Comprehensive Nursing and Pharmacology Review: Disease, Drugs, and Patient Care

What is the difference between disease and illness?

A disease is a disorder or interruption of the systems or organs, while an illness is the response to the disease.

What are etiologic agents or factors that cause diseases?

They can be acquired (e.g., from injury), genetic (e.g., sickle cell), or congenital.

What is the difference between acute and chronic illnesses?

Acute is fast onset, short term, and self-limiting; chronic is long term and has a slow onset.

What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?

A symptom is subjective and cannot always be measured, while a sign is objective and can be measured.

What is health promotion?

Health promotion is behavior motivated to increase health.

What is disease prevention?

Disease prevention (health protection) aims to avoid, maintain, or detect disease.

What is primary level of prevention?

Primary level focuses on prevention and reducing risk factors.

What is secondary level of prevention?

Secondary level focuses on screening for early detection and identifying, reducing, or eliminating illness.

What is tertiary level of prevention?

Tertiary level focuses on restoring function and rehabilitation after diagnosis.

How are drugs classified?

Drugs are classified by how they affect body systems, their use, and chemical characteristics.

Can a drug be in more than one category?

Yes, a drug can be in more than one category due to its wide range of effects.

How are controlled substances enforced?

The DEA assigns numbers to prescribers who must register, properly store, and maintain records.

What are Black Box warnings?

FDA warning labels of adverse effects.

What are High Alert medications?

High risk drugs that can cause serious harm if not properly administered.

What is the Beers Criteria?

A list of medications best to avoid for older adults and those with certain conditions.

What is pharmacokinetics?

Pharmacokinetics is how drugs move in the body.

What is the first-pass effect?

The first-pass effect is when part of the drug is deactivated by the liver, decreasing the amount available for circulation.

What is serum drug level?

Serum drug levels show how much of a drug is in the blood at a certain time.

What is Minimum Effective Concentration?

The minimum effective drug dose and absorption in blood.

What causes toxic drug levels?

Toxic levels can result from a large dose, repeated small doses, and slow metabolism.

What is onset in drug action?

Onset is when the drug level reaches Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC).

What is peak drug action?

Peak drug action is when the drug concentration is at its highest.

What is duration of action?

Duration is the time when drug levels are at or above MEC.

What is serum half-life?

The time needed for the drug to decrease by 50%.

What is the role of receptors in drug actions?

Receptors bind chemically with drugs.

What is the difference between agonist and antagonist drugs?

Agonists activate receptors and mimic natural hormones; antagonists inhibit cell functions by occupying receptor sites.

What is a loading dose?

A high dose to start treatment.

What is a maintenance dose?

The regular dose given after the loading dose.

Why is it important to know drug-diet interactions?

Food can change the absorption of drugs.

What is an antidote?

An antidote acts as an antagonist by binding, blocking, neutralizing, or reversing poison or toxin.

What is polypharmacy?

The use of multiple drugs at the same time.

How can you prevent adverse effects in older adults?

Evaluate the person's reactions to drugs.

How is pharmacokinetics affected in older adults?

There is a decrease in the number of receptors and renal function, making them prone to adverse effects.

What are some factors affecting medication adherence in older adults?

Pill boxes, assistive devices, and someone to monitor adherence.