison
- Leaves residue on skin
- Accurate doses can be difficult to obtain when the drug is in a tube or jar
What are the benefits of IM injections?
- Rapid absorption, apart from oily preparations
- allows use of drugs that are not stable in solution
- Causes less pain from irritating drugs
- Allows administration of larger volumes
- Allows more rapid absorption
What are the disadvantages of IM injections?
- May cause irritation
- Poses risk for nerve and tissue damage
- Cannot be used where tissue is damaged
What are the 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of sub-Q injections?
- Allows faster action than oral medications
- Allows better absorption of lipid soluble drugs
- Only small amounts can be given
- Absorption is relatively slow
What agency monitors drugs?
The FDA
What are the 3 acts that regulate drugs in the nation?
- Harrison act: Regulates drugs that cause dependence
- Durham-Humphery: states which drugs require prescription
- Comprehensive drug abuse prevention and control act: regulates the sale and distribution of controlled substances
What are the 5 classes of controlled substances?
- I: High potential for abuse and no medical use
- II: High potential for abuse but medical use
- III: Low physical but high psychological abuse
- IV: Mild physical and psychological abuse
- V: Low physical and psychological abuse
What are the 2 techniques that are often used to help with safe medication administration?
- Use the 3 identifiers
- Use the 5 rights of medications?
