lOMoARcPSD|26582732
Exam 1 Review for 318
Nur 318 Exam Review 2025
Topic 1: Introduction To Nursing Pharmacology, Terminology, And Medication Calculation
Ch 1,2,5,10,11
1.1 Describe Basic Concepts Of Medication Safety
Follow The Same Process Every Time You Administer Medications:
● Obtain Patient’s Vitals And Recent Lab Work, Consider Pt’s Current Physical Condition Before Administering
Drug
● Perform The 6 Rights Of Medications; Perform A Focused Assessment On The Body System Based On The
Patient’s Chief Complaint
● Verify Orders, Question Order If It Turns To Be Harmful For The Pt
● Clarify Orders- If Any Information Is Missing From The Drug Order (Such As Dosage Or Route), The Nurse
Needs To Contact Hcp First
1.2 What Is The Basic Terminology And Concepts Of Pharmacology? Define
● Pharmacology - The Study Of Medication/Drugs. Drugs Are Any Chemicals That Affect The Physiologic
Process Of A Living Organism.
● Pharmacology Definition
0 The Study Of The Manner In Which The Function Of Living Systems Is Affected By Chemical
Substances
● Drug Definition
0 Any Chemical Substance Other Than Those Required For Normal Sustenance Which Produces A
Biological Effect
● Contraindication
0 A Condition That Makes A Particular Treatment Or Procedure Inadvisable; May Be Absolute Or
Relative
● First Pass Effect
0 A Drug May Be Completely Metabolized By The Liver On The First Pass Through The Gi Tract ○
Only Applies To Oral Drugs
○ The Reason Why Oral Drugs Have Higher Doses Than Iv
● Plateau
0 When The Amount Of Drug Eliminated Between Doses Equals The Dose Administered; Average
Drug Levels Will Remain Constant And Plateau Will Have Been Reached
● Potency
0 Refers To The Amount Of Drug We Must Give To Elicit An Effect---Says Nothing About Maximal
Efficacy
● Agonists
0 Activate Receptors; Have A High Affinity And High Intrinsic Activity; Make Things In Body Work
Better, Faster, Stronger
● Antagonists
0 Prevent Receptor Activation, Must Be Agonist Present In Order For The Antagonist To Have Any
Effect; Stop Processes In The Body From Working/Diminish Them
● Partial Agonist
0 Only Has Moderate Intrinsic Activity
● Half-Life
- Is The Time It Takes For The Amount Of Drugs In The Body To Be Reduced By Half
*Look At Terms At The End Of This Document*
1.3 . Identify The Various Routes Of Medication Administration
I. Oral (Tablets, Capsules, Liquids, Suspensions, And Elixirs).
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Exam 1 Review for 318
A. Liquid Forms Include Elixirs, Emulsions, And Suspensions.
> Elixirs Are Sweetened, Hydro-Alcoholic Liquids Used In The Preparation Of Oral Liquid
Medications
> Emulsions Are A Mixture Of Two Liquids That Are Not Mutually Soluble
> Suspensions Are Liquids In Which Particles Are Mixed But Not Dissolved
**You Must Read Labels To Know If Diluting Or Shaking Is Needed
b. Sublingual- Under The Tongue (Must Remain There Until Absorbed)
c. Buccal- Between The Cheek And Gum (Must Remain There Until Absorbed)
● Transdermal- Medication Is Stored In Patch And Placed On The Skin To Be Absorbed. Never Cut The Patch
In Half
● Topical Medications Are Often Applied To The Skin By Painting Or Spreading The Medication Over An Area
And Applying A Moist Dressing Or Leaving The Area Exposed To Air. Always Wear Gloves When Applying
Topical Medications
● Instillation- Liquid Medications Typically Administered As Drops, Ointments, Or Sprays In The Following
Forms ( Review Pg. 88):
➔ Eyedrops
➔ Eye Ointments
➔ Eardrops
➔ Nose Drops And Sprays
● Inhalation- Metered-Dose Inhalers Are Handheld Devices Used To Deliver A Number Of Asthma And
Bronchitis Medications
Mdis Drugs Act Faster Than Oral Drugs And Have Less Side Effects Since The Drug Goes Directly To The
Lungs Spacers Are Devices Used To Enhance Medication Delivery From Mdi.
Nebulizer Is A Device That Changes A Liquid To Fine Mist Or Aerosol And Has The Ability To Reach The
Lower, Smaller Airways
Ensure The Patient Is In Semi-Fowler Or High Fowler Position When Giving These Mdi Or
Nebulizer ● Nasogastric And Gastrostomy Tubes
● Suppositories
● Parenteral Forms- Methods Of Parenteral Administration Include Intradermal, Subcutaneous, Intramuscular,
Ζtrack Technique, And Intravenous Administration. A Description Of Each Follows With Special
Considerations Noted For The Pediatric Patient.
1.4 Apply Principles Of Dimensional Analysis To Calculate Medication Dosages
● Method 3: Dimensional Analysis - Dimensional Analysis (Da) Is A Calculation Method Known As Units And
Conversions. The D, H, And V Are Still Used In Da. The Advantage Of Da Is That All The Steps For
Calculating Drug Dosages Are Conducted In One Equation Without Having To Remember Various Formulas.
However, Conversion Factors (Cf) Still Need To Be Memorized.
○ Steps For Dimensional Analysis
■ 1. Identify The Unit/Form (Tablet, Capsule, Ml) Of The Drug To Be Calculated. Place This
Unit/Form To One Side Of The Equal Sign (=). This Is Your Desired Unit/Form.
■ 2. Determine The Known Dose And Unit/Form From The Drug Label. Place This On The
Other Side Of The Equal Sign.
■ 3. Continue With Additional Fractions Using A Multiplication Operation Between Each
Fraction Until All But That One Unit/Format You Want Is Eliminated.
■ 4 . Multiply The Numerators And Multiply The
Denominators. ■ 5 . Solve For X (The Unknown
Unit/Form ).
○ Example:
■ Order: Amoxicillin 500 Mg Po Q8h
■ Available: 250 Mg Per Capsule
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Exam 1 Review for 318
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○ Example:
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Exam 1 Review for 318
Nur 318 Exam Review 2025
Topic 1: Introduction To Nursing Pharmacology, Terminology, And Medication Calculation
Ch 1,2,5,10,11
1.1 Describe Basic Concepts Of Medication Safety
Follow The Same Process Every Time You Administer Medications:
● Obtain Patient’s Vitals And Recent Lab Work, Consider Pt’s Current Physical Condition Before Administering
Drug
● Perform The 6 Rights Of Medications; Perform A Focused Assessment On The Body System Based On The
Patient’s Chief Complaint
● Verify Orders, Question Order If It Turns To Be Harmful For The Pt
● Clarify Orders- If Any Information Is Missing From The Drug Order (Such As Dosage Or Route), The Nurse
Needs To Contact Hcp First
1.2 What Is The Basic Terminology And Concepts Of Pharmacology? Define
● Pharmacology - The Study Of Medication/Drugs. Drugs Are Any Chemicals That Affect The Physiologic
Process Of A Living Organism.
● Pharmacology Definition
0 The Study Of The Manner In Which The Function Of Living Systems Is Affected By Chemical
Substances
● Drug Definition
0 Any Chemical Substance Other Than Those Required For Normal Sustenance Which Produces A
Biological Effect
● Contraindication
0 A Condition That Makes A Particular Treatment Or Procedure Inadvisable; May Be Absolute Or
Relative
● First Pass Effect
0 A Drug May Be Completely Metabolized By The Liver On The First Pass Through The Gi Tract ○
Only Applies To Oral Drugs
○ The Reason Why Oral Drugs Have Higher Doses Than Iv
● Plateau
0 When The Amount Of Drug Eliminated Between Doses Equals The Dose Administered; Average
Drug Levels Will Remain Constant And Plateau Will Have Been Reached
● Potency
0 Refers To The Amount Of Drug We Must Give To Elicit An Effect---Says Nothing About Maximal
Efficacy
● Agonists
0 Activate Receptors; Have A High Affinity And High Intrinsic Activity; Make Things In Body Work
Better, Faster, Stronger
● Antagonists
0 Prevent Receptor Activation, Must Be Agonist Present In Order For The Antagonist To Have Any
Effect; Stop Processes In The Body From Working/Diminish Them
● Partial Agonist
0 Only Has Moderate Intrinsic Activity
● Half-Life
- Is The Time It Takes For The Amount Of Drugs In The Body To Be Reduced By Half
*Look At Terms At The End Of This Document*
1.3 . Identify The Various Routes Of Medication Administration
I. Oral (Tablets, Capsules, Liquids, Suspensions, And Elixirs).
Page Number 1
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, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
Exam 1 Review for 318
A. Liquid Forms Include Elixirs, Emulsions, And Suspensions.
> Elixirs Are Sweetened, Hydro-Alcoholic Liquids Used In The Preparation Of Oral Liquid
Medications
> Emulsions Are A Mixture Of Two Liquids That Are Not Mutually Soluble
> Suspensions Are Liquids In Which Particles Are Mixed But Not Dissolved
**You Must Read Labels To Know If Diluting Or Shaking Is Needed
b. Sublingual- Under The Tongue (Must Remain There Until Absorbed)
c. Buccal- Between The Cheek And Gum (Must Remain There Until Absorbed)
● Transdermal- Medication Is Stored In Patch And Placed On The Skin To Be Absorbed. Never Cut The Patch
In Half
● Topical Medications Are Often Applied To The Skin By Painting Or Spreading The Medication Over An Area
And Applying A Moist Dressing Or Leaving The Area Exposed To Air. Always Wear Gloves When Applying
Topical Medications
● Instillation- Liquid Medications Typically Administered As Drops, Ointments, Or Sprays In The Following
Forms ( Review Pg. 88):
➔ Eyedrops
➔ Eye Ointments
➔ Eardrops
➔ Nose Drops And Sprays
● Inhalation- Metered-Dose Inhalers Are Handheld Devices Used To Deliver A Number Of Asthma And
Bronchitis Medications
Mdis Drugs Act Faster Than Oral Drugs And Have Less Side Effects Since The Drug Goes Directly To The
Lungs Spacers Are Devices Used To Enhance Medication Delivery From Mdi.
Nebulizer Is A Device That Changes A Liquid To Fine Mist Or Aerosol And Has The Ability To Reach The
Lower, Smaller Airways
Ensure The Patient Is In Semi-Fowler Or High Fowler Position When Giving These Mdi Or
Nebulizer ● Nasogastric And Gastrostomy Tubes
● Suppositories
● Parenteral Forms- Methods Of Parenteral Administration Include Intradermal, Subcutaneous, Intramuscular,
Ζtrack Technique, And Intravenous Administration. A Description Of Each Follows With Special
Considerations Noted For The Pediatric Patient.
1.4 Apply Principles Of Dimensional Analysis To Calculate Medication Dosages
● Method 3: Dimensional Analysis - Dimensional Analysis (Da) Is A Calculation Method Known As Units And
Conversions. The D, H, And V Are Still Used In Da. The Advantage Of Da Is That All The Steps For
Calculating Drug Dosages Are Conducted In One Equation Without Having To Remember Various Formulas.
However, Conversion Factors (Cf) Still Need To Be Memorized.
○ Steps For Dimensional Analysis
■ 1. Identify The Unit/Form (Tablet, Capsule, Ml) Of The Drug To Be Calculated. Place This
Unit/Form To One Side Of The Equal Sign (=). This Is Your Desired Unit/Form.
■ 2. Determine The Known Dose And Unit/Form From The Drug Label. Place This On The
Other Side Of The Equal Sign.
■ 3. Continue With Additional Fractions Using A Multiplication Operation Between Each
Fraction Until All But That One Unit/Format You Want Is Eliminated.
■ 4 . Multiply The Numerators And Multiply The
Denominators. ■ 5 . Solve For X (The Unknown
Unit/Form ).
○ Example:
■ Order: Amoxicillin 500 Mg Po Q8h
■ Available: 250 Mg Per Capsule
Page Number 2
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Exam 1 Review for 318
= =
○ Example:
Page Number 3
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