NURS 3405 Medication Assignment

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering drug classifications, mechanisms of action, key clinical assessments, dose safety thresholds, and critical adverse effects from the NURS 3405 medication administration module.

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

An antiarrhythmic and inotropic medication prescribed for congestive heart failure (CHF) that increases cardiac output and slows the heart rate to help the heart pump more efficiently.

Digoxin Toxicity

A severe adverse drug reaction characterized by early symptoms of abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances (blurred or yellow/green vision), and cardiac arrhythmias.

Apical Heart Rate Digoxin Parameter

The clinical requirement to auscultate the apical heart rate for $1\text{ minute}$ prior to administering digoxin, withholding the dose if the heart rate is less than $60\text{ beats/min}$.

Electrolytes Influencing Digoxin Toxicity

Serum electrolyte disturbances—specifically hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalcemia—that substantially heighten the patient's risk of developing digoxin toxicity.

Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)

An oral anticoagulant indicated for the prevention of thromboembolic events (such as recurrent deep vein thrombosis [DVT]) by interfering with the hepatic synthesis of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.

Therapeutic INR Range for Warfarin

An International Normalized Ratio target of $2-3$ recommended to verify efficacy and safe anticoagulation for patients undergoing warfarin therapy.

Furosemide (Lasix)

A loop diuretic used in congestive heart failure that promotes diuresis by inhibiting renal salt reabsorption and increasing urinary excretion of water, sodium, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $Ca^{2+}$, thereby decreasing blood pressure and fluid overload.

Furosemide-Induced Hypokalemia

A fluid and electrolyte complication of loop diuretic administration that causes low serum potassium levels, significantly elevating the risk of lethal arrhythmias and secondary digoxin toxicity.

Potassium Chloride (Oral Supplementation)

A mineral replacement supplement prescribed concurrently with loop diuretics (Lasix) to replenish potassium losses and keep neuromuscular and cardiac functions normal.

Target Serum Potassium Range

The normal physiological lab value of $3.5-5.0\,mEq/L$ monitored to confirm the efficacy of potassium chloride replacement in patients receiving potassium-wasting diuretics.

Amoxicillin

An anti-infective and anti-ulcer agent that exerts bactericidal activity against pneumonia pathogens by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Amoxicillin–Warfarin Drug Interaction

A pharmacokinetic interaction in which amoxicillin potentiates the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, increasing the patient's bleeding risk and requiring frequent INR and CBC monitoring.

Clostridioides Difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD)

A gastrointestinal complication associated with amoxicillin therapy characterized by fever, abdominal cramping, watery diarrhea, and bloody stools.

Albuterol (Airomir, Ventolin HFA)

A short-acting bronchodilator that acts selectively on beta-2 receptors in airway smooth muscles to produce relaxation, open airways, and control wheezing and dyspnea.

Paradoxical Bronchospasm

A rare but severe adverse reaction to inhaled albuterol where airway constriction paradoxically worsens immediately following inhalation.

Metformin (Glucophage)

An oral antidiabetic agent prescribed for Type 2 diabetes mellitus that lowers blood glucose levels to improve the peripheral utilization and processing of glucose.

Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis

A life-threatening metabolic acidosis reaction caused by metformin accumulation in patients with impaired renal function or impaired hepatic clearance of lactic acid.

Atorvastatin (Lipitor, Atorvaliq)

A lipid-lowering agent indicated for hypercholesterolemia that inhibits the enzyme catalyzing an early step in cholesterol biosynthesis, decreasing LDL-C, total cholesterol, and triglycerides while raising HDL-C.

Rhabdomyolysis

A serious muscular adverse reaction to atorvastatin marked by myalgia, malaise, muscle cramps, weakness, and dark or tea-colored urine.

Morphine Sulfate

An opioid analgesic that binds opiate receptors in the CNS to alter the perception and response to pain, produce CNS depression, and alleviate dyspnea related to pulmonary edema.

Morphine Black Box Respiratory Warning

A clinical monitoring mandate to assess vital signs before and during administration; if the respiratory rate is $< 10/\text{min}$, sedation must be assessed and the dose reduced by $25-50\%$ due to the danger of fatal respiratory depression.