Medications stage 1

stage 1 medications

National Safety and Quality Health Standard (NSQHS)

The standard requires:

• Health service organisations to have safe practice mechanisms in place

• Accurate recording of medication history – available through episode of care

• Support of clinical workforce for safe practices

• Complete list of patient’s medicines to receiving clinician and to patient when handing over care or changing meds

• Patients are informed about their options, risks and responsibilities for medication management plan.

10 standard of practice for enrolled nurses

1. Functions in accordance with the law, policies and procedures affecting EN practice

2. Practices nursing in a way that ensures the rights, confidentiality, dignity and respect of people are upheld.

3. Accepts accountability and responsibility for own actions.

4. Interprets information from a range of sources in order to contribute to planning appropriate care

5. Collaborates with the RN, the person receiving care and the healthcare team when developing plans of care

6. Provides skilled and timely care to people whilst promoting their independence and involvement in care decision–making

7. Communicates and uses documentation to inform and report care

8. Provides nursing care that is informed by research evidence

9. Practices within safety and quality improvement guidelines and standards

10. Engages in the ongoing development of self as a professional

Pharmacology

study of how medicines interact with the body to produce therapeutic or adverse effects.

Drug names

Chemical Name: Describes the molecular structure of the drug.

Generic Name: The standard, internationally recognised name of the drug. It is used in clinical practice and medication charts.

Brand Name: The name given by the pharmaceutical company. A single drug may have multiple brand names.

Drug Classifications

Drugs can be grouped in several ways:

• By therapeutic use: The condition or symptom the drug is used to treat.
  Examples: analgesics, antihypertensives

• By mechanism of action: How the drug works in the body.
  Examples: beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors

• By body system affected: The main system or organ the drug acts on.
  Examples: respiratory drugs, cardiovascular drugs

Binders

Help hold the tablet or capsule together by providing structural integrity.

Fillers

Add bulk to the formulation, making it easier to handle and administer when the active ingredient is present in very small amounts.

Disintegrant

Assist in breaking the tablet apart in the digestive system to allow the drug to dissolve and be absorbed.

Preservatives

Prevent microbial growth and extend the shelf life of the medication, especially in liquid or multi-dose products.

Stabilisers

Help maintain the drug’s chemical and physical stability to ensure it remains effective and safe over its shelf life.

Side effect

An expected, often mild, secondary effect

Adverse reaction

A harmful, unintended response

Contraindication

A reason a drug should not be used

Half-life

Time it takes for half the drug to be eliminated

Potency

Strength of the drug’s effect at a given dose

Efficacy

The drug’s ability to produce a desired result

Bioavailability

Proportion of drug that reaches circulation

PRN

‘As needed’ administration

BD

Twice a day

TDS

Three times a day

QID

Four times a day

PRN

As needed

STAT

Immediately

PO

By mouth

IV

Intravenous

11 Rights

Right prescription - Ensure a valid, complete prescription.

Right medication - Confirm the correct drug name and form.

Right dose - Accurately calculate or check the dosage.

Right expiration date - Ensure the medication is not expired.

Right route - Confirm the correct method of administration.

Right time - Follow scheduled times or PRN intervals.

Right patient - Use two patient identifiers.

Right reason - Understand why the patient is receiving the medication.

Right documentation - Record immediately and accurately.

Right response - Monitor for the expected therapeutic effect.

Right to refuse - Respect the patient's autonomy and document refusal.

Enteral Route

This method involves delivering medication through the gastrointestinal tract. 

• Oral - Swallowed and absorbed through the digestive tract

• Sublingual - Placed under the tongue for quick absorption into the bloodstream

• Buccal - Placed between the gum and cheek to dissolve and absorb locally or systemically

• Rectal - Inserted into the rectum, useful for patients unable to take oral medications

Parenteral Route

This method involves injecting medication directly into body tissues. 

• Intravenous (IV) - Injected directly into a vein for immediate effect

• Intramuscular (IM) - Injected into muscle tissue for slower absorption than IV but faster than oral

• Subcutaneous (SC) - Injected into the fatty layer beneath the skin for slow, steady absorption

Topical Route

medications are applied directly to the skin, mucous membranes, or into the eye. 

Pharmacodynamics

The effects of a drug on the body. It focuses on the mechanisms of action, including how drugs bind to receptors, activate cellular responses, and produce therapeutic or adverse effects.

Pharmacokinetics

refers to what the body does to the drug—including processes such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Drug Targets

• Receptors

• Ion Channels

• Enzymes

• Transporters (Carriers)

Receptors

roteins that detect chemical signals and trigger cellular responses. Drugs that interact with receptors are either:

• Agonists – mimic the action of natural substances and activate the receptor (switch on).

• Antagonists – bind to the receptor and prevent activation (switch off).

Ion Channels

allow the movement of ions (like calcium or sodium) across cell membranes. Drugs can block these channels to reduce or prevent ion flow, thereby altering cell excitability or signalling.

Enzymes

Enzymes catalyse chemical reactions in the body. Drugs that act on enzymes usually function as inhibitors, preventing the enzyme from carrying out its normal function.

Transporters (Carriers)

move substances (such as neurotransmitters or ions) across cell membranes. Drugs that act on transporters typically inhibit their function, thereby altering the availability of those substances.

drug–receptor actions Agonist

Activates the receptor to produce a response.

drug–receptor actions Antagonist

Blocks the receptor and prevents a response.

drug–receptor actions Partial Agonist

Binds to the receptor but produces a weaker or partial response

Potency

The amount of drug needed to produce an effect.

Efficacy

The maximum effect a drug can produce, regardless of dose.

Therapeutic Window

The range between the minimum effective dose and the toxic dose

Drug Actions - Stimulate physiological activity

Some drugs stimulate cellular activity by mimicking the body's natural substances.

Drug Actions - Inhibit activity

Other drugs inhibit or block normal activity by preventing receptor activation.

Drug Actions - Replace missing substances

Some drugs replace essential substances that the body no longer produces or produces in insufficient amounts.

Drug Actions - Destroy abnormal cells

Some drugs target and destroy harmful cells, such as bacteria or cancer cells.