Nursing Pharmacology and Medical Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering essential NCLEX pharmacology terms, medical terminology, and clinical conditions from the lecture notes.

Ketorolac

A powerful nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for the short-term treatment of moderate to severe acute pain.

Prazosin

An alpha-blocker medication primarily used to treat high blood pressure, symptoms of an enlarged prostate, and trauma-related nightmares.

Olanzapine

An atypical antipsychotic prescription medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Atorvastatin

A prescription statin medication used to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while raising "good" HDL cholesterol.

Desmopressin

A prescription medication that mimics the natural hormone vasopressin to reduce urine production and control bleeding in conditions like diabetes insipidus, bedwetting, mild hemophilia A, and von Willebrand disease.

Adenosine

The first-line medication for treating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) exceeding 150 beats per minute, administered fast following a 0.9% sodium chloride flush due to its short half-life (>10 seconds).

Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT)

A type of heart arrhythmia that causes sudden episodes of a very fast heart rate originating from above the heart's lower chambers.

Warfarin

An anticoagulant blood thinner that slows clotting by blocking vitamin K in the liver, contraindicated in pregnancy due to fetal risks such as warfarin embryopathy and major internal bleeding.

Nitroglycerin

A prescription medication used to treat and prevent chest pain (angina) by dilating blood vessels, as well as managing high blood pressure emergencies and heart failure.

Lisinopril

An ACE inhibitor that relaxes and widens blood vessels to reduce heart workload, known for causing side effects like a dry cough, hyperkalemia, and angioedema.

Valsartan

An angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, often used as an alternative when a patient develops a dry cough from an ACE inhibitor.

Alprazolam

A benzodiazepine medication that slows down the brain and central nervous system to produce a calming effect, used primarily for anxiety and panic disorders.

Guaifenesin

An expectorant medication that loosens and thins mucus in the airways so the patient can cough it up during wet or productive coughs.

Acanthosis Nigricans

A skin condition causing dark, thick, velvety patches in body folds and creases like the neck, armpits, and groin, commonly linked to insulin resistance and obesity.

SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion)

A condition where the body produces excessive antidiuretic hormone (ADH), leading to water retention, low blood sodium levels (hyponatremia), and concentrated urine with high specific gravity.

Diabetes Insipidus (DI)

A chronic disorder of water regulation caused by a problem with antidiuretic hormone (ADH/vasopressin), producing excessive amounts of dilute urine and extreme thirst.

Polydipsia

The medical term for extreme or excessive thirst.

Osmolality

A medical measure of how concentrated a fluid is based strictly on the number of dissolved particles inside it.

Acute Adrenal Insufficiency

A life-threatening medical emergency (Addisonian crisis) requiring immediate administration of IV glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone) and rapid fluid resuscitation with 0.9% normal saline to reverse hypotension and vascular collapse.

International Normalized Ratio (INR)

A standardized blood test measuring blood clotting time, with a normal target therapeutic range of 2-3 for patients taking Warfarin.

Acromegaly

A rare hormonal disorder in adults caused by excessive production of growth hormone, leading to abnormal enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features.

Hypovolemic Shock

A life-threatening medical emergency caused by the sudden loss of 15% to 20% or more of total body blood or fluid volume, stopping the heart from pumping enough blood to the body.

Incontinence

The loss of bladder or bowel control, leading to accidental leakage of urine or stool.

Nosocomial Infection

An illness that a patient catches while receiving medical care in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

Receptive Aphasia

A language disorder (also known as Wernicke's aphasia) that impairs a person's ability to understand spoken and written words.

Pertussis

A highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough.

Facial Flushing

The widening of tiny blood vessels under the skin that fill with extra blood, making the area look red or feel warm.

Kussmaul Respiration

A deep, rapid, and labored breathing pattern that acts as an involuntary compensatory mechanism for severe metabolic acidosis to eliminate carbon dioxide.

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS)

A complication of Type 2 diabetes where minimal insulin prevents ketone formation but allows blood sugar to climb to extreme levels, leading to severe dehydration.

Graves' Disease

An autoimmune disorder causing the thyroid gland to become overactive and produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone.

Pruritus

The medical term for an intense, uncomfortable itching sensation of the skin that provokes the urge to scratch.

Peripheral Perfusion

The delivery of oxygen-rich blood to outer body areas such as the skin, fingers, and toes.

Cushing Syndrome

A hormonal disorder resulting from prolonged excessive cortisol in the body, characterized by facial rounding (moon face), fat accumulation behind the neck (buffalo hump), hirsutism, and violaceous striae.

Thromboembolism

A condition occurring when a blood clot (thrombus) breaks free from its original location, travels through the bloodstream, and blocks a blood vessel.

Metabolic Syndrome

A cluster of five risk factors—increased waist circumference, elevated blood pressure, high triglycerides, elevated glucose, and low HDL—that together increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Damage or destruction of nerves outside the central nervous system, causing sensory loss, burning, or tingling in a "glove-and-stocking" distribution.

Hyperparathyroidism

Overproduction of parathyroid hormone (PTH) that pulls calcium out of the bones and into the blood, resulting in hypercalcemia and weak, brittle bones.

Hypoparathyroidism

Underproduction of parathyroid hormone (PTH) that leads directly to low blood calcium (hypocalcemia), causing neuromuscular hyperexcitability, spasms, and potential seizures.

Confabulation

The fabrication of stories or false memories to fill in memory gaps, where the patient treats the fabricated stories as real.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

A condition caused by Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency—commonly seen in alcoholism—characterized by encephalopathy, psychosis, amnesia, and confabulation.

Aminoglycosides

A class of potent antibiotics used for serious, life-threatening Gram-negative infections, known for major toxic side effects including ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Emesis

The medical term for vomiting.

Dyspnea

The medical term for difficulty breathing.

Hematuria

The medical term for blood in the urine.

Syncope

The medical term for fainting.

Pallor

Pale skin or pale mucous membranes resulting from reduced blood supply or circulation.

Erythema

The medical term for abnormal redness of the skin.

Diaphoresis

The medical term for excessive sweating.

Ventrogluteal Site

An intramuscular injection site located on the hip, selected using anatomical landmarks including the anterior superior iliac spine and iliac crest.

Deltoid Muscle

A triangular muscle covering the shoulder joint, commonly used as a site for intramuscular injections.

Exophthalmos

The abnormal protrusion or bulging of the eyeballs forward out of the orbit, commonly associated with hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.

Nasal Septum

The internal wall of cartilage and bone dividing the nasal cavity into left and right nostrils.