SG Ch: 32 - Medication Administration Pt. 1 Flashcards
Briefly summarize the roles of the following in relation to the regulation of medications.
a. Federal government
b. State government
c. Health care institutions
d. Nurse Practice Act
a. Federal government: Protects the health of the people by ensuring that medications are safe and effective. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration ensures that all medications undergo vigorous testing before they are sold.
b. State government: Conforms to federal legislation but also have additional controls such as alcohol and tobacco.
c. Health care institutions: Have individual policies to meet federal and state regulations.
d. Nurse Practice Act: Defines the scope of a nurse’s professional functions and responsibilities.
A single medication may have three different names.
Name and define each one.
- Chemical name: A chemical name provides an exact description of the medication’s composition and molecular structure.
- Generic name: A generic name is created by the manufacturer who first develops the medication; this becomes the official name.
- Trade name: The trade name is one that the manufacturer has trademarked to identify the particular version they manufacture.
A medication classification indicates:
The effect of the medication on a body system, the symptoms the medication relieves, or the medication’s desired effect.
The form of the medication determines its:
its route of administration.
Pharmacokinetics is:
The study of how medications enter the body, reach their site of action, metabolize, and exit the body
Absorption is:
The passage of medication molecules into the blood from the site of administration.
Identify five factors that influence drug absorption.
- Route of administration
- Ability of the medication to dissolve
- Blood flow to the site of administration
- Body surface area
- Lipid solubility
Identify five factors that affect the rate and extent of medication distribution.
- Circulation
- Membrane permeability
- Protein binding
- Metabolism
- Excretion
Explain the role of metabolism.
After a medication reaches its site of action, it becomes metabolized into a less active or inactive form that is easier to excrete.
Identify the primary organ for drug excretion, and explain what happens if this organ’s function declines.
The kidneys are the primary organ for drug excre- tion. When renal function declines, a patient is at risk for medication toxicity.
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Therapeutic effects
The expected or predictable physiological response to a medication.
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Side effects
Side effects are predictable and often unavoidable secondary effects a medication predictably will cause
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Adverse effects
Adverse effects are unintended, undesirable, and often unpredictable severe responses to medication
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Toxic effects
Toxic effects develop after prolonged intake of a medication or when a medication accumulates in the blood because of impaired metabolism or excretion
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Idiosyncratic reactions
Idiosyncratic reactions are unpredictable effects in which a patient overreacts or underreacts to a medi- cation or has a reaction that is different from normal
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions are unpredictable responses to a
medication
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Anaphylactic reactions
Anaphylactic reactions are allergic reactions that are life threatening and characterized by sudden con- striction of bronchiolar muscles, edema of the pharynx and larynx, and severe wheezing and shortness of breath.
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Medication interaction
Medication interaction occurs when one medication modifies the action of another medication; it may alter the way another medication is absorbed, metabolized, or eliminated from the body.
Define the following predicted or unintended effects of drugs.
Synergistic effect
A synergistic effect is when the combined effect of the two medications is greater than the effect of the medications when given separately.
Define the following terms related to medication dose responses.
Minimum effective concentration (MEC)
The MEC is the plasma level of a medication below which the medication’s effect will not occur.
Define the following terms related to medication dose responses.
Peak concentration
The peak concentration is the highest serum level concentration.
Define the following terms related to medication dose responses.
Trough concentration:
The trough concentration is the lowest serum level concentration.
Define the following terms related to medication dose responses.
Biological half-life:
The biological half-life is the time it takes for excretion processes to lower the serum medication concentration by half.
Identify the three types of oral routes.
- Oral
- Buccal
- Sublingua
List the four major sites for parenteral injections.
- Intradermal
- Subcutaneous
- Intramuscular
- Intravenous
Define the following advanced techniques of medication administration.
Epidural
Epidural injections are administered in the epidural space via a catheter, usually used for postoperative analgesia.
Define the following advanced techniques of medication administration.
Intrathecal
Intrathecal administration is via a catheter that is in the subarachnoid space or one of the ventricles of the brain.
Define the following advanced techniques of medication administration.
Intraosseous
Intraosseous infusion of medication is administered directly into the bone marrow; it is commonly used in infants and toddlers.
Define the following advanced techniques of medication administration.
Intraperitoneal
Intraperitoneal medications, such as chemotherapeu- tic agents, insulin, and antibiotics, are administered into the peritoneal cavity.
Define the following advanced techniques of medication administration.
Intrapleural
Intrapleural medications, commonly chemotherapeutics, are administered directly into the pleural space.
Define the following advanced techniques of medication administration.
Intraarterial
Intraarterial medications are administered directly into the arteries.
Define the following advanced techniques of medication administration.
Intracardiac
Intracardiac medications are injected directly into the cardiac tissue.
Define the following advanced techniques of medication administration.
Intraarticular:
Intraarticular medications are injected into a joint
Identify five methods for applying medications to mucous membranes.
- Directly applying a liquid or ointment
- Inserting a medication into a body cavity
- Instilling fluid into a body cavity
- Irrigating a body cavity
- Spraying
Identify the benefit of the inhalation route.
Inhaled medications are readily absorbed and work rapidly because of the rich vascular alveolar capillary network present in the pulmonary tissue.
Identify the two types of measurements used in medication therapy.
- Metric
- Household
A solution is:
A solution is a given mass of solid substance dissolved in a known volume of fluid or a given volume of liquid dissolved in a known volume of another fluid.
Briefly explain the common types of medication orders:
Verbal
If the order is given verbally to the nurse by the provider, it is a verbal order.
Briefly explain the common types of medication orders:
Standing or routine
A standing or routine order is carried out until the prescriber cancels it by another order or until a prescribed number of days elapse.
Briefly explain the common types of medication orders:
prn
A prn order is a medication that is given only when a patient requires it.
Briefly explain the common types of medication orders:
Single (one-time)
A single or one-time dose is given only once at a specified time.
Briefly explain the common types of medication orders:
STAT
A STAT order describes a single dose of a medication to be given immediately and only once.
Briefly explain the common types of medication orders:
Now
Now is used when a patient needs a medication quickly but not right away; the nurse has up to 90 minutes to administer.
List the two medication distribution systems
- Unit dose
- Automated medication dispensing systems (AMDS)
Identify the common five medication errors that can cause patient harm.
- Inaccurate prescribing
- Administration of the wrong medicine
- Giving the medication using the wrong route or time interval
- Administering extra doses
- Failing to administer a medication
Identify the process for medication reconciliation.
- Obtain, verify, document
- Consider and compare
- Reconcile
- Communicate
List the six rights of medication administration.
- The right medication
- The right dose
- The right patient
- The right route
- The right time
- The right documentation
Briefly summarize The Patient Care Partnership related to medication administration.
- Be informed of the medication’s name, purpose, action, and potential undesired effects.
- Refuse a medication regardless of the consequences.
- Have qualified nurses or physicians assess a medication history.
- Be properly advised of the experimental nature of medication therapy and give written consent.
- Receive labeled medications safely without discomfort.
- Receive appropriate supportive therapy.
- Not receive unnecessary medications
- Be informed if medications are a part of a research
study.
Identify the areas the nurse needs to assess to determine the need for and potential response to medication therapy.
- History
- History of allergies
- Medication data
- Diet history
- Patient’s perceptual coordination problems
- Patient’s current condition
- Patient’s attitude about medication use
- Patient’s knowledge and understanding of medcation therapy
- Patient’s learning needs
Identify seven of the potential nursing diagnoses used during the administration of medications.
- Anxiety
- Ineffective Health Maintenance
- Caregiver Role Strain
- Deficient Knowledge
- Noncompliance
- Impaired Memory
- Impaired Swallowing
Identify the outcomes for a patient with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.
- Will verbalize understanding of desired effects and adverse effects of medications
- Will state signs, symptoms, and treatment of hypoglycemia
- Will monitor blood sugar to determine if medication is appropriate to take
- Will prepare a dose of ordered medication e. Will describe a daily routine that will integrate timing of medication with daily activities
Identify four factors that can influence the patient’s compliance with the medication regimen.
- Health beliefs
- Personal motivations
- Socioeconomic factors
- Habits
