Unit 3 Medication Administration Definitions

Question 1

Absorption

Answer 1

Movement of smaller elements through the walls of the digestive tract and into the blood. The passage of drug from the administration site into the bloodstream.

Question 2

Adverse Effects

Answer 2

Severe, unintended, unwanted, and often unpredictable drug reactions.

Question 3

Allergic Reaction

Answer 3

Unpredictable immune responses to medications.

Question 4

Antagonism

Answer 4

A drug’s effect is decreased by taking it with another substance.

Question 5

Buccal

Answer 5

Medication administration against the mucous membrane of the cheek.

Question 6

Controlled Substances

Answer 6

Drugs with regulated manufacturing, prescribing, and dispensing requirements.

Question 7

Distribution

Answer 7

The process of delivering a medication to tissues, organs, and ultimately, the specific site fo action.

Question 8

Drug

Answer 8

Any substance that either positively or negatively alters physiologic function.

Question 9

Drug Incompatibility

Answer 9

Mixing medications in a solution that causes precipitation, or combining a drug with another drug that causes an adverse chemical reaction.

Question 10

Excretion

Answer 10

A process that removes the less active drug or its metabolites.

Question 11

Generic Name

Answer 11

The official drug name assigned by the U.S. Adopted Names Council, which is simpler than the chemical name.

Question 12

Half-Life

Answer 12

The time it takes for the blood concentration of a drug to measure half of the original dose due to drug elimination.

Question 13

Idiosyncratic Reaction

Answer 13

An unpredictable patient response to medication.

Question 14

Inhalation

Answer 14

Medications taken into the body through the respiratory tract.

Question 15

Intradermal

Answer 15

A shallow injection into the dermis skin layer, just under the epidermis.

Question 16

Intramuscular (IM)

Answer 16

An injection into a muscle of adequate size to accommodate the amount and type of medication.

Question 17

Intravenous (IV)

Answer 17

An injection in the vein.

Question 18

Medication

Answer 18

A drug specifically administered for its therapeutic effect on physiological function.

Question 19

Medication Error

Answer 19

An preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer.

Question 20

Medication Interactions

Answer 20

A drug’s action is modified by the presence of a certain food, herb, or another medication.

Question 21

Metabolism

Answer 21

The process of chemically changing nutrients, such as fats and proteins, into end products that are used to meet the energy needs of the body or stored for future use, thereby helping maintain homeostasis in the body. The process by which a drug is altered to a less active form to prepare for excretion.

Question 22

NPO

Answer 22

Nil per os- Nothing by mouth.

Question 23

Onset of Action

Answer 23

The time the body takes to respond to a drug after administration.

Question 24

Oral

Answer 24

Mouth

Question 25

Parental

Answer 25

Medication administration by injection or infusion.

Question 26

Peak Plasma Level

Answer 26

The highest serum (blood) concentration of a drug.

Question 27

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 27

The process in which a medication interacts with the body’s cells to produce a biologic response.

Question 28

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 28

The study of how a medication enters teh body, moves through the body, and is excreted.

Question 29

Prescription

Answer 29

Medications dispensed by a pharmacist on a receipt of written directions from a medical provider legally permitted to prescribe drugs.

Question 30

Side effects

Answer 30

Predictable but unwanted and sometimes unavoidable reactions to medications.

Question 31

Six Rights of Medication Administration

Answer 31

The right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right patient and right documentation.

Question 32

Subcutaneous

Answer 32

An injection into the subcutaneous tissue just below the skin.

Question 33

Sublingual

Answer 33

Medication administration under the tongue.

Question 34

Synergistic Effect

Answer 34

The combined effect of substances is greater than the effect of either substance if taken alone.

Question 35

Therapeutic Effect

Answer 35

The intended effect; the desired result or action of medication.

Question 36

Topical

Answer 36

Medication administration on the skin or mucous membranes.

Question 37

Toxic Effects

Answer 37

The buildup of medication in the blood due to impaired metabolism and excretion or to an overdose.

Question 38

Trade Name

Answer 38

A registered name assigned by the drug manufacturer, brand name.

Question 39

Transdermal Patch

Answer 39

A topical preparation designed to deliver medication slowly for long-term systemic effects.

Question 40

Trough

Answer 40

The lowes serum level of the medication.