Intro &
Regs
Regs
This schedule of controlled substances has high abuse potential and no accepted medical use in the United States (e.g., Heroin, LSD).
What is Schedule I?
The four core processes of pharmacokinetics, often remembered by the acronym ADME
What are Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion?
A severe, life-threatening systemic allergic reaction characterized by airway swelling, bronchospasm, and sudden hypotension.
What is Anaphylaxis (or Anaphylactic Shock)?
The classic "Rights" of medication administration that nurses must check before giving any drug (traditionally 5 to 10 rights).
What are Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, and Right Time?
Non-prescription medications available directly to consumers that can mask symptoms of underlying disease or interact with prescribed drugs.
What are Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs?
The federal agency responsible for approving new drugs and ensuring their safety and efficacy before they enter the US market
What is the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)?
The primary organ responsible for drug metabolism (biotransformation) in the human body.
What is the Liver?
Infections caused by an overgrowth of normal flora when broad-spectrum antibiotics eliminate protective bacteria (e.g., C. difficile or oral thrush).
What is a Superinfection?
Two unique identifiers required before administering medications to ensure the correct patient receives the drug.
What are Patient Name and Date of Birth (or Medical Record Number)?
The practice of prescribed drug use for a purpose or age group not officially approved by the FDA, yet common in pediatric or specialized practice.
What is Off-Label Use?
Pregnancy safety category system was replaced, but under the classic system, this category indicates proven human fetal risk where risks clearly outweigh any potential benefits.
What is Category X?
The time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to decrease by 50%.
What is Half-Life (t1/2)?
Abnormally low blood glucose levels (under 70 mg/dL) causing diaphoresis, confusion, and tremors, often linked to insulin or antidiabetic toxicity.
What is Hypoglycemia?
The process of comparing a patient's complete medication orders to all of the medications that the patient has been taking at every transition of care.
What is Medication Reconciliation?
The phenomenon where bacteria adapt and become resistant to the drugs designed to kill them, often driven by overprescribing or incomplete treatment courses.
What is Antimicrobial / Antibiotic Resistance?
The chemical or official name given to a drug that is not capitalized and identifies its active ingredient (e.g., acetaminophen vs. Tylenol).
What is the Generic Name?
The phenomenon where orally administered drugs are partially metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation, reducing their bioavailability.
What is the First-Pass Effect?
Development of ringing in the ears or hearing loss caused by damage to the 8th cranial nerve from drugs like gentamicin or high-dose aspirin.
What is Ototoxicity?
The step of the Nursing Process ($ADPIE$) that involves evaluating whether a drug achieved its intended therapeutic outcome or caused adverse effects.
What is Evaluation?
Dietary supplements derived from plants that are not strictly regulated by the FDA like prescription drugs and may interact with medications (e.g., St. John's Wort).
What are Herbal / Botanical Supplements?
The phase of clinical drug trials where a small number of healthy human volunteers are tested to evaluate drug safety and pharmacokinetics.
What is Phase I clinical trial?
A substance that binds to a cell receptor and initiates a biological response, mimicking the body's natural signaling molecules.
What is an Agonist?
Bone marrow suppression leading to low white blood cells, low red blood cells, and low platelets, often seen with antineoplastic (chemotherapy) drugs.
What is Blood Dyscrasia (or Pancytopenia)?
Orders given for medications to be administered only when necessary based on specific clinical conditions or patient requests
What are PRN (Pro Re Nata) orders?
The improper disposal or sharing of prescription medications (especially opioids) among friends, family, or the general public.
What is Drug Diversion?