NCSBN, NCLEX-RN Pharmacology
Review 100% Accurate!
PharmacoDYNAMICS - ANSWERS(how a medicine changes the body) - it's the
mechanism of drug action and its relationship between drug concentration and
responses of the body
PharmacoDYNAMICS - ANSWERS1.Used to help predict if the medication will assist
the client or will produce a significant change in the client
2.Replaces a missing substance
3.Destroys or inhibits a pathogen
4.Stimulates, suppresses, or disrupts a process
PharmacoKINETICS - ANSWERSConsists of four processes: absorption, distribution,
biotransformation (metabolism) and excretion
PharmacoKINETICS (absorption) - ANSWERSmovement of the drug through blood
circulation from the site of administration to target tissue
i. onset of action: the time between the administration of a medication and the beginning
of its effects
ii. duration: amount of time that a medication exerts its effects, therapeutic and adverse
iii. bioavailability: amount of drug that reaches the target tissue
PharmacoKINETICS (distribution) - ANSWERSi. process by which the drug diffuses or
is transferred from the intravascular space (blood stream) to extravascular space (body
tissues)
ii. factors affecting distribution
***blood flow to the tissue, e.g., vasoconstriction reduces drug distribution and
vasodilation enhances drug distribution
***solubility of the drug
***binding of the drug to macromolecules in the blood or tissue
***ability to cross barriers, e.g., blood-brain barrier, placenta
PharmacoKINETICS (biotransformation [metabolism]) - ANSWERSchemical conversion
or transformation of drugs into compounds that are easier to eliminate
i. phase I: oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis by the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system
ii. phase II: conjugation of substance, improves renal excretion
iii. half-life: time it takes the amount of drug administered to decrease to 50% of the
peak drug level
PharmacoKINETICS (excretion) - ANSWERSelimination of unchanged drug or
metabolite from the body, through renal, biliary, or pulmonary processes
i. route of excretion depends on the drugs chemical properties
, ii. kidneys are responsible for excreting most drugs
Therapeutic range - ANSWERSa. range of concentrations at which a drug or other
therapeutic agent is effective with minimal toxicity to most people
b. common drug examples: acetaminophen, aminophylline, digoxin, lithium, phenytoin,
propranolol, theophylline
Peak - ANSWERSpoint in time after the administration when a medication exerts its
strongest therapeutic and adverse effects; a serum blood sample is drawn (about 1
hour) after the drug is administered
Trough - ANSWERSthe lowest drug level that is needed to reach therapeutic range; a
serum blood is drawn (about 30 minutes) before medication administration
Technique for MDI *without spacer* - ANSWERS**shake canister for 2 to 5 seconds
**hold MDI with thumb under the mouthpiece and the index and middle fingers on top of
the canister
positioning mouthpiece -
client has two options:
i. place mouthpiece of MDI in mouth with opening pointing toward the back of the head;
client tightens lips around mouthpiece
ii. position MDI 1 to 2 inches in front of widely opened mouth pointing toward back of
the head; lips should not touch mouthpiece
**inhale deeply and exhale completely
**tilt head back slightly and simultaneously inhales slowly and deeply through mouth
while depressing canister
**continue to inhale slowly for 2 to 5 seconds, then hold the breath for 10 seconds
**always rinse mouth after
****wait 20 to 30 seconds between puffs before administering second puff or additional
medication with MDI
Technique for MDI **with spacer** - ANSWERS***breathe normally through spacer
depress canister, spraying one puff into spacer
***inhale slowly and fully for 5 seconds
hold breath for 10 seconds
**always rinse mouth after
****wait 20 to 30 seconds between puffs before administering second puff or additional
medication with MDI
nasal spray administration - ANSWERS**gently blow nose before administration
**shake container
**tilt head slightly back
**occlude one nostril, insert spray tip into the other nostril
**activate spray and gently inhale
Review 100% Accurate!
PharmacoDYNAMICS - ANSWERS(how a medicine changes the body) - it's the
mechanism of drug action and its relationship between drug concentration and
responses of the body
PharmacoDYNAMICS - ANSWERS1.Used to help predict if the medication will assist
the client or will produce a significant change in the client
2.Replaces a missing substance
3.Destroys or inhibits a pathogen
4.Stimulates, suppresses, or disrupts a process
PharmacoKINETICS - ANSWERSConsists of four processes: absorption, distribution,
biotransformation (metabolism) and excretion
PharmacoKINETICS (absorption) - ANSWERSmovement of the drug through blood
circulation from the site of administration to target tissue
i. onset of action: the time between the administration of a medication and the beginning
of its effects
ii. duration: amount of time that a medication exerts its effects, therapeutic and adverse
iii. bioavailability: amount of drug that reaches the target tissue
PharmacoKINETICS (distribution) - ANSWERSi. process by which the drug diffuses or
is transferred from the intravascular space (blood stream) to extravascular space (body
tissues)
ii. factors affecting distribution
***blood flow to the tissue, e.g., vasoconstriction reduces drug distribution and
vasodilation enhances drug distribution
***solubility of the drug
***binding of the drug to macromolecules in the blood or tissue
***ability to cross barriers, e.g., blood-brain barrier, placenta
PharmacoKINETICS (biotransformation [metabolism]) - ANSWERSchemical conversion
or transformation of drugs into compounds that are easier to eliminate
i. phase I: oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis by the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system
ii. phase II: conjugation of substance, improves renal excretion
iii. half-life: time it takes the amount of drug administered to decrease to 50% of the
peak drug level
PharmacoKINETICS (excretion) - ANSWERSelimination of unchanged drug or
metabolite from the body, through renal, biliary, or pulmonary processes
i. route of excretion depends on the drugs chemical properties
, ii. kidneys are responsible for excreting most drugs
Therapeutic range - ANSWERSa. range of concentrations at which a drug or other
therapeutic agent is effective with minimal toxicity to most people
b. common drug examples: acetaminophen, aminophylline, digoxin, lithium, phenytoin,
propranolol, theophylline
Peak - ANSWERSpoint in time after the administration when a medication exerts its
strongest therapeutic and adverse effects; a serum blood sample is drawn (about 1
hour) after the drug is administered
Trough - ANSWERSthe lowest drug level that is needed to reach therapeutic range; a
serum blood is drawn (about 30 minutes) before medication administration
Technique for MDI *without spacer* - ANSWERS**shake canister for 2 to 5 seconds
**hold MDI with thumb under the mouthpiece and the index and middle fingers on top of
the canister
positioning mouthpiece -
client has two options:
i. place mouthpiece of MDI in mouth with opening pointing toward the back of the head;
client tightens lips around mouthpiece
ii. position MDI 1 to 2 inches in front of widely opened mouth pointing toward back of
the head; lips should not touch mouthpiece
**inhale deeply and exhale completely
**tilt head back slightly and simultaneously inhales slowly and deeply through mouth
while depressing canister
**continue to inhale slowly for 2 to 5 seconds, then hold the breath for 10 seconds
**always rinse mouth after
****wait 20 to 30 seconds between puffs before administering second puff or additional
medication with MDI
Technique for MDI **with spacer** - ANSWERS***breathe normally through spacer
depress canister, spraying one puff into spacer
***inhale slowly and fully for 5 seconds
hold breath for 10 seconds
**always rinse mouth after
****wait 20 to 30 seconds between puffs before administering second puff or additional
medication with MDI
nasal spray administration - ANSWERS**gently blow nose before administration
**shake container
**tilt head slightly back
**occlude one nostril, insert spray tip into the other nostril
**activate spray and gently inhale
