Nursing Pharmacology and Safe Medication Administration

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering core nursing pharmacology concepts, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenetics, ethical principles, controlled substance schedules, and safe medication administration.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs move through the body, consisting of four phases: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Absorption

The first phase of pharmacokinetics involving the movement of a drug from its site of administration into the bloodstream.

Distribution

The phase of pharmacokinetics in which a drug moves from the bloodstream to the body cells and target site of action.

Metabolism

The enzymatic breakdown of medications, occurring primarily in the liver, which converts fat-soluble drugs into water-soluble forms for renal excretion.

Excretion

The elimination of drugs from the body, occurring mainly through the kidneys via urine, as well as through bile, lungs, saliva, sweat, and breast milk.

Protein Binding

The attachment of drug molecules to proteins in the blood (such as albumin), which renders the bound drug temporarily inactive.

Albumin

The primary protein in blood plasma that binds drug molecules; decreased levels increase unbound (free) active drug levels, escalating toxicity risk.

Therapeutic Window

The optimal concentration range of a drug in the blood where it produces therapeutic effectiveness without causing toxic effects.

Peak Level

The highest concentration of a drug in the blood, indicating maximum effectiveness and absorption rate.

Trough Level

The lowest concentration of a drug in the blood, measured immediately prior to the next scheduled dose to confirm proper drug clearance.

Onset

The time required after administration for a drug to reach the minimum effective concentration (MEC) and begin producing a therapeutic response.

Duration

The total length of time that a drug maintains its therapeutic effect in the body.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of how drugs work in the body and the specific biological or physiological responses they produce.

Therapeutic Index (TI)

The ratio between a drug's safe dose and its toxic dose.

Selectivity

The degree to which a drug binds to a specific receptor type, where higher selectivity results in fewer side effects.

Specificity

The specific anatomical location or body organ (such as the heart or lungs) where a drug exerts its effects.

Agonist

A drug that binds to and activates a receptor to produce a biological response.

Antagonist

A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks it, preventing a biological response.

Partial Agonist

A drug that partially activates a receptor while blocking full activation by stronger agonists, thereby limiting the maximum response.

Pharmacogenetics

The study of how genetic variations influence individual responses to drugs, supporting personalized therapy and dosage optimization.

Complementary Alternative Medications (CAMs)

Botanicals, herbal supplements, teas, and nutritional products used by approximately 40% of adults that can interact with prescription drugs or alter laboratory tests.

Respect for Persons

A core ethical principle in clinical research requiring support for patient autonomy and extra protection for individuals with reduced capacity.

Beneficence

A core ethical principle requiring healthcare providers and researchers to do no harm and maximize benefits while minimizing risks.

Justice

A core ethical principle ensuring fair and equitable selection of research participants across social, racial, and ethnic groups.

Autonomy

The right of patients to make independent choices regarding their medical care, including accepting or refusing treatments or withdrawing from research.

Informed Consent

A voluntary agreement to participate in clinical research or treatment based on clear, comprehensible information, established ethically under the Nuremberg Code (1947).

Schedule I Controlled Substances

Substances with high abuse potential, no accepted medical use in the US, and a lack of accepted safety standards (e.g., heroin, LSD, cannabis, peyote).

Schedule II Controlled Substances

Substances with high potential for abuse that may cause severe psychological or physical dependence, but have accepted medical uses (e.g., fentanyl, oxycodone, cocaine, hydromorphone).

Schedule III Controlled Substances

Substances with less abuse potential than Schedule I or II, carrying moderate to low physical dependence or high psychological dependence (e.g., ketamine, anabolic steroids, codeine combinations <90 mg/dose).

Schedule IV Controlled Substances

Substances with a low potential for abuse relative to Schedule III (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, zolpidem, tramadol).

Schedule V Controlled Substances

Substances with low potential for abuse relative to Schedule IV, consisting mainly of preparations containing limited narcotic quantities (e.g., cough mixtures with <=200 mg codeine/100 mL, pregabalin).

Orphan Drug Act (1983)

Federal legislation offering financial incentives, tax credits, and exclusivity to encourage pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for rare diseases.

Nurse Practice Acts

State legislation that defines and regulates nursing scope of practice, standards, and legal requirements for medication administration.

Chemical Name

The drug designation describing its exact molecular and atomic structure (e.g., N-acetyl-para-aminophenol).

Generic Name

The official, non-proprietary, universal name assigned to a drug (e.g., acetaminophen).

Brand Name

The proprietary, trademarked name given to a drug by its manufacturing company (e.g., Tylenol).

Six Rights of Medication Administration

The core safety protocol requiring nurses to verify Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, and Right Documentation.

Just Culture

A healthcare culture that encourages non-punitive error reporting to evaluate system vulnerabilities and improve patient safety.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

A systematic problem-solving process used to analyze sentinel events, pinpoint system defects, and implement preventive measures.

Tall-Man Lettering

The practice of using capitalized letters in look-alike/sound-alike drug names (e.g., CeleXA vs. CeleBREX) to prevent medication errors.

Drug Reconciliation

The process of verifying and updating a comprehensive list of a patient's current medications across all care transitions to prevent errors.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

A key diagnostic laboratory parameter evaluated alongside Creatinine and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) to assess renal function and drug excretion.

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

A liver enzyme diagnostic test evaluated alongside AST and ALP to assess hepatic function and drug metabolism.