Pharmacology Fundamentals and Medication Administration

Essential vocabulary flashcards covering the nursing process (ADPIE), pharmacokinetics (ADME), pharmacology abbreviations, drug classifications, safe medication practices, and controlled substance schedules.

ADPIE

The five sequential phases of the nursing process: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.

Assessment

The nursing process step of collecting essential patient data—including allergies, current medications, medical history, vital signs, and lab results—prior to medication administration.

Diagnosis

The nursing process step of identifying actual or potential medication-related problems, such as acute pain, risk for bleeding, or risk for falls.

Planning

The nursing process step of setting measurable goals and expected outcomes for drug therapy (e.g., pain decreasing from $8/10$ to $3/10$).

Implementation

The nursing process step of safely administering medications, providing patient education, and executing nursing interventions.

Evaluation

The nursing process step of assessing whether a medication worked and monitoring for therapeutic response, side effects, or adverse reactions.

Independent nursing action

An action performed within the nurse's legal scope of practice that does not require a new provider order (e.g., checking allergies, assessing vital signs, evaluating swallowing ability).

Therapeutic effect

The desired, beneficial result intended from the administration of a medication.

Efficacy

The ability of a drug to work as intended and produce the desired therapeutic effect.

Package insert

An official drug instruction guide providing comprehensive data including indications, dosage, administration, contraindications, warnings, adverse reactions, and interactions.

Black box warning

The strongest warning issued by the FDA on prescription drug labeling, highlighting serious or potentially life-threatening risks.

Biosimilar

A biological medication highly similar to an already-approved biological drug, with no clinically meaningful differences in safety or effectiveness.

Generic drug

identical active chemical ingredient as the original brand-name drug. often directly underneath it or in smaller print.not capitalized

Brand-name drug

Manufacturer's drug name. Often in larger or bold letters. Capitalized

Indication

The medical condition, symptom, or therapeutic reason for administering a medication.

Contraindication

A medical condition, factor, or symptom indicating that a specific drug should not be administered because it may cause harm.

Pharmacology

The scientific study of drugs and their actions, mechanisms, and interactions in living systems.

Pharmacokinetics

How the body acts on drug.

Pharmacodynamics

What the drug does to the body. effects and potential side effects

Absorption

A drug enters the bloodstream

Distribution

Transport of a drug throughout the bloodstream to body tissues, organs, and intended target sites.

Metabolism

Breakdown of a medication into metabolites, occurring primarily in the liver.

Excretion

The elimination of a drug from the body, primarily carried out by the kidneys by urine.

Bioavailability

The percentage of an administered drug dose that enters the bloodstream unchanged.

First-pass effect

The liver breaks down some of an oral drug before it reaches the bloodstream. Goes through the liver first

Agonist

A substance or drug that binds to and activates a receptor, initiating a biological response. Activates.

Antagonist

A substance or drug that binds to a receptor and prevents, blocks, or inhibits activation by an agonist. Blocks.

Additive effect

A drug interaction occurring when two medications add their effect together.

Synergistic effect

A drug interaction occurring when two medications interact together to create a stronger effect.

Antagonistic effect

A drug interaction occurring when one medication reduces, counteracts, or cancels the therapeutic effect of another.

Therapeutic range

The drug level in the blood that works without causing toxicity.

Narrow therapeutic index (NTI)

A drug with a small difference between a helpful dose and a harmful dose. (e.g., digoxin, warfarin, lithium).

Half-life

The time required for the total amount of a drug in the body to decrease by $50\%$.

Toxicity

The level or state at which a medication reaches dangerous concentrations and causes physical harm or poisonous effects.

Dose

The measured amount of medication administered to a patient at one specific time.

Dosage

How much the amount, frequency, and duration of medication administration over time.

Route

The way a drug enters the body (e.g., by mouth, IV, or injection (e.g., PO, IV, IM, SubQ).

PRN

medication to be administered 'as needed'

STAT

A urgent, single-dose medication order requiring immediate administration.

Routine order

A medication given regularly at set times.

One-time order

A medication given once at a specific time.

NPO

Medical abbreviation for 'nil per os'. patient is to receive nothing by mouth.

KVO

Abbreviation for 'keep vein open', A slow IV flow that keeps the vein open.

PO

Abbreviation meaning 'by mouth' or oral administration of a medication.

MAR

Medication Administration Record; the legal healthcare record detailing all medications ordered and administered to a patient.

Side effect

An unintended, predictable effect of a medication taken at the normal dose.

Adverse drug effect

An unintended, undesirable, and harmful clinical effect caused by a drug administration.

Drug allergy

When the immune system reacts to a medication, causing symptoms like itching, rash, or swelling.

Anaphylaxis

A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause trouble breathing and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

Angioedema

Rapid and deep swelling in subcutaneous tissues or mucous membranes, typically affecting the lips, face, tongue, or airway.

High-alert medication

A drug that can cause serious harm if given incorrectly

Reconstitution

The laboratory or nursing process of adding a specific sterile liquid diluent to a dry powdered medication to form a solution or suspension.

Diluent

The liquid vehicle (e.g., sterile water or normal saline) used to reconstitute or dilute a medication.

Beyond-use date

The date or time a medication must be thrown away after opening, mixing, or preparing it. (BUD)

Near miss

A medication-related mistake or safety hazard that is caught, recognized, and corrected before reaching the patient.

Medication reconciliation

Checking a patient’s medications when they move between care settings to prevent mistakes.

Polypharmacy

A single patient taking multiple medications at the same time

Controlled substance

A medication regulated by law because it has a risk of misuse or addiction.

Schedule I

Controlled substance. Considered to have a high potential for abuse and not currently accepted medical use under federal law. (heroin)

Schedule II

Controlled substance. Drugs possessing a high potential for severe abuse, but holding an accepted medical use (morphine, oxycodone).

Schedule III drugs

Controlled substances with a moderate to low risk of physical dependence and a potential for misuse ( ketamine and certain codeine medications).

Schedule IV drugs

Controlled substances with a low risk of misuse and dependence (Xanax and Valium).

Schedule V

Controlled substances with the lowest potential for misuse (Robitussin, Lyrica).

IM

Into a muscle

SubQ

Under the skin.

ID

Into the skin.

OTC

No prescription needed