What's In A Name
This name describes the exact molecular structure of a drug.
What is the chemical name?
An unintended and harmful response to a medication at a normal dose.
What is an adverse drug reaction (ADR)?
This organ is the primary site for drug metabolism.
What is the liver?
A common issue where patients take multiple medications.
What is polypharmacy?
The primary goal of medication therapy at end of life.
What is comfort?
This is the standardized, nonproprietary name nurses use in practice.
What is the generic name?
This life-threatening allergic reaction includes airway swelling and hypotension.
What is anaphylaxis?
This organ is responsible for drug excretion.
What are the kidneys?
This age-related change increases drug half-life.
Decreased liver/kidney function
These medications are often discontinued because they no longer provide benefit.
Preventive meds (statins, vitamins)
This name is created by pharmaceutical companies for marketing.
What is the brand name?
This safety process compares current medications with new orders during transitions.
What is medication reconciliation?
How does decreased kidney function affect drug levels?
Drugs accumulate → increased toxicity
Older adults are more sensitive to this class of medications, increasing fall risk.
Sedatives/benzodiazepines/opioids
This route is commonly used when patients cannot swallow.
What is sublingual, subcutaneous, or transdermal?
Why do nurses prioritize generic names when administering medications?
They reduce confusion, ensure consistency, and improve patient safety.
Name two common medication errors.
Wrong dose, wrong patient, wrong route, wrong time
Why does body fat percentage affect drug distribution?
Lipophilic drugs store in fat → prolonged effects
Name one strategy to reduce ADRs in older adults.
Start low, go slow
Name one medication used for dyspnea at end of life.
Opioids (e.g., morphine)
Name one benefit and one risk of OTC medications.
Benefit: accessible, cost-effective
Risk: misuse, drug interactions, delayed care
What is one nursing strategy to prevent medication errors?
Use 6 rights, barcode scanning, double checks
This factor explains why some patients metabolize drugs faster or slower due to DNA differences.
What is genetics/pharmacogenomics?
Why are older adults at higher risk for drug toxicity?
Reduced metabolism/excretion + increased sensitivity
A patient takes 10 medications and reports dizziness and falls. What is the nurse’s best action?
Perform medication reconciliation and review for polypharmacy