NR293- Pharmacology- Week 1/Unit 1- Nursing Application: Introduction t
Pharmacology
1. A nurse reviewing a medication list sees that a These medications oppose each
client is on albuterol (beta-agonist) for asthma, and other.
on propranolol (beta-antagonist) for migraines.
The nurse understands which of the following? Because these medications both
work on the beta receptor, one
These medications oppose each other. being an agonist (turns the re-
These medications work synergistically. ceptor on) and the other an an-
These medications have an additive effect. tagonist (blocks the receptor),
These medications should work well together. they oppose each other.
An additive effect is when two
similar drugs are taken together
to achieve the same degree of
therapeutic effect while reduc-
ing the specific adverse effects
of one particular drug; this is
not the effect with these med-
ications which oppose each oth-
er. The medications do not work
well together. They oppose each
other, so they do not work syn-
ergistically.
2. The nurse medicated a client with morphine 4 mg It may be about time for another
intravenously (IV) about four hours ago. Under- dose of the medication, but the
standing the pharmacokinetics of this medication, client should still be experienc-
including a half-life of 3 hours, which statement is ing some relief.
accurate?
The half-life of morphine is
Morphine does not work for pain. about 3 hours. This means that
The morphine should last about 15 hours, which half of it has been metabolized,
, NR293- Pharmacology- Week 1/Unit 1- Nursing Application: Introduction t
Pharmacology
means that the client is not going to need another but there still should be some
dose for a while. pain relief noted. It is, however,
The morphine stopped working an hour ago and, about time for another dose de-
because of its half-life, the client should have got- pending on the client's level of
ten more pain medication at that time. pain.
It may be about time for another dose of the med-
ication, but the client should still be experiencing The morphine did not stop
some relief. working an hour ago; it will con-
tinue to work for approximate-
ly 6 hours, although at a lower
rate. The morphine does not last
15 hours and morphine does
work for pain.
3. The nurse is administering medication to an older Excretion is decreased due to
adult client. The nurse understands that age-re- fewer intact nephrons.
lated changes can affect pharmacokinetics. Which Absorption is affected by de-
statements are accurate about medication and old- creased gastric pH.
er adults? Select all that apply.
Fewer nephrons cause a de-
Excretion is decreased due to fewer intact crease in excretion. Absorption
nephrons. is affected by a decrease in gas-
Metabolism is decreased due to more hepatic tric pH.
blood flow.
Decreased lean body mass creates an increase in Metabolism is decreased due to
distribution. less hepatic blood flow. A de-
Absorption is affected by decreased gastric pH. crease in lean body mass and
Distribution is increased because of a decrease in total body water causes a de-
percentage of total body water. crease in distribution.
4. Nursing Assessment in Pharmacology Key Factors:
-Noticing allergies, medications,
Pharmacology
1. A nurse reviewing a medication list sees that a These medications oppose each
client is on albuterol (beta-agonist) for asthma, and other.
on propranolol (beta-antagonist) for migraines.
The nurse understands which of the following? Because these medications both
work on the beta receptor, one
These medications oppose each other. being an agonist (turns the re-
These medications work synergistically. ceptor on) and the other an an-
These medications have an additive effect. tagonist (blocks the receptor),
These medications should work well together. they oppose each other.
An additive effect is when two
similar drugs are taken together
to achieve the same degree of
therapeutic effect while reduc-
ing the specific adverse effects
of one particular drug; this is
not the effect with these med-
ications which oppose each oth-
er. The medications do not work
well together. They oppose each
other, so they do not work syn-
ergistically.
2. The nurse medicated a client with morphine 4 mg It may be about time for another
intravenously (IV) about four hours ago. Under- dose of the medication, but the
standing the pharmacokinetics of this medication, client should still be experienc-
including a half-life of 3 hours, which statement is ing some relief.
accurate?
The half-life of morphine is
Morphine does not work for pain. about 3 hours. This means that
The morphine should last about 15 hours, which half of it has been metabolized,
, NR293- Pharmacology- Week 1/Unit 1- Nursing Application: Introduction t
Pharmacology
means that the client is not going to need another but there still should be some
dose for a while. pain relief noted. It is, however,
The morphine stopped working an hour ago and, about time for another dose de-
because of its half-life, the client should have got- pending on the client's level of
ten more pain medication at that time. pain.
It may be about time for another dose of the med-
ication, but the client should still be experiencing The morphine did not stop
some relief. working an hour ago; it will con-
tinue to work for approximate-
ly 6 hours, although at a lower
rate. The morphine does not last
15 hours and morphine does
work for pain.
3. The nurse is administering medication to an older Excretion is decreased due to
adult client. The nurse understands that age-re- fewer intact nephrons.
lated changes can affect pharmacokinetics. Which Absorption is affected by de-
statements are accurate about medication and old- creased gastric pH.
er adults? Select all that apply.
Fewer nephrons cause a de-
Excretion is decreased due to fewer intact crease in excretion. Absorption
nephrons. is affected by a decrease in gas-
Metabolism is decreased due to more hepatic tric pH.
blood flow.
Decreased lean body mass creates an increase in Metabolism is decreased due to
distribution. less hepatic blood flow. A de-
Absorption is affected by decreased gastric pH. crease in lean body mass and
Distribution is increased because of a decrease in total body water causes a de-
percentage of total body water. crease in distribution.
4. Nursing Assessment in Pharmacology Key Factors:
-Noticing allergies, medications,
