Pharmacokinetics
The process by which a medication enters the bloodstream.
What is absorption?
This must be verified before administering two medications through the same IV line.
What is IV compatibility?
This medication class is commonly administered IV to treat severe bacterial infections, including sepsis.
What are antibiotics?
These medications carry an increased risk of significant patient harm when administered incorrectly.
What are high-alert medications?
The nurse must review this patient information before administering an IV antibiotic to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.
What are allergies?
This route delivers medication directly into the bloodstream without an absorption phase.
What is the intravenous (IV) route?
These are visible signs that two IV medications or solutions may be incompatible.
What are cloudiness, color changes, gas bubbles, or precipitates?
Morphine, fentanyl, and hydromorphone belong to this medication class.
What are opioids?
This high-risk medication class can cause respiratory depression and hypotension.
What are opioids?
These nursing priorities help reduce the risk of nephrotoxicity with certain IV antiviral medications.
What is monitor kidney function and hydration?
The process by which medication travels through the bloodstream to tissues and target organs.
What is distribution?
This is the IV solution specified in the lecture for administering IV phenytoin.
What is normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride)?
Midazolam, lorazepam, and diazepam belong to this medication class used for sedation, anxiety, or seizures.
What are benzodiazepines?
This opioid antagonist reverses opioid effects by blocking opioid receptors.
What is naloxone (Narcan)?
Before administering an intermittent IV piggyback antibiotic, the nurse must perform this safety check.
What is verify compatibility with the primary IV fluid?
These two organs are primarily responsible for medication metabolism and excretion, respectively.
What are the liver and kidneys?
Blood products should not be administered with this dextrose-containing IV solution.
What is D5W?
Acyclovir, ganciclovir, and remdesivir belong to this medication class that inhibits viral replication.
What are antivirals?
This serious complication may occur when too much insulin is administered.
What is hypoglycemia?
A patient receiving an IV antibiotic suddenly develops shortness of breath, facial swelling, and a blood pressure of 78/40 mmHg. Explain the likely complication, its underlying pathophysiology, and the nurse's priority interventions.
Anaphylaxis.Anaphylaxis is a severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction that can trigger mast-cell mediator release, causing vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, airway swelling, and bronchoconstriction. These changes can rapidly produce hypotension, respiratory distress, and shock.Priority interventions: Stop the antibiotic immediately, activate the emergency response, assess and support airway and breathing, administer oxygen as indicated, and prepare/administer epinephrine promptly according to emergency protocols and authorized scope. Continue monitoring vital signs and support circulation.
A patient with impaired liver or kidney function has an increased risk for this complication because medications may accumulate.
What is increased medication toxicity?
Combining these two substances can cause precipitation in an IV solution.
What are calcium and bicarbonate?
According to the lecture, this type of insulin is used for IV administration in diabetic ketoacidosis.
What is regular insulin?
A patient receiving IV morphine becomes difficult to arouse and develops slow breathing. This is the priority complication to recognize.
What is respiratory depression?
Following a medication error, the nurse documents patient findings and care in the chart and handles the incident report in this manner.
What is complete an incident report separate from the medical record?