Pharmacology EXAM 1 Study Guide

Pharmacology (Reading assignment: chap. 1,2,4,5) Introduction A. Basic terms • Nurses use pharmaco-therapeutics daily o Understand pharmacology o Substance use- causes cellular changes and then cause a o Reaction-(hope) be a positive reaction • Pharmacokinetics: what the body does to the drug • Pharmacodynamics: what drug does to the body • Understand side effects/adverse reactions • And drug chemistries such as: half-lives/therapeutic index B. Drug properties • Efficacy: maximal response drug can produce • Potency: index of how much to give for desired response • Drug (Characteristics): (3) o Effectiveness- Drug does what it is intended to do  Most important properties  U.S. Laws require to be proven effective before released for use o Safety Does no harm, even if given at high doses for a long time (there is no drug safe at that level)  Proper dosing and selection should reduce the adverse effects o Selectivity only produces the outcomes intended. There are no side effects  Know how to administer and signs to watch for