Pharmacology and Medication Administration Practice Flashcards

Intradermal (ID) Injections
- Definition: A type of injection administered at a shallow angle just under the dermis of the skin.
- Primary Clinical Uses: Specifically utilized for allergy testing and tuberculin testing.
Intramuscular (IM) Injections
- Definition: Injections intended to insert medication into muscular tissue for the purpose of delayed absorption.
- Z-Track Method Procedure
  - Aspiration Complication: If blood appears in the syringe upon aspiration during a Z-track injection, the professional should pull the needle out at the angle of entry.
  - Post-Injection Steps: Once the medication has been expelled, the needle should be removed quickly, and the skin should be released (let go of) quickly.
Injection Sites and Landmarks
- Vastus Lateralis: Located in the mid-portion of the thigh. This is established as the preferred injection site for infants and young children.
- Ventrogluteal: Located in the lateral, outside position of the hip.
- Dorsogluteal: Located in the upper, outer portion of the hip.
- Deltoid: Located in the upper, outer arm.
Needle Safety Protocols
- Recapping Policy: After an injection has been administered, a needle should never be recapped after use.

Dispense as Written (DAW)
- When a provider marks a prescription with the "DAW" designation, it dictates that only the specific medication prescribed may be given to the patient, prohibiting generic substitution.
The Seven Rights of Medication Administration
- A critical framework for safety, though "Right Provider" is explicitly noted as not being one of the Seven Rights.
- The term "Right Technique" refers specifically to the method by which the medication is administered.
Scope of Practice for Medical Assistants
- Medical assistants generally do not administer medications via the Intravenous (IV) route.

Oral and Mucosal Routes
- Sublingual: Involves placing the medication under the tongue for fast absorption.
- Buccal: Involves placing or spraying medication in the mouth specifically between the gum and the cheek.
Topical and Transdermal Routes
- Topical: Applied directly to the surface of the skin.
- Transdermal: Delivery via an adhesive patch placed on the skin which contains time-released medication.
Respiratory and Specialized Routes
- Inhalation: Medication that is breathed in through the nose or mouth.
- Intranasal: Administered directly through the nares.
- Vaginal: Delivered directly into the vaginal vault through manual insertion of an applicator.
- Otic: Delivered directly into the ear canal.
- Intrathecal: Delivered into the spinal canal via injection or infusion.
- Intravenous (IV): Delivered directly into a vein through injection or infusion.
- Subcutaneous (SC/SQ): An injection used to insert liquid medication just below the cutaneous skin layer.

Weight Conversion
- A person weighing $125\,pounds$ weighs approximately $56.82\,kilograms$ .
- Calculation: $\frac{125\,lb}{2.2\,lb/kg} \approx 56.82\,kg$
Dosage Calculation (Benadryl Elixir)
- Scenario: A provider prescribes $1500\,mg$ of Benadryl elixir. The available supply is concentrated at $500\,mg$ per $25\,mL$ .
- Calculation: $\frac{1500\,mg}{500\,mg} \times 25\,mL = 3 \times 25\,mL = 75\,mL$
- Result: The patient should be given $75\,mL$ of the elixir.

Cardiac and Renal Medications
- Diuretic: A medication that increases the production of urine and decreases circulating fluid volume. It achieves this by increasing renal blood flow to improve filtration and by decreasing the reabsorption of sodium.
- Antiarrhythmic: Medications used to maintain the cardiac electrical rhythm through a balance of chemical activity.
Neurological and Psychotropic Medications
- Antidepressant: Includes Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, such as isocarboxazid (Marplan).
- Antitussive: Acts on the central and peripheral nervous systems to decrease the cough reflex.
Symptom Management Medications
- Anti-inflammatory: Used to treat pain and swelling; examples include naproxen, aspirin, and ibuprofen.
- Antiemetic: Blocks the effects of dopamine, serotonin, or histamine release to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting.
- Expectorant: Thins mucus to make it easier for the patient to cough up and clear secretions from the airway.
Hormonal and Controlled Substances
- Contraceptive Examples: Enovid-E 21; Ortho-Novum 10/11–21; Ortho-Novum 10/11–28; Triphasil-21.
- Schedule II Controlled Substances: An example includes Morphine.

Disease Identification
- Varicella zoster: More commonly known as chicken pox.
Emergency Interventions and Safety
- Anaphylactic Shock: This is a severe reaction for which medication should only be administered when a provider is available nearby to respond to such an exhibition.
- Office Emergency Kits: These kits are least likely to include Penicillin.

Acupuncture: A practice involving extremely thin, sterilized needles (occasionally electrified with low voltage) inserted at specific points along a network of 12 body meridians (channels) to connect organ levels to the skin.
Homeopathy: A 200-year-old system of medicine founded on the "Law of Similars."
Naturopathy: A multidisciplinary healthcare approach centered on the belief that the human body possesses the power to heal itself.
Yoga: A discipline incorporating breath control, meditation, and stretching/strengthening exercises designed to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Aromatherapy: A therapeutic treatment utilizing essential oils extracted from plants.
Massage: Involves a wide range of approaches using hands to manipulate muscles and soft tissues. It is considered a powerful treatment for:
- Stress-related conditions such as insomnia, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Health conditions such as sciatica and depression.