Week 1
A patient with respirations of 8 and pinpoint pupils may need a quick administration of this medication. What should the nurse monitor?
What are the concepts of Pharmacokinetics?
What are the most common causes of Peptic Ulcer disease?
H. Pylori, and NSAID use
What is the difference between Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen? What is the black box warning and dosing considerations for Acetaminophen?
Acetaminophen is a CENTRAL ACTING drug whereas Ibuprofen is not. Acetaminophen is the number one LIVER TOXIC drug, while IBUPROFEN is more associated with KIDNEY FAILURE, GI BLEEDS, and THROMBUS events. The black box warning for ACETAMINOPHEN IS LIVER TOXICITY, especially if your daily dose EXCEEDS 3000-4000 mg daily.
What is our big gun anesthetic that can cause complete anesthesia without use from any other drugs? What is the antidote?
Isoflurane. It is a general anesthetic and our primary anesthetic that can cause complete anesthesia. Our antidote is OXYGEN, we have to use oxygen to breathe off the effects of the drugs.
Like our other anesthetics, it also tanks our vitals. Can cause malignant hyperthermia.
This anticonvulsant medication is used for neuropathic pain and may cause respiratory depression, depression, and seizures if stopped abruptly
When do we draw trough levels and peak levels?
We pull TROUGH levels 30 minutes before giving the next dose of the drug (this should be when the drug is at it's LOWEST THERAPEUTIC POINT). We draw PEAK levels 30 minutes- 1 hour after dosing.
When comparing two drugs such as morphine and fentanyl, how would a nurse describe the concepts of efficacy and potency?
Efficacy: The efficacy for these drugs is the same. They both kill pain at the maximal level.
However, the potency is different. It takes way less fentanyl to have a therapeutic effect. That would make it MORE potent.
True or false: Disulfiram is commonly prescribed for active Alcohol withdrawals?
False. Benzos are our drug of choice for active alcohol withdrawals. Disulfiram is used as a DETERRENT to not drink, as you get gnarly side effects.
A nurse is caring for a patient who is post-op following a hip replacement. The nurse recognizes that the patient is subscribed morphine, but has an RR of 10. What should the nurse do?
Hold the medication. Administering morphine while a patient has an already low respiratory rate (less than 12) runs the risk of causing further respiratory depression and death.
This sodium channel blocker can be used for both anesthetic purposes and antidysrhythmic purposes. What should we monitor for?
Lidocaine. Has the ability to TANK all of our vitals. Watch for bradycardia, and respiratory depression specifically.