NUR 2407 EXAM 1 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE 2026 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
AND CORE CONCEPTS
◉ Drug. Answer: small molecule that changes body function at
chemical/cell level.
◉ Medication. Answer: drug given for therapeutic purpose.
◉ Drug therapy. Answer: plan using drugs to prevent, correct, or
reduce a health problem.
◉ Intrinsic drugs. Answer: made by the body (e.g., insulin,
endorphins).
◉ Extrinsic drugs. Answer: made outside the body; must be taken in.
◉ Prescribers. Answer: physicians, dentists, podiatrists, APRNs, PAs.
◉ Pharmacists. Answer: compound/dispense drugs.
, ◉ Nurses. Answer: last checkpoint — administer, monitor, teach, and
document.
◉ Clinical judgment process. Answer: 1. Recognize cues (history,
allergies, labs/vitals). 2. Analyze cues (is indication appropriate?
dose safe?). 3. Generate solutions (set goals, double-check
calculations, avoid distractions). 4. Take action (administer safely). 5.
Evaluate (assess effects, adverse reactions, patient teaching).
◉ Chemical drug name. Answer: molecular structure.
◉ Generic drug name. Answer: lowercase, official name (ibuprofen).
◉ Brand/trade drug name. Answer: manufacturer's name,
capitalized (Advil, Motrin).
◉ OTC drugs. Answer: safe if directions followed, lower dose.
◉ Prescription drugs. Answer: stronger, higher risk, require
prescriber order.
◉ High-alert drugs (PINCH). Answer: Potassium, Insulin, Narcotics,
Cancer chemo, Heparin.
GUIDE 2026 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING
AND CORE CONCEPTS
◉ Drug. Answer: small molecule that changes body function at
chemical/cell level.
◉ Medication. Answer: drug given for therapeutic purpose.
◉ Drug therapy. Answer: plan using drugs to prevent, correct, or
reduce a health problem.
◉ Intrinsic drugs. Answer: made by the body (e.g., insulin,
endorphins).
◉ Extrinsic drugs. Answer: made outside the body; must be taken in.
◉ Prescribers. Answer: physicians, dentists, podiatrists, APRNs, PAs.
◉ Pharmacists. Answer: compound/dispense drugs.
, ◉ Nurses. Answer: last checkpoint — administer, monitor, teach, and
document.
◉ Clinical judgment process. Answer: 1. Recognize cues (history,
allergies, labs/vitals). 2. Analyze cues (is indication appropriate?
dose safe?). 3. Generate solutions (set goals, double-check
calculations, avoid distractions). 4. Take action (administer safely). 5.
Evaluate (assess effects, adverse reactions, patient teaching).
◉ Chemical drug name. Answer: molecular structure.
◉ Generic drug name. Answer: lowercase, official name (ibuprofen).
◉ Brand/trade drug name. Answer: manufacturer's name,
capitalized (Advil, Motrin).
◉ OTC drugs. Answer: safe if directions followed, lower dose.
◉ Prescription drugs. Answer: stronger, higher risk, require
prescriber order.
◉ High-alert drugs (PINCH). Answer: Potassium, Insulin, Narcotics,
Cancer chemo, Heparin.
