Medications 1 (1)

Medication

Any substance that modifies body functions when taken into the body.

Pharmacology

The study of chemicals that affect the body's functioning.

Drug Nomenclature

The naming of drugs, including generic and trade names.

Drug Preparations

Different forms in which drugs are available for administration.

Drug Classifications

Groups of drugs that share similar characteristics.

Drug Indications

Reasons for administering a specific drug.

Mechanisms of Drug Action

Processes by which drugs interact with the body.

Absorption

The process of a drug entering the bloodstream from its site of entry.

Lipid Solubility

The ability of a drug to pass through cell membranes based on its lipid solubility.

Drug Dosage

The amount of a drug administered, including loading doses.

Distribution

The spread of a drug throughout the body after absorption.

Metabolism

The transformation of a drug into a new form, often occurring in the liver.

Excretion

The removal of a drug from the body after it has been broken down.

Adverse Drug Effects

Unintended and harmful effects of drug therapy.

Allergic Effect

Immune system response to a drug resulting in allergic reactions.

Drug Tolerance

Body's habituation to a drug requiring larger doses for the same effect.

Toxic Effect

Symptoms related to drug therapy that pose risks of permanent damage or death.

Idiosyncratic Effect

Unusual or peculiar responses to a drug that may be unexpected.

Drug Interactions

Occur when one drug is affected by another drug, a food, or another substance taken at the same time.

Pharmacodynamics

The process by which drugs alter cell physiology and affect the body.

Therapeutic Range

The concentration of a drug in the blood serum that produces the desired effect without causing toxicity.

Standing Order

Carried out as specified until canceled by another order.

PRN Order

Patient receives medication when requested or required.

Routes for Administering Drugs

Various methods of administering drugs such as oral, intramuscular, intravenous, etc.

Bar-code enabled Medication Administration (BCMA)

System using barcodes to ensure accurate medication administration.

Metric System

Widely accepted system for medication measurement using liters, grams, milligrams, and micrograms.

Household System

Less accurate system of measurement using household measures like teaspoons and tablespoons.

Dosage Calculations

Methods for computing drug dosages using formulas and conversions.

Medication Errors

Mistakes that occur during the process of ordering, transcribing, dispensing, administering, or monitoring medications, which are preventable and can happen with any type of drug.

Safety Measures

Precautions taken to ensure the safe preparation and administration of drugs, with importance placed on accuracy and prevention of errors.

Three Checks

A procedure involving three verification steps in medication administration - before reaching for the medication, after comparing with the drug chart, and before giving it to the patient.

Rights of Medication Administration

Principles ensuring the correct medication is given to the right patient, in the right dosage, through the right route, at the right time, with additional considerations like assessment, reason, education, refusal, documentation, and response.

Controlled Substances

Medications with a high potential for abuse or addiction, requiring strict handling procedures, including storage in locked areas and detailed record-keeping.

Nursing Process

A systematic method followed by nurses for administering medications, involving assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Dosage Calculation

Determining the correct amount of medication to administer based on the prescribed dose and the available concentration of the drug.

Nursing Diagnoses

Identification of potential health issues related to medication therapy, such as ineffective health maintenance, anxiety, constipation, or deficient knowledge.