NURS 310 EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS
What is a drug
Any chemical that influences the physiologic processes of a living organism
6 forms of drug therapy
Acute therapy: to support life/treat an illness
→ critically ill patients
→ e.g. chemotherapy for cancer
Maintenance therapy: to prevent continuation of a disease process
→ chronic diseases
→ e.g. blood pressure medications for hypertension; insulin for diabetes
Supplemental therapy: to replace in the body a chemical it cannot produce itself
→ e.g. thyroid hormones (Synthroid) to a patient that can't produce their own
Palliative therapy: make patient with an incurable condition as comfortable as possible
,→ e.g. giving opioids to someone experiencing pain from terminal cancer
Supportive therapy: provide body support with functions while recovering from illness
→ e.g. electrolytes for vomiting
Prophylactic therapy: prevent illness/negative outcomes from happening
→ e.g. COVID vaccine
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Pharmacotherapeutics
The clinical purpose and indications of administering a drug
What do we want to accomplish with the medicine?
Collaborative process of patients, family, health professionals, etc.
Must be measurable and observable by monitoring the patient
Pharmacokinetics
The study of the sequential process a drug undergoes from the time it enters the body
until it is eliminated
,Must consider:
→ absorption
→ distribution
→ metabolism
→ excretion
Absorption
Movement of drugs from site of administration to the bloodstream to eventually get to
site of action
Bioavailability: extent to which a drug is absorbed after being administered
→ high = absorbed well
Methods of medical administration
Enteral route
1. Orally, through the mouth
→ absorbed in small intestine
→ can also be sublingual (below tongue) or buccal (dissolves on cheek)
2. Nasogastric tubes
, → tubes go from nostrils to stomach
→ administer food, fluid, meds
3. Gastronomy tubes
→ tubes go directly to stomach
→ administer food, fluid, meds
Topical route
→ drugs applied directly to skin (creams, transdermal patches)
→ drugs instilled into the orifice: eye drops, ear drops, nasal spray, vagina/rectum
suppository
Parenteral route:
Administration of route other than GI tract
→ interdermal: into the skin
→ subcutaneous: into the skin, deeper than interdermal
→ intravenous: into veins
→ intramuscular: into muscle
Enteric coating
Goal: protect the stomach wall and allow for dissolution and absorption of drugs to take
place in intestine
If stomach is too acidic, reduced absorption in intestine
DETAILED ANSWERS
What is a drug
Any chemical that influences the physiologic processes of a living organism
6 forms of drug therapy
Acute therapy: to support life/treat an illness
→ critically ill patients
→ e.g. chemotherapy for cancer
Maintenance therapy: to prevent continuation of a disease process
→ chronic diseases
→ e.g. blood pressure medications for hypertension; insulin for diabetes
Supplemental therapy: to replace in the body a chemical it cannot produce itself
→ e.g. thyroid hormones (Synthroid) to a patient that can't produce their own
Palliative therapy: make patient with an incurable condition as comfortable as possible
,→ e.g. giving opioids to someone experiencing pain from terminal cancer
Supportive therapy: provide body support with functions while recovering from illness
→ e.g. electrolytes for vomiting
Prophylactic therapy: prevent illness/negative outcomes from happening
→ e.g. COVID vaccine
Brainpower
Read More
Pharmacotherapeutics
The clinical purpose and indications of administering a drug
What do we want to accomplish with the medicine?
Collaborative process of patients, family, health professionals, etc.
Must be measurable and observable by monitoring the patient
Pharmacokinetics
The study of the sequential process a drug undergoes from the time it enters the body
until it is eliminated
,Must consider:
→ absorption
→ distribution
→ metabolism
→ excretion
Absorption
Movement of drugs from site of administration to the bloodstream to eventually get to
site of action
Bioavailability: extent to which a drug is absorbed after being administered
→ high = absorbed well
Methods of medical administration
Enteral route
1. Orally, through the mouth
→ absorbed in small intestine
→ can also be sublingual (below tongue) or buccal (dissolves on cheek)
2. Nasogastric tubes
, → tubes go from nostrils to stomach
→ administer food, fluid, meds
3. Gastronomy tubes
→ tubes go directly to stomach
→ administer food, fluid, meds
Topical route
→ drugs applied directly to skin (creams, transdermal patches)
→ drugs instilled into the orifice: eye drops, ear drops, nasal spray, vagina/rectum
suppository
Parenteral route:
Administration of route other than GI tract
→ interdermal: into the skin
→ subcutaneous: into the skin, deeper than interdermal
→ intravenous: into veins
→ intramuscular: into muscle
Enteric coating
Goal: protect the stomach wall and allow for dissolution and absorption of drugs to take
place in intestine
If stomach is too acidic, reduced absorption in intestine
