NURS 615 Study Guide Exam I
What factors are associated with clinical judgment when prescribing medications? - Answer-Thorough
assessment of patient and patient environment
Medical and Nursing Diagnoses
Review of potential alternative therapies
Specific knowledge about drug chosen
Information about disease you are trying to treat
This is patient centered care should be most effective, least invasive and least expensive
What are the criteria for choosing an effective drug? - Answer-Nationally recognized guidelines should
be used to choose most effective drug treatment
JNC7 for hypertension
, Recommendations for SPE prophylaxis for endocarditis put out by American Cardiac Physicians and AHA
How does hypoalbuminemia affect the process of prescribing? - Answer-Many drugs that carry an
electric charge bind with albumin in the blood
The distribution of drug to the targeted tissues may be affected if hypoalbuminemia is present
What is the drug's half-life? - Answer-The amount of time for an administered to be half-way cleared
from the body
Takes 4-5x half life for drug serum to reach steady state after regular dosing is started, stopped, or the
dose is changed
Digoxin half life 24-36 hours change in dose will take a week for full effect
Drugs with long half life like amiodarone 58day half life are usually started with a loading dose to
achieve steady state more quickly.
Must use half life to determine the length of time required between dosage administrations.
What is meant by the onset of action, peak of action, duration of action of medications? - Answer-
Onset: Time between administration and minimum concentration of a drug to produce an effect. First
sign of drugs therapeutic effect.
Peak: Time between drug administration and maximum concentration of blood in the blood stream
Duration: Time between onset of action and the metabolism of drug below minimum needed for effect
What factors are associated with clinical judgment when prescribing medications? - Answer-Thorough
assessment of patient and patient environment
Medical and Nursing Diagnoses
Review of potential alternative therapies
Specific knowledge about drug chosen
Information about disease you are trying to treat
This is patient centered care should be most effective, least invasive and least expensive
What are the criteria for choosing an effective drug? - Answer-Nationally recognized guidelines should
be used to choose most effective drug treatment
JNC7 for hypertension
, Recommendations for SPE prophylaxis for endocarditis put out by American Cardiac Physicians and AHA
How does hypoalbuminemia affect the process of prescribing? - Answer-Many drugs that carry an
electric charge bind with albumin in the blood
The distribution of drug to the targeted tissues may be affected if hypoalbuminemia is present
What is the drug's half-life? - Answer-The amount of time for an administered to be half-way cleared
from the body
Takes 4-5x half life for drug serum to reach steady state after regular dosing is started, stopped, or the
dose is changed
Digoxin half life 24-36 hours change in dose will take a week for full effect
Drugs with long half life like amiodarone 58day half life are usually started with a loading dose to
achieve steady state more quickly.
Must use half life to determine the length of time required between dosage administrations.
What is meant by the onset of action, peak of action, duration of action of medications? - Answer-
Onset: Time between administration and minimum concentration of a drug to produce an effect. First
sign of drugs therapeutic effect.
Peak: Time between drug administration and maximum concentration of blood in the blood stream
Duration: Time between onset of action and the metabolism of drug below minimum needed for effect
