Nursing Level I

how a drug producces ites effect in the body

drug model with which other drugs in its representative class are compared

assigned using standard nomenclature established by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)

assigned by U.S. Adopted Name Council, easier than Trade names

assigned by company marketing the drug

contains more than one active generic ingredient

physiologic ability of the drug to reach its target cells and produce its effect

physiologic/psychologic need for a substance

• classified according to their potential for abuse
• I, II, III, IV, V
• I=highest dependency
• V=lowest dependency

drug whose use is restricted by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 and later revisions

• highest dependency and abuse potential
• heroin, lysergic acid diethlamide (LSD), marijana, and methaqualone
• limited or no therapeutic use

• high dependency and abuse potential
• morphine, phncyclidine (PCP), cocaine, methadone, methamphetamine
• used therapeutically w/ prescription; some drugs no longer used

• moderate dependency and abuse potential
• high psychological dependency
• anabolic steroids, codeine & hydrocodone w/ aspirin or Tylenol, and some barbiturates
• used therapeutically w/ prescription; some drugs no longer used

• lower dependency and abuse potential
• dextropropoxyphene, pentazocine, meprobamate, diazepam, alprazolam
• used therapeutically w/ prescription; some drugs no longer used

• lowest dependency and abuse potential
• OTC cough medicines w/ codeine, diphenoxylate with atropine
• used therapeutically without prescription

acquired hyperresponse of body defenses to a foreign substance (allergen)

severe type of allergic reaction that involves the massive, systemic release of histamine and otehr chemical mediators of inflammation that can lead to life-threatening shock

• 1. right patient
• 2. right medication
• 3. right dose
• 4. right route of administration
• 5. right time of delivery

• 1. Check drug with MAR, when pulling it from storage device
• 2. Check drug when preping
• 3. Check drug before administering to patient

taking a medication in manner prescribed by health care provider, or labels directions

any med needed immediately, only given once

as soon as possible, within 30min of drug's written order

drug that is to be given only once, at a specific time, ie preop order

administered as required by patient's condition

usually begin within 2 hr of written order (hospital environment)

written in advance of a situation that is to be carried out under specific circumstances

drugs given orally and those administered through nasogastric or gastrostomy tubes

tablets designed to dissolve slowly

tablets or capsules are designed to dissolve slowly

medication is placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve slowly

tablet or capsule is placed in oral cavity between gum and cheek

applied locally to skin or membranous linings of eye, ear, nose, respiratory tract, urinary tract, vagina, and rectum

• Transdermal
• Ophthalmic
• Otic
• Nasal
• Vaginal
• Rectal

drug delivery via needle into the skin layers, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, or veins

administration into the dermis layer of the skin

• delivered to deepest layers of skin
• ie insulin, vaccines

delivers medication into specific muscles

study of drug movement or motion 

process involving the movement of a substance from its site of administration, across body membranes, to circulating fluids.

involves the transport of pharmacologic agents throughout the body

specific tissues/complexes have high attraction to certain medications

drug-protein complexes are too large to cross capillary membranes, thus minimizing distribution of medication to appropriate tissues

prevents specific chemicals and medications from crossing the membrane

prevents specific chemicals and medications from crossing the membrane

added side chains, allowing for higher water solubility and more easily excreted by kidneys

metabolism in liver

medications that are not active until first metabolized within the body

Ability to increase metabolic activity in liver by drug

important mechanism since a large number of oral drugs are rendered inactive by hepatic metabolic reactions

removal of drugs in body, rate of excretion determines concentration within bloodstream and tissues

when expressed with bile, may be reabsorbed due to liver's affinity to reabsorb bile

amount of drug required to produce a therapeutic effect

level of drug that will result in serious adverse effects

Between minimum effective concentration and toxic concentration

higher amount of drug, given only 1-2x to prime bloodstream

intermittent doses given to keep drug concentration in therapeutic range

Systemic collection, organization, validation, and documentation of patient data

data gathered to compare to later readings/measurements

gathering of data from what patient says or perceives

data gathered through physical assessment, lab tests, and other diagnostic sources

clinical judgements of a patient's actual or potential health problem that is within the nurse's scope of practic to address

nursing process prioritizes diagnoses, formulates desired outcomes, and selects nursing interventions that can assist the patient to return to establish an optimum level of wellnes

specifically define what the patient will do, under what circumstances, and within a specified time

when the nurse applies the knowledge, skills and principles of nursing care to help move the patient toward the desired goal and optimal wellness

compares the patient's current health status with the desired outcome

'any 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'

source that should contain information about what medication was give or omitted, includes list of drugs patient is on or has been on

patients who receive multiple prescriptions, sometimes for same condition, that have conflicting pharmacologic actions

process of 'keeping track' of a patient's medications as they proceed from one health care provider to another.