Pharmacology: Key Concepts & Medication Administration

20 flashcards covering core concepts of ideal drug properties, medication safety, naming, administration, and common practices.

What are the three most important characteristics of an ideal drug?

Effectiveness, safety, and selectivity.

Why is there no such thing as a perfect drug?

Every drug will have some side effects or non-ideal properties.

What does selectivity mean in the context of an ideal drug?

The drug does what it was made to do and has minimal or no unintended adverse effects.

What is pharmacotherapeutics?

The study of using drugs to diagnose, prevent, treat diseases, and the medical uses of drugs; nurses apply these concepts clinically.

Name two additional desirable properties of a drug beyond effectiveness, safety, and selectivity.

Reversibility of actions and predictability of patient response.

What does reversibility mean in drug pharmacology?

The drug’s effects can be reversed or wear off (e.g., anesthesia wears off).

What does predictability refer to in drug responses?

Knowing how a patient will respond to a drug, though individual variation can affect exact responses.

What is meant by easy administration of a medication?

Drugs that are easy to take (e.g., oral tablets) and have convenient dosing.

What is meant by ‘freedom of interaction’ in ideal drugs?

The drug has minimal interactions with foods, drinks, or other medications.

What do ‘low cost’ and ‘chemical stability’ describe in an ideal drug?

The drug should be affordable and shelf-stable so it remains effective over time.

Why is a simple generic name desirable for medications?

Easy to pronounce and remember, reducing confusion between products; generic names are lowercased.

What is the difference between generic names and brand names?

Generic names are non-capitalized, lowercased names; brand/trade names are capitalized, easier to read, and FDA-approved; brand names do not imply efficacy.

What resources are commonly used to look up medication information?

Drug handbooks (e.g., drug handbook), Lexicomp, and Physician’s Best Reference (PDR).

What is the best practice regarding medication naming when communicating with patients?

Use the generic name to avoid confusion with brand names.

What are the Seven Rights of Medication Administration?

Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right reason, right documentation.

What does MAR stand for and what is it used for?

Medication Administration Record; used to track medications administered to patients.

What is a unit-dose container?

A single-dose medication intended for one patient, one-time use.

What is an ampoule?

A single-dose, glass container that is opened by breaking the neck and requires a filter needle to withdraw contents.

What is a vial?

A container that can hold multiple doses; has a rubber stopper and may require dilution if it contains powder.

Which routes are commonly considered parenteral (injections)?

Intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), and intradermal (ID).

Which route provides the fastest absorption for medications tested in class, and what is the order among IV, intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes?

Intravenous (IV) is the fastest; the order discussed is IV, intradermal, subcutaneous, then intramuscular.