Knowledge checks (Units 1, 2, and 3) Winter 2024
This is the lectures in a different format. This is not a study guide.
Unit 1
Know the pharmacology terms on the list I gave you to complete on day one of class
Understand half-life of a drug=the time it takes for the amount of the drug to be reduced by half
in the body, (if the patient has poor kidney function this can increase the half-life of the
medication)
Understand protein binding of drugs, (we check albumin levels in regard to protein binding)
Primary effect=the desirable response secondary effect= desirable or undesirable
Therapeutic index= the relationship between the therapeutic dose and toxic dose, narrow
therapeutic index=close monitoring of patient via labs.
Peak= highest concentration of drug in the blood, performed shortly after med has infused
Trough=lowest concentration, ordered before the next dose of med is due
A peak and trough is a lab blood test. You have to have the drug in your system.
Agonist=activate receptors=desired effect antagonist=prevent receptor activation=block
response
Side effects=secondary effects adverse drug reaction=unintentional, unexpected at a
Normal dose
Onset- time it takes for drug to reach minimum effective concentration
Additive drug effect=sum of the effects of 2 drugs
Synergistic effect= potentiated effect in which the clinical effect is substantially greater than the
combined effect of the 2 (2 or more drugs are given together and the clinical effect of the
two drugs given together is greater than that of either drug alone example: Augmentin
Pharmacokinetics- know absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion.
Geriatrics
Polypharmacy = 5 drugs
Implications with the older population:
*Understand the physiologic changes associated with aging. (read the book on this)
, *Polypharmacy, multiple health care providers, using multiple pharmacies to fill their
medications, failure to adhere with drug regimen, financial
Teaching= glasses, hearing aids, face client, large print and bright colors, review meds each visit
If onset of confusion=ask is recently prescribed new medication, patient could be having toxicity
with new med
Teach patient to keep a current list of their medications and to use one pharmacy
Ask questions: if patient has been prescribed a medication and not getting any better-
are they taking their medication, how many doses do they have left, did they fill the prescription?
Nursing process
ADPIE (the new edition includes the term “concept” at the beginning of ADPIE
Assessment=includes subjective and objective data
Always perform a head-to-toe assessment
Ask open-ended questions (“please tell me…….)
Diagnosis=made on analysis of the assessment data
Individualize the patient’s care plan
Planning=uses data collected to set goals or expected outcomes & interventions
Goals are patient centered, specific activity and include a time frame
Implementation= provide education, and other interventions necessary to accomplish goals
EVALUATE!
Safety and Quality
5 rights of drug administration (patient, drug, dose, time, route)
Two forms of patient identifier (name and DOB)
Complete medication order= correct drug, strength, route, frequency
Always document why if patient refuses/notify MD
Safe abbreviations-must write out the word (study the chart in the book page 77-78)
Monitor for early signs of toxicity (change in behavior)
This is the lectures in a different format. This is not a study guide.
Unit 1
Know the pharmacology terms on the list I gave you to complete on day one of class
Understand half-life of a drug=the time it takes for the amount of the drug to be reduced by half
in the body, (if the patient has poor kidney function this can increase the half-life of the
medication)
Understand protein binding of drugs, (we check albumin levels in regard to protein binding)
Primary effect=the desirable response secondary effect= desirable or undesirable
Therapeutic index= the relationship between the therapeutic dose and toxic dose, narrow
therapeutic index=close monitoring of patient via labs.
Peak= highest concentration of drug in the blood, performed shortly after med has infused
Trough=lowest concentration, ordered before the next dose of med is due
A peak and trough is a lab blood test. You have to have the drug in your system.
Agonist=activate receptors=desired effect antagonist=prevent receptor activation=block
response
Side effects=secondary effects adverse drug reaction=unintentional, unexpected at a
Normal dose
Onset- time it takes for drug to reach minimum effective concentration
Additive drug effect=sum of the effects of 2 drugs
Synergistic effect= potentiated effect in which the clinical effect is substantially greater than the
combined effect of the 2 (2 or more drugs are given together and the clinical effect of the
two drugs given together is greater than that of either drug alone example: Augmentin
Pharmacokinetics- know absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion.
Geriatrics
Polypharmacy = 5 drugs
Implications with the older population:
*Understand the physiologic changes associated with aging. (read the book on this)
, *Polypharmacy, multiple health care providers, using multiple pharmacies to fill their
medications, failure to adhere with drug regimen, financial
Teaching= glasses, hearing aids, face client, large print and bright colors, review meds each visit
If onset of confusion=ask is recently prescribed new medication, patient could be having toxicity
with new med
Teach patient to keep a current list of their medications and to use one pharmacy
Ask questions: if patient has been prescribed a medication and not getting any better-
are they taking their medication, how many doses do they have left, did they fill the prescription?
Nursing process
ADPIE (the new edition includes the term “concept” at the beginning of ADPIE
Assessment=includes subjective and objective data
Always perform a head-to-toe assessment
Ask open-ended questions (“please tell me…….)
Diagnosis=made on analysis of the assessment data
Individualize the patient’s care plan
Planning=uses data collected to set goals or expected outcomes & interventions
Goals are patient centered, specific activity and include a time frame
Implementation= provide education, and other interventions necessary to accomplish goals
EVALUATE!
Safety and Quality
5 rights of drug administration (patient, drug, dose, time, route)
Two forms of patient identifier (name and DOB)
Complete medication order= correct drug, strength, route, frequency
Always document why if patient refuses/notify MD
Safe abbreviations-must write out the word (study the chart in the book page 77-78)
Monitor for early signs of toxicity (change in behavior)
