NURS 1550- Pharmacology 1

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen

A medication used for pain relief and fever reduction, but excessive intake can cause liver damage.

OTC and herbal therapies

Over-the-counter and herbal remedies that can be used for self-medication, but may not be as effective as prescription medications and can have potential risks and interactions.

Drug interactions

The potential for medications or herbal remedies to interact with each other, affecting their effectiveness or causing adverse effects.

Atrial fibrillation

A heart condition characterized by irregular and rapid heartbeats, for which specific medications are commonly used.

Renal transplantation

The process of receiving a kidney transplant, which requires the use of immunosuppressant medications to prevent rejection.

St Johns Wort

An herbal remedy used for mild depression, but can interact with other medications and affect their effectiveness.

Pharmacology

The study of drugs and their interactions with living systems, drawing on various disciplines such as anatomy, physiology, psychology, chemistry, and microbiology.

Therapeutics

The use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat diseases, or to prevent pregnancy.

Properties of an ideal drug

The desired characteristics of a drug, including its name, dose, chemical makeup, strength, interactions, side effects, therapeutic response, storage, route of administration, duration, onset of action, limitations, and nursing considerations.

Therapeutic objective

The goal of drug therapy, which is to provide maximum benefit with minimum harm.

Factors that determine drug responses

Age of the patient, physiological variables, pathological variables, genetic variables, drug interactions, and the patient's functional state.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body.

Nursing responsibilities in medication administration

Ensuring correct administration, participating in checks and balances, knowing appropriate medications and contraindications, and advocating for patient safety.

Patient care

Applying pharmacologic knowledge in providing care to patients, including pre-administration assessment, dosage and administration, evaluating and promoting therapeutic effects, minimizing adverse effects and interactions, making PRN decisions, and managing toxicity.

Patient education

Providing information to patients about drug names, dosage, administration, therapeutic response, non-drug measures, duration of treatment, drug storage, major adverse effects and interactions, and whom to contact in case of therapeutic failure or adverse reactions.

Nursing process

Assessment, analysis (nursing diagnoses), planning, implementation (intervention), and evaluation.

Risk stratification

Assessing the level of risk for an individual based on various factors, such as medical history, lifestyle, and family history, to determine the need for further medical workup or interventions.

Drug development

The process of developing new drugs, including preclinical and clinical testing, randomized controlled trials, and post-marketing surveillance.

Drug names

The different names used for drugs, including generic and trade names, and the importance of using the appropriate name in communication and labeling.

Over-the-counter drugs

Non-prescription drugs that can be bought without a doctor's prescription, regulated for safety and effectiveness in Canada.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of drug movement throughout the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Absorption

The movement of a drug from its site of administration into the blood, influenced by factors such as rate of dissolution, surface area, blood flow, lipid solubility, and pH partitioning.

Routes of administration

Different methods of drug administration, such as intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and oral, each with its own barriers, absorption patterns, advantages, and disadvantages.

P-glycoprotein

A transmembrane protein that transports drugs out of cells, found in various organs and tissues, affecting drug absorption and distribution.

Passage of drugs across membranes

The ability of drugs to penetrate cell membranes, which is dependent on their lipid solubility and ability to cross barriers, such as polar molecules and ions.

Oral administration and absorption

The process of taking medications orally, including tablets, enteric-coated preparations, and sustained-release preparations.