CORRECT Answers
Pharmacokinetics Changes that occur to the drug while it is inside the body. Movement of the drug
particles inside the body
Pharmacotherapeutics The desired, therapeutic effect of the drug. What the expected outcome for the
taken drug
Pharmacodynmics The effects of the drug on the body. How the body changes in reaction to the
drug
Contraindications/Precautions The conditions under which the drug should not be used or must be used
carefully with monitoring
Adverse effects The unintended and usually undesired effects that may occur with the use of the
drug
Drug interactions The effects that may occur when the drug is given along with another drug, food,
or substance
Health status Chronic medical conditions, acute conditions, current meds, allergies, lab values,
vitals. Assess functioning of body system and organs. Components of complete
drug
Life span and gender Age & gender. Muscle mass, weight, activity/exercise, sleep/rest. Patients
developmental level, ability to read and write, ability to understand directions.
Needed to plan pt eduction on drug therapy including the nurses approach and
teaching methods.
Lifestyle, diet and habits Occupation, finances, substance use exercise, supplements, complimentary meds,
tobacco/nicotine/alcohol/iliicit drugs/caffeine.
The nurse ask questions about pt lifestyle because they can use a potential effect
on drug therapy
Environment Where will the drug be administered
*Most drug therapy now occurs outside of hospitals. Need to educate them
before discharge. May give clues to the pt adherence to the drug regimen or to
potential risks from the therapy. General factors to assess include cleanliness,
lighting, adequate heat, water, and refrigeration.
Culture & inherited traits Cultural beliefs, some don't believe in meds. Give them the respect to do
unharmful practices. Genetic trains may affect kinetics/dynamics. Worry about the
pt safety at all times first. Consider beliefs second, as long as beliefs not harming
themselves. Affects the patients acceptance of prescribed drug therapy. Religions
restrictions or cultural practices may affect the patients acceptance of drug
, Nurse management of drug therapy The process of planning and implementing actions that will maximize the
therapeutic effects and minimize the adverse effects of a drug. Nurse considers
core drug knowledge and core pt variables and determines potential interactions
between them. Educate pt and family
Assessment Nursing process (5):
Diagnosis& outcome identification
Planning
Intervention
Evaluation
85% Approximately __ % of adults 65 and older are receiving one prescription per
50% month.
Almost ___ % of adults aged 65 and up are receiving 3 or more prescriptions a
month
Core drug knowledge The first step for a nurse is to identify the ___________ relevant to a patients drug
therapy. How much do they know?
Prototype Drug Typical of a medication within a drug class.
usually the first drug of a class
Drug has similar characteristics to all drugs in class of drugs
Provides systematic way to increase knowledge of medication
Pt interview and history 3 sources of assessment data:
Physical exam
Medical record
Core patient variables Assessment of the _______________ also allows the nurse to predict to some
degree the future needs of the patient
Circulatory systems Patients who are very active and who exercise are likely to have better
_ _________ than those who are inactive
lifestyle choices _ ____________ affect the distribution of drugs within the body
Physical examination Focuses on health status, life span and gender. Must be comprehensive. Physical
assessment of each body system to provide info about disease and illness. Vital
signs for baseline date. Height and weight.
Medical record Provides information about the patients health status, lifestyle, diet, habits, and
environment. Areas that are specifically important include labs and diagnostic test
results. Nurse must review all diagnostic findings paying special attention to those
findings relevant to body systems at risk for adverse effects from currently used
drugs. Drug history.
Kidney problems Increase of creatinine =?
Nursing Outcomes Determine the desired results. Based on date collected. Specific to the patients
drug regimen.