Chapter 1: Prescriptive Authority ....................................................................................................... 3
Chapter 2: Rational Drug Selection and Prescription Writing ........................................................... 5
Chapter 3: Promoting Positive Outcomes of Drug Therapy ................................................................7
Chapter 4: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Interactions .....................................10
Chapter 5: Adverse Drug Reactions and Medication Errors.............................................................. 15
Chapter 6: Individual Variation in Drug Responses ......................................................................... 20
Chapter 7: Drug Therapy During Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding .................................................... 24
Chapter 8: Drug Therapy in Pediatric Patients................................................................................. 27
Chapter 9: Drug Therapy in Geriatric Patients .................................................................................. 31
Chapter 10: Basic Principles of Neuropharmacology ....................................................................... 36
Chapter 11: Physiology of the Peripheral Nervous System ............................................................... 39
Chapter 12: Muscarinic Agonists and Antagonists ........................................................................... 42
Chapter 13: Adrenergic Agonists ...................................................................................................... 45
Chapter 14: Adrenergic Antagonists ................................................................................................. 49
Chapter 15: Indirect-Acting Antiadrenergic Agents ......................................................................... 55
Chapter 16: Introduction to Central Nervous System Pharmacology............................................... 59
Chapter 17: Drugs for Parkinson's Disease ....................................................................................... 62
Chapter 18: Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease ....................................................................................... 65
Chapter 19: Drugs for Epilepsy ......................................................................................................... 69
Chapter 20: Drugs for Muscle Spasm and Spasticity ....................................................................... 73
Chapter 21: Local Anesthetics ........................................................................................................... 76
Chapter 22: Opioid Analgesics, Opioid Antagonists, and Nonopioid Centrally Acting Analgesics . 80
Chapter 23: Drugs for Headache ...................................................................................................... 85
Chapter 24: Antipsychotic Agents and Their Use in Schizophrenia................................................. 90
Chapter 25: Antidepressants ............................................................................................................ 95
Chapter 26: Drugs for Bipolar Disorder ........................................................................................... 99
Chapter 27: Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs ............................................................................................ 104
Chapter 28: Management of Anxiety Disorders .............................................................................. 107
Chapter 29: Central Nervous System Stimulants and Attention-Deficit/HyperactivityDisorder 111
Chapter 30: Drug Abuse I: Basic Considerations ............................................................................ 115
Chapter 31: Drug Abuse II: Alcohol ................................................................................................. 118
Chapter 32: Drug Abuse III: Nicotine and Smoking ....................................................................... 122
Chapter 33: Drug Abuse IV: Major Drugs of Abuse Other Than Alcohol and Nicotine .................. 126
Chapter 34: Review of Hemodynamics ............................................................................................ 132
Chapter 35: Diuretics ....................................................................................................................... 135
Chapter 36: Drugs Acting on the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System.....................................138
Chapter 37: Calcium Channel Blockers ........................................................................................... 143
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,Chapter 38: Vasodilators ................................................................................................................. 145
Chapter 39: Drugs for Hypertension ............................................................................................... 149
Chapter 40: Drugs for Heart Failure ............................................................................................... 156
Chapter 41: Antidysrhythmic Drugs ................................................................................................ 163
Chapter 42: Prophylaxis of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Drugs That Help Normalize
Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels................................................................................................. 170
Chapter 43: Drugs for Angina Pectoris ............................................................................................ 176
Chapter 44: Anticoagulant, Antiplatelet, and Thrombolytic Drugs .................................................182
Chapter 45: Drugs for Deficiency Anemias .....................................................................................189
Chapter 46: Drugs for Diabetes Mellitus ......................................................................................... 194
Chapter 47: Drugs for Thyroid Disorders ........................................................................................ 199
Chapter 48: Estrogens and Progestins: Basic Pharmacology and Noncontraceptive Applications
......................................................................................................................................................... 204
Chapter 49: Birth Control ............................................................................................................... 207
Chapter 50: Androgens .................................................................................................................... 212
Chapter 51: Drugs for Erectile Dysfunction and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia .............................. 216
Chapter 52: Review of the Immune System ....................................................................................218
Chapter 53: Childhood Immunization ............................................................................................ 222
Chapter 54: Antihistamines ............................................................................................................ 227
Chapter 55: Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors: Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and
Acetaminophen ................................................................................................................................ 231
Chapter 56: Glucocorticoids in Nonendocrine Disorders ............................................................... 236
Chapter 57: Drug Therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis ........................................................................ 241
Chapter 58: Drug Therapy of Gout ................................................................................................. 244
Chapter 59: Drugs Affecting Calcium Levels and Bone Mineralization ......................................... 247
Chapter 60: Drugs for Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease................................ 252
Chapter 61: Drugs for Allergic Rhinitis, Cough, and Colds ............................................................ 259
Chapter 62: Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease.................................................................................... 264
Chapter 63: Laxatives ..................................................................................................................... 268
Chapter 64: Other Gastrointestinal Drugs ...................................................................................... 273
Chapter 65: Vitamins ...................................................................................................................... 279
Chapter 66: Drugs for Weight Loss................................................................................................. 284
Chapter 67: Complementary and Alternative Therapies ................................................................ 288
Chapter 68: Basic Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy .................................................................. 291
Chapter 69: Drugs That Weaken the Bacterial Cell Wall I: Penicillins........................................... 295
Chapter 70: Drugs That Weaken the Bacterial Cell Wall II: Other Drugs ...................................... 300
Chapter 71: Bacteriostatic Inhibitors of Protein Synthesis ............................................................. 304
Chapter 72: Aminoglycosides: Bactericidal Inhibitors of Protein Synthesis ...................................310
Chapter 73: Sulfonamides and Trimethoprim................................................................................. 316
Chapter 74: Drug Therapy of Urinary Tract Infections .................................................................. 320
Chapter 75: Antimycobacterial Agents ........................................................................................... 325
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,Chapter 76: Miscellaneous Antibacterial Drugs .............................................................................. 331
Chapter 77: Antifungal Agents ........................................................................................................ 334
Chapter 78: Antiviral Agents I: Drugs for Non-HIV Viral Infections .............................................. 341
Chapter 79: Antiviral Agents II: Drugs for HIV Infection and Related OpportunisticInfections .. 346
Chapter 80: Drug Therapy of Sexually Transmitted Diseases ........................................................ 350
Chapter 81: Anthelmintics, Antiprotozoal Drugs, and Ectoparasiticides ....................................... 354
Chapter 82: Supportive Care of Patients Receiving Anticancer Drugs ............................................357
Chapter 83: Drugs for Cancer Pain ................................................................................................. 362
Chapter 84: Drugs for the Eye ........................................................................................................ 368
Chapter 85: Drugs for the Skin ....................................................................................................... 372
Chapter 86: Drugs for the Ear......................................................................................................... 379
Chapter 87: Agents Affecting the Volume and Ion Content of Body Fluids ................................... 383
Chapter 88: Management of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction ................................................. 387
Chapter 89: Additional Acute Care Drugs ....................................................................................... 391
Chapter 1: Prescriptive Authority
Multiple Choice
1. An APRN works in a urology clinic under the supervision of a physician who does not restrict
the types of medications the APRN is allowed to prescribe. State law does not require the
APRN to practice under physician supervision. How would the APRN’s prescriptive authority
be described?
a. Full authority
b. Independent
c. Without limitation
d. Limited authority
ANS: B
The APRN has independent prescriptive authority because the regulating body does not require
that the APRN work under physician supervision. Full prescriptive authority gives the provider
the right to prescribe independently and without limitation. Limited authority places
restrictions on the types of drugs that can be prescribed.DIF: Cognitive Level:
ComprehensionREF: p. 1TOP: Nursing Process: I MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category:
Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
2. Which factors increase the need for APRNs to have full prescriptive authority?
a. More patients will have access to health care.
b. Enrollment in medical schools is predicted to decrease.
c. Physician’s assistants are being utilized less often.
d. APRN education is more complex than education for physicians.
ANS: A
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act has increased the number of individuals with health
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, care coverage, and thus the number who have access to health care services. The increase in the
number of patients creates the need for more providers with prescriptive authority. APRNs can
fill this practice gap.DIF: Cognitive Level: ComprehensionREF: p. 2TOP: Nursing Process:
Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and
Parenteral Therapies
3. Which factors could be attributed to limited prescriptive authority for
APRNs?Select all that apply.
a. Inaccessibility of patient care
b. Higher health care costs
c. Higher quality medical treatment
d. Improved collaborative care
e. Enhanced health literacy
ANS: A , B
Limiting prescriptive authority for APRNs can create barriers to quality, affordable, and accessible
patient care. It may also lead to poor collaboration among providers and higher health care
costs. It would not directly impact patient’s health literacy.DIF: Cognitive Level:
ComprehensionREF:
p. 2TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic
Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
4. Which aspects support the APRN’s provision for full prescriptive authority?
Select all that apply.
a. Clinical education includes prescription of medications and disease processes.
b. Federal regulations support the provision of full authority for APRNs.
c. National examinations provide validation of the APRN’s ability to provide safe care.
d. Licensure ensures compliance with health care and safety standards.
e. Limiting provision can decrease health care affordability.
ANS: A , C , D
APRNs are educated to practice and prescribe independently without supervision. National
examinations validate the ability to provide safe and competent care. Licensure ensures
compliance with standards to promote public health and safety. Limited prescriptive authority
creates numerous barriers to quality, affordable, and accessible patient care.DIF: Cognitive Level:
ComprehensionREF: pp. 1-2TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX Client
Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies
5. Which aspects support the APRN’s provision for full prescriptive authority?
Select all that apply.
a. Clinical education includes prescription of medications and disease processes.
b. Federal regulations support the provision of full authority for APRNs.
c. National examinations provide validation of the APRN’s ability to provide safe care.
d. Licensure ensures compliance with health care and safety standards.
ANS: A , C , D
APRNs are educated to practice and prescribe independently without supervision. National
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