NR293 Week 1 Pharmacology Nursing Process and Basics

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the nursing process, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, legal/ethical considerations, and medication administration safety.

Assessment

The first step of the nursing process involving collecting data before giving or evaluating medication, such as allergies, labs ($kidney/liver\,function$), vital signs, and pain level.

Identification of Human Need Statements

The step of the nursing process where the nurse identifies the patient’s medication-related need or problem, such as 'Risk for injury' or 'Knowledge deficit'.

Planning / Outcome Identification

The step of the nursing process focused on setting goals and expected outcomes before giving care, such as 'Patient will report pain less than $\frac{3}{10}$ within $1\,hour$.'

Implementation

The action phase of the nursing process, which includes administering medication, patient teaching, using the $9$ rights, and documenting administration.

Evaluation

Checking if the medication worked and if harm occurred, such as determining drug effectiveness or checking for adverse effects like toxicity or rashes.

Right Patient

The medication right that requires using two identifiers: name and date of birth (DOB).

Right Medication

The medication right that involves comparing the medication label with the MAR/order.

Right Dose

Ensuring the patient receives the correct amount of medication.

Right Route

Administering the drug through the correct path (PO, IV, IM, SQ, etc.); the nurse cannot change this without a provider order.

Right Time

Ensuring the medication is given on the correct schedule or frequency.

Right Documentation

The practice of documenting medication administration immediately after giving the drug.

Right Reason / Indication

The right that involves knowing exactly why the patient is receiving a specific medication.

Right Response / Evaluation

Determining if the drug worked and monitoring for any adverse effects.

Right Education

Teaching the patient the purpose, side effects, and safety considerations of their medication.

Drug

Any substance other than food that changes body function, including prescription meds, OTC meds, herbs, vitamins, alcohol, and marijuana.

Pharmacology

The study of drugs and how they affect the body.

Generic Name

The official non-brand name of a drug, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Trade / Brand Name

The company's specific name for a drug, such as Advil, Motrin, Tylenol, or Norvasc.

Pharmacokinetics

What the body does to the drug, represented by the acronym ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion).

Absorption

The process of how a drug enters the bloodstream from its site of administration.

Bioavailability

The amount or percentage of a drug that reaches the bloodstream; IV drugs have $100\%$ bioavailability.

Enteral Route

Medication administration through the GI tract, including Oral (PO), Sublingual, Buccal, and Rectal routes.

Parenteral Route

Administering medication by injection, bypassing the GI tract; includes IV, IM, Subcutaneous, and Intradermal.

Topical Route

Medication applied to skin or mucous membranes, such as creams, patches, eye drops, ear drops, and inhalers.

First-Pass Effect

The process where oral drugs go to the liver first and are partially broken down before reaching systemic circulation, resulting in less active drug.

Distribution

The movement of a drug from the bloodstream to body tissues, affected by blood flow, protein binding, body fat/water, and barriers.

Metabolism / Biotransformation

The chemical change of a drug by the body, occurring primarily in the liver.

Excretion

The removal of a drug from the body, primarily performed by the kidneys.

Pharmacodynamics

What the drug does to the body.

Agonist

A substance that activates a receptor and causes a response, such as Albuterol opening airways.

Antagonist

A substance that blocks a receptor and prevents a response, such as Beta blockers lowering heart rate.

Pharmacotherapeutics

The study of why a medication is being used therapeutically.

Acute Therapy

Treatment used for sudden, serious, or short-term illness, such as IV antibiotics for sepsis.

Maintenance Therapy

Medication used to control chronic conditions, such as daily blood pressure medication.

Supplemental / Replacement Therapy

Therapy that replaces something the body lacks, such as insulin for diabetes or iron for anemia.

Palliative Therapy

Care focused on comfort rather than curing a disease, such as pain medication for terminal cancer.

Supportive Therapy

Therapy that supports body function during recovery, such as IV fluids or oxygen.

Prophylactic Therapy

Medication intended to prevent illness or infection, such as antibiotics before surgery.

Empiric Therapy

Treatment started based on the likely cause before a diagnosis is confirmed, such as suspected UTI treatment.

Therapeutic Effect

The desired or intended effect of a medication.

Adverse Effects

Unwanted, harmful effects such as rash, difficulty breathing, or severe hypotension.

Therapeutic Index

The safety range between an effective dose and a toxic dose; a low index is dangerous and requires close monitoring.

Toxicity

A condition where drug levels are too high, causing harm, often due to kidney/liver disease or high doses.

Tolerance

The condition of needing more of a drug to achieve the same effect previously reached with a lower dose.

Physical Dependence

A state in which withdrawal symptoms occur if the drug is suddenly stopped.

Psychological Dependence

A craving or emotional need for a drug.

Additive Effect

An interaction where two drugs with similar effects add together ($1 + 1 = 2$).

Synergistic Effect

An interaction where two drugs together create a stronger-than-expected effect ($1 + 1 = 3$), such as alcohol combined with sedatives.

Antagonistic Effect (Interaction)

An interaction where one drug reduces or blocks the effects of another, such as an antidote.

Incompatibility

The physical or chemical reaction that prevents drugs from mixing, often observed as precipitation in IV lines.

Pharmacognosy

The study of natural drug sources, including plants, herbs, animals, and minerals.

Onset of Action

The time it takes for a drug to start working after administration.

Duration of Action

The length of time a drug's effect lasts in the body.

Peak Level

The highest concentration or effect of a drug, representing the highest risk for toxicity.

Trough Level

The lowest drug level in the body, usually measured right before the next dose.

Pharmacogenomics

The study of how genetics affects an individual's response to drugs, including effectiveness and toxicity risk.

Black Box Warning

The strongest FDA warning indicating a serious or life-threatening risk associated with a medication.

Duty

The element of malpractice where a nurse has a responsibility to care for a patient.

Breach of Duty

The element of malpractice where a nurse fails to meet the standard of care.

Causation

The element of malpractice where the nurse's specific action leads directly to patient harm.

Damage

The element of malpractice where a patient suffers actual injury or harm, such as a fall or allergic reaction.

Autonomy

The ethical principle that a patient has the right to make their own decisions, such as refusing medication.

Beneficence

The ethical principle of doing good or helping the patient.

Confidentiality

The ethical duty to keep patient information private and shared only with authorized individuals.

Justice

The ethical principle of treating all patients fairly and giving equal care.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical mandate to 'do no harm,' such as holding medication when it is unsafe.

Veracity

The ethical principle of telling the truth to the patient.

Fidelity

The ethical principle of keeping promises and following through on commitments to patient care.

Side Effect

An expected and usually mild unintended consequence of a drug, such as dry mouth or mild nausea.

Naloxone

The reversal agent/antidote used specifically for opioid overdose.

Flumazenil

The reversal agent/antidote used for Benzodiazepine overdose.

Vitamin K

The reversal agent/antidote used for Warfarin bleeding.

Protamine sulfate

The reversal agent/antidote used for Heparin overdose.

Acetylcysteine

The reversal agent/antidote used for Acetaminophen overdose.