Neuro & CNS
This neurotransmitter is 90% below normal in advanced Alzheimer’s; drugs like Donepezil stop the enzyme that breaks it down.
What is Acetylcholine?
A measurement comparing blood in the heart to blood pumped out; heart failure is often diagnosed when this is 40% or less
What is Ejection Fraction?
The most important opioid receptor for pain relief, but also responsible for respiratory depression and physical dependence.
What is the Mu (µ) receptor?
These symptoms (shaky, sweaty, confused, grumpy) occur when a diabetic patient's blood sugar drops too low.
What is Hypoglycemia?
The ability of an antibiotic to kill a microbe without harming the human host cells.
What is Selective Toxicity
A continuous tonic-clonic seizure lasting >5 minutes; a medical emergency that can cause hypoglycemia and hyperthermia.
What is status epilepticus?
A high-alert, rapid-acting IV/SubQ anticoagulant used for PE or stroke; its antidote is Protamine Sulfate.
What is Heparin?
This pure opioid antagonist is used to reverse respiratory depression in an overdose but has a shorter half-life than the opioid itself.
What is Naloxone (Narcan)?
This first-line oral drug for Type 2 Diabetes works by decreasing hepatic glucose production and does not usually cause hypoglycemia
What is Metformin?
A new infection that emerges during treatment for a primary infection, often because broad-spectrum drugs killed off "good" flora.
What is a Superinfection?
This anticonvulsant has a narrow therapeutic index (10-20 mcg/mL) and commonly causes gingival hyperplasia.
What is Phenytoin (Dilantin)?
A first-line HTN drug class (e.g., Amlodipine) that works on vascular smooth muscle to cause vasodilation.
What are Calcium Channel Blockers?
This dosing method (often a pump) provides the most consistent pain relief compared to "as-needed" (PRN) dosing.
What is Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA)?
This inhaled drug class is the first-line therapy for chronic inflammation in asthma and COPD.
What are Glucocorticoids (Corticosteroids)?
This type of antibiotic is effective against a wide variety of microbes and is used when the specific offending organism is unknown.
What is a Broad-Spectrum antibiotic?
This is the specific antidote used to reverse the sedative effects and toxicity of Benzodiazepines
What is Flumazenil (Romazicon)?
These drugs (the "statin" family) are used for high cholesterol, must be taken lifelong, and are contraindicated in pregnancy
What are HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors?
When teaching a patient about the new weight-loss/diabetes drug Wegovy, the nurse must warn them to report severe abdominal pain immediately due to the risk of this inflammatory condition.
What is Pancreatitis?
Because the Mycobacterium cell wall is hard to penetrate, treatment for this respiratory infection must last 6 to 24 months.
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
This treatment plan (often a 3-drug regimen) must be started within 1–2 hours after an accidental needle stick or blood splash.
What is Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)?
These 1st Generation antipsychotics (like Haloperidol) work by blocking Dopamine, often leading to Parkinson’s-like movement side effects.
What are dopamine Antagonists?
These "clot busters" (like Alteplase/tPA) disintegrate existing clots; nurses must perform frequent neuro assessments to check for intracranial bleeding.
What are Thrombolytics?
This class of antiemetics (e.g., Ondansetron) is the first choice for preventing nausea caused by chemotherapy.
What are Serotonin (5-HT3) Antagonists?
This TB medication can cause a harmless but startling side effect: turning urine, sweat, and tears an orange-red color.
What is Rifampin?
This term describes an antibiotic that doesn't kill bacteria directly but instead prevents them from growing or replicating.
What is Bacteriostatic?