lOMoARcPSD|44532475
Pharmacology Study Guide Exam 1
Module 01:
❖ Drug – any chemical that can affect living process
❖ Pharmacology – the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems
❖ Clinical Pharmacology – the study of drugs in humans
❖ Therapeutics – the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease or to prevent pregnancy
❖ Agonist – drugs that mimic or produce a response
❖ Antagonists – drugs that block a response
❖ Therapeutic index – the level of the drug between the minimum effective level and the
minimum toxic level
❖ Trough level – minimum effective level (plasma drug levels are the lowest)
❖ Loading dose – to achieve a rapid minimum effective concentration in plasma (after loading
dose is given daily dose is provided)
❖ Peak level – minimum toxic level (plasma drug level is the highest)
□ If either the peak is too low or the trough is too high, toxicity can occur
□ Most often used for antibiotics
❖ Characteristics to consider
□ Effectiveness – if not effective it should not be used
□ Safety – No drug is safe (Does the good outweigh the bad)
□ Selectiveness – No such thing as a wholly selective drug
● All medications have side effects
❖ Properties to consider
□ Can the patient afford the medication?
□ Can the patient physically take the medication?
□ Will this medication interact with other medications the patient is taking?
❖ What does ADPIE stand for
□ Assessment
□ Diagnosis
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□ Planning/goal setting
□ Implementation
□ Evaluation
❖ What to look for before administering medications:
□ Baseline data
□ High-risk patients
□ Asses medication rights
□ Minimize adverse effects
□ Make PRN decisions
□ Review the nursing process (ABC’s)
❖ What are the 11 Rights
□ Patient
□ Medication
□ Dose
□ Route
□ Time
□ Expiration
□ Documentation
□ Education
□ Assessment
□ Evaluation
□ Refuse
❖ Ways to prevent medication errors
□ Computerized order input
□ No abbreviations
□ No verbal phone orders
□ Dual verification on high alert drugs
❖ Pharmaceutic phase: Only for pills that are swallowed (applies to a tablet or capsules given
PO)
□ We need stomach acid to dissolve medication
□ Enteric – occurring in the intestines (meant to be absorbed in the small intestines such as
probiotics – need to be enteric coated)
● Cannot cut or crush enteric coated pills or long acting or extended release (anything
with letters at the end do not spit or cut)
Downloaded by madiba South Africa stuvia ()
Pharmacology Study Guide Exam 1
Module 01:
❖ Drug – any chemical that can affect living process
❖ Pharmacology – the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems
❖ Clinical Pharmacology – the study of drugs in humans
❖ Therapeutics – the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease or to prevent pregnancy
❖ Agonist – drugs that mimic or produce a response
❖ Antagonists – drugs that block a response
❖ Therapeutic index – the level of the drug between the minimum effective level and the
minimum toxic level
❖ Trough level – minimum effective level (plasma drug levels are the lowest)
❖ Loading dose – to achieve a rapid minimum effective concentration in plasma (after loading
dose is given daily dose is provided)
❖ Peak level – minimum toxic level (plasma drug level is the highest)
□ If either the peak is too low or the trough is too high, toxicity can occur
□ Most often used for antibiotics
❖ Characteristics to consider
□ Effectiveness – if not effective it should not be used
□ Safety – No drug is safe (Does the good outweigh the bad)
□ Selectiveness – No such thing as a wholly selective drug
● All medications have side effects
❖ Properties to consider
□ Can the patient afford the medication?
□ Can the patient physically take the medication?
□ Will this medication interact with other medications the patient is taking?
❖ What does ADPIE stand for
□ Assessment
□ Diagnosis
Downloaded by madiba South Africa stuvia ()
, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
□ Planning/goal setting
□ Implementation
□ Evaluation
❖ What to look for before administering medications:
□ Baseline data
□ High-risk patients
□ Asses medication rights
□ Minimize adverse effects
□ Make PRN decisions
□ Review the nursing process (ABC’s)
❖ What are the 11 Rights
□ Patient
□ Medication
□ Dose
□ Route
□ Time
□ Expiration
□ Documentation
□ Education
□ Assessment
□ Evaluation
□ Refuse
❖ Ways to prevent medication errors
□ Computerized order input
□ No abbreviations
□ No verbal phone orders
□ Dual verification on high alert drugs
❖ Pharmaceutic phase: Only for pills that are swallowed (applies to a tablet or capsules given
PO)
□ We need stomach acid to dissolve medication
□ Enteric – occurring in the intestines (meant to be absorbed in the small intestines such as
probiotics – need to be enteric coated)
● Cannot cut or crush enteric coated pills or long acting or extended release (anything
with letters at the end do not spit or cut)
Downloaded by madiba South Africa stuvia ()
