NURS 615 PHARM Latest 2025/2026 (100%
Correct Answers)
What factors are associated with clinical judgment when prescribing medications? -
Prescribing a drug is based on a thorough assessment of the patient and the patient's
environment. The determination of potential medical and nursing diagnoses, a review of the
potential alternative therapies, specific knowledge about the drug chosen, and the disease
process it is going to treat, known as patient centred care. The best therapy is usually the
least invasive, least expensive, and the least likely to cause adverse reactions
What are the criteria for choosing an effective drug? - Multiple drugs may be able to treat a
specific condition. You must consult nationally recognized guidelines for disease
management to determine the most effective drug.
How does hypoalbuminemia affect the process of prescribing? - Many drugs that carry an
electric charge are bound to albumin in the blood. The distribution of the drug to target
tissues may be affected if hypoalbuminemia is present.
What is the drug's half-life? - In clinical practice it takes about four to five times the half-life
for a drugs concentration to read steady state after a drug is started, stopped or changed.
Hal life is the amount of time for a drug to be half cleared.
What is meant by the onset of action, peak of action, duration of action of medications? -
The onset of action is the time between the drug administration and the time that you see
the drugs minimum effect. Onset is the first sign of a drugs therapeutic effect. Peak of action
is the time of the maximum concentration of the drug in the blood. Duration of action is the
onset of action and the metabolism of the drug below the dose needed for an effect.
Explain first pass metabolism. - This occurs when the concentration of the drug is greatly
reduced before it reaches the systemic circulation. It is the portion of the drug lost during
absorption. Generally, occurs in the liver or gut wall. After a drug is swallowed it is absorbed
by the digestive system and enters the hepatic system. It is then carried by the portal vein to
the liver before it reaches the rest of the body. The liver metabolizes many drugs to such an
extent that only a small portion of the drug reaches the rest of the body. bioavailability of
the drug thus is greatly reduced by the liver. Sublingual administration can bypass the first
pass system plus it is also faster than oral route.
, What is a steady state? - The overall intake of a drug is fairly and dynamic equilibrium with
its elimination. Steady state is reached when the time of four to five times the half-life is
reached since the drug had been started.
What factors affect the drug's absorption? - Absorption involves several steps. First the drug
must be introduced via route of administration and the form of medication like tablet or
capsule. In IV or IM administration the absorption is less variable and bioavailability is near
100%. IV administration is considered to lose no portion of the drug. The fastest route of
absorption is inhalation. Drugs must pass through the epithelial cells of the GI tract to be
absorbed by the circulatory system. Cell membranes may affect the absorption of some
drugs because they are made of lipid bilayers that are semi permeable. This means only
small uncharged solutes can pass through the membrane. Whether or not a molecule is
ionized affects the absorption, since ionic molecules are charged. Solubility favors charged
species. Permeability favors neutral species. Some molecules have special channels to
facilitate movement from the lumen into the circulation. The Henderson Hasselbeck
equation offers a way to determine the portion that is ionized in a given pH. Weak acids will
be present in their nonionic form in the stomach because of the acidic pH and bases will be
in their ionic form. Nonionic species diffuse easier through cell membranes. Weak acids have
a higher absorption rate in the stomach. The opposite is true in the basic environment of the
stomach.
Identify drug metabolism and the role of the isoenzymes of the P450 system. - CYPs are the
major enzymes in drug metabolism. Must drugs undergo deactivation by CYPs are directly
facilitated secretion from the body. Many substances are bioactivated by CYPs to form their
active compound. Many drugs increase or decrease the activity of CYPs isoenzymes either by
inducing biosynthesis of an isozyme, which is enzyme induction or by directly inhibiting the
activity of CYP which is enzyme inhibition. This is a major source of adverse drug reactions
since changes in CYPs activity may affect the metabolism and clearance of certain drugs.
When two drugs are both metabolized by the CYP450 system the drugs should be
administered at separate times to prevent toxic effects.
What is the efficacy of the drug? - Efficacy is the maximum response achievable from a drug.
Intrinsic activity is a term used to describe the efficacy of a drug relative to a drugs highest
observed efficacy. Effectiveness refers to the ability of a drug to produce the wanted effect.
On the drug concentration curve what is the first sign of a therapeutic effect? - The onset of
action.
Correct Answers)
What factors are associated with clinical judgment when prescribing medications? -
Prescribing a drug is based on a thorough assessment of the patient and the patient's
environment. The determination of potential medical and nursing diagnoses, a review of the
potential alternative therapies, specific knowledge about the drug chosen, and the disease
process it is going to treat, known as patient centred care. The best therapy is usually the
least invasive, least expensive, and the least likely to cause adverse reactions
What are the criteria for choosing an effective drug? - Multiple drugs may be able to treat a
specific condition. You must consult nationally recognized guidelines for disease
management to determine the most effective drug.
How does hypoalbuminemia affect the process of prescribing? - Many drugs that carry an
electric charge are bound to albumin in the blood. The distribution of the drug to target
tissues may be affected if hypoalbuminemia is present.
What is the drug's half-life? - In clinical practice it takes about four to five times the half-life
for a drugs concentration to read steady state after a drug is started, stopped or changed.
Hal life is the amount of time for a drug to be half cleared.
What is meant by the onset of action, peak of action, duration of action of medications? -
The onset of action is the time between the drug administration and the time that you see
the drugs minimum effect. Onset is the first sign of a drugs therapeutic effect. Peak of action
is the time of the maximum concentration of the drug in the blood. Duration of action is the
onset of action and the metabolism of the drug below the dose needed for an effect.
Explain first pass metabolism. - This occurs when the concentration of the drug is greatly
reduced before it reaches the systemic circulation. It is the portion of the drug lost during
absorption. Generally, occurs in the liver or gut wall. After a drug is swallowed it is absorbed
by the digestive system and enters the hepatic system. It is then carried by the portal vein to
the liver before it reaches the rest of the body. The liver metabolizes many drugs to such an
extent that only a small portion of the drug reaches the rest of the body. bioavailability of
the drug thus is greatly reduced by the liver. Sublingual administration can bypass the first
pass system plus it is also faster than oral route.
, What is a steady state? - The overall intake of a drug is fairly and dynamic equilibrium with
its elimination. Steady state is reached when the time of four to five times the half-life is
reached since the drug had been started.
What factors affect the drug's absorption? - Absorption involves several steps. First the drug
must be introduced via route of administration and the form of medication like tablet or
capsule. In IV or IM administration the absorption is less variable and bioavailability is near
100%. IV administration is considered to lose no portion of the drug. The fastest route of
absorption is inhalation. Drugs must pass through the epithelial cells of the GI tract to be
absorbed by the circulatory system. Cell membranes may affect the absorption of some
drugs because they are made of lipid bilayers that are semi permeable. This means only
small uncharged solutes can pass through the membrane. Whether or not a molecule is
ionized affects the absorption, since ionic molecules are charged. Solubility favors charged
species. Permeability favors neutral species. Some molecules have special channels to
facilitate movement from the lumen into the circulation. The Henderson Hasselbeck
equation offers a way to determine the portion that is ionized in a given pH. Weak acids will
be present in their nonionic form in the stomach because of the acidic pH and bases will be
in their ionic form. Nonionic species diffuse easier through cell membranes. Weak acids have
a higher absorption rate in the stomach. The opposite is true in the basic environment of the
stomach.
Identify drug metabolism and the role of the isoenzymes of the P450 system. - CYPs are the
major enzymes in drug metabolism. Must drugs undergo deactivation by CYPs are directly
facilitated secretion from the body. Many substances are bioactivated by CYPs to form their
active compound. Many drugs increase or decrease the activity of CYPs isoenzymes either by
inducing biosynthesis of an isozyme, which is enzyme induction or by directly inhibiting the
activity of CYP which is enzyme inhibition. This is a major source of adverse drug reactions
since changes in CYPs activity may affect the metabolism and clearance of certain drugs.
When two drugs are both metabolized by the CYP450 system the drugs should be
administered at separate times to prevent toxic effects.
What is the efficacy of the drug? - Efficacy is the maximum response achievable from a drug.
Intrinsic activity is a term used to describe the efficacy of a drug relative to a drugs highest
observed efficacy. Effectiveness refers to the ability of a drug to produce the wanted effect.
On the drug concentration curve what is the first sign of a therapeutic effect? - The onset of
action.
