Pharmacology for Nurses Chapters 1-10
Chapter 1: Introduction to Pharmacology - Learning Outcomes - Answer 1. Identify key events in the
history of pharmacology.
2. Explain the interdisciplinary nature of pharmacology, giving an example of how knowledge from
different sciences impacts the nurse's role in drug administration.
3. Compare and contrast therapeutics and pharmacology.
4. Compare and contrast traditional drugs, biologics, and complementary and alternative medicine
therapies.
5. Explain the basis for placing drugs into therapeutic and pharmacologic classes.
6. Discuss the prototype approach to drug classification.
7. Describe what is meant by a drug's mechanism of action.
8. Distinguish among a drug's chemical name, generic name, and trade name.
9. Outline the major differences between prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
10. Explain the differences between trade-name drugs and their generic equivalents.
11. Describe how decisions are made relative to drug therapy among groups of patients.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Pharmacology - Key Concepts - Answer 1.1 - The history of pharmacology
began thousands of years ago with the use of plant products to treat disease.
1.2 - Pharmacology is the study of medicines. It includes the study of how drugs are administered and
how the body responds.
1.3 - The fields of pharmacology and therapeutics are closely connected. Pharmacology is the application
of drugs to treat disease and ease human suffering.
1.4 - Therapeutic agents may be classified as drugs, biologics, or complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) therapies.
1.5 - Drugs may be organized by their therapeutics or pharmacologic classification.
, 1.6 - Drugs have chemical, generic, and trade names. A drug has only one chemical or generic name but
may have multiple trade names.
1.7 - Drugs are available by prescription or over the counter (OTC). Prescription drugs require an order
from a health care provider.
1.8 - Generic drugs are less expensive than trade-name drugs, but they may differ in bioavailability
which is the ability of the drug to reach its target cell and produce its action.
1.9 - Group-based decisions for drug therapy center around cost benefit, effectiveness in health
improvement, minimization of benefit to patients within a similar group, and improved quantitative and
qualitative utility.
Chapter 2: Drug Approval and Regulation - Learning Outcomes - Answer 1. Identify key U.S. drug
regulations that have provided guidelines for the safe and effective use of drugs and drug therapy.
2. Discuss the role of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the drug approval process.
3. Explain the four phases of approval for therapeutic and biologic drugs.
4. Discuss how the FDA has increased the speed with which new drugs reach consumers.
5. Identify the nurse's role in the drug approval process and in maintaining safety practices.
6. Explain the U.S. Controlled Substance Act of 1970 and the role of the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration in controlling drug abuse and misuse.
7. Discuss why drugs are sometimes placed on a restrictive list, and the controversy surrounding this
issue.
8. Explain the meaning of a controlled substance and teratogenic risk in pregnancy.
9. Identify the five drug schedules and give examples of drugs at each level.
10. Identify the five categories of teratogenic drug classification.
Chapter 2: Drug Approval and Regulation - Key Concepts - Answer 2.1 - Drug regulations were created
to protect the public from drug misuse and to ensure continuous evaluation of safety and effectiveness.
2.2 - The regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that drugs are safe and effective is the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA).
2.3 - There are four phases of approval for therapeutic and biologic drugs. The phases progress from
cellular and animal testing to use of the experimental drug in patients with the disease.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Pharmacology - Learning Outcomes - Answer 1. Identify key events in the
history of pharmacology.
2. Explain the interdisciplinary nature of pharmacology, giving an example of how knowledge from
different sciences impacts the nurse's role in drug administration.
3. Compare and contrast therapeutics and pharmacology.
4. Compare and contrast traditional drugs, biologics, and complementary and alternative medicine
therapies.
5. Explain the basis for placing drugs into therapeutic and pharmacologic classes.
6. Discuss the prototype approach to drug classification.
7. Describe what is meant by a drug's mechanism of action.
8. Distinguish among a drug's chemical name, generic name, and trade name.
9. Outline the major differences between prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
10. Explain the differences between trade-name drugs and their generic equivalents.
11. Describe how decisions are made relative to drug therapy among groups of patients.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Pharmacology - Key Concepts - Answer 1.1 - The history of pharmacology
began thousands of years ago with the use of plant products to treat disease.
1.2 - Pharmacology is the study of medicines. It includes the study of how drugs are administered and
how the body responds.
1.3 - The fields of pharmacology and therapeutics are closely connected. Pharmacology is the application
of drugs to treat disease and ease human suffering.
1.4 - Therapeutic agents may be classified as drugs, biologics, or complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) therapies.
1.5 - Drugs may be organized by their therapeutics or pharmacologic classification.
, 1.6 - Drugs have chemical, generic, and trade names. A drug has only one chemical or generic name but
may have multiple trade names.
1.7 - Drugs are available by prescription or over the counter (OTC). Prescription drugs require an order
from a health care provider.
1.8 - Generic drugs are less expensive than trade-name drugs, but they may differ in bioavailability
which is the ability of the drug to reach its target cell and produce its action.
1.9 - Group-based decisions for drug therapy center around cost benefit, effectiveness in health
improvement, minimization of benefit to patients within a similar group, and improved quantitative and
qualitative utility.
Chapter 2: Drug Approval and Regulation - Learning Outcomes - Answer 1. Identify key U.S. drug
regulations that have provided guidelines for the safe and effective use of drugs and drug therapy.
2. Discuss the role of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the drug approval process.
3. Explain the four phases of approval for therapeutic and biologic drugs.
4. Discuss how the FDA has increased the speed with which new drugs reach consumers.
5. Identify the nurse's role in the drug approval process and in maintaining safety practices.
6. Explain the U.S. Controlled Substance Act of 1970 and the role of the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration in controlling drug abuse and misuse.
7. Discuss why drugs are sometimes placed on a restrictive list, and the controversy surrounding this
issue.
8. Explain the meaning of a controlled substance and teratogenic risk in pregnancy.
9. Identify the five drug schedules and give examples of drugs at each level.
10. Identify the five categories of teratogenic drug classification.
Chapter 2: Drug Approval and Regulation - Key Concepts - Answer 2.1 - Drug regulations were created
to protect the public from drug misuse and to ensure continuous evaluation of safety and effectiveness.
2.2 - The regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that drugs are safe and effective is the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA).
2.3 - There are four phases of approval for therapeutic and biologic drugs. The phases progress from
cellular and animal testing to use of the experimental drug in patients with the disease.
