Unit 9
Medication Administration &
Pharmacology
1. PHARMACOLOGY OVERVIEW
Definition
Pharmacology = the study of drugs, their effects on the body, and how the
body processes them.
Nurses must understand:
• drug actions
• drug interactions
• food–drug interactions
• effects on diagnostic tests
• safe administration
Healthcare Team Roles
Role Responsibility
Physician / NP Prescribes medication
Pharmacist Prepares and dispenses
Nurse Administers and monitors
,Patient Reports effects and follows instructions
NCLEX Tip
Even if a physician orders the medication, the nurse is legally responsible
for administering it safely.
If an order seems unsafe → Do NOT administer it.
2. DRUG CLASSIFICATION & NAMING
Drugs are identified by two main names.
Generic Name
The official scientific name.
Example:
• ibuprofen
NCLEX mostly uses generic names.
Trade (Brand) Name
The company’s marketing name.
Example:
, • Advil
• Motrin
Example
Generic Brand
acetaminophen Tylenol
ibuprofen Advil
diphenhydramine Benadryl
Memory Tip
Think:
Generic = General name
Trade = Trademark
DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS
Medications are classified by:
1. Body System
Example:
• anticonvulsants → nervous system
, 2. Symptom Treated
Example:
• antihypertensives → high blood pressure
3. Drug Effect
Example:
• analgesics → pain relief
Common Generic Drug Endings
Drug Ending Drug Type Example
-pril ACE inhibitor lisinopril
-olol Beta blocker metoprolol
-statin Cholesterol drug atorvastatin
-cillin Antibiotic amoxicillin
-prazole Acid reducer omeprazole
NCLEX Tip
Learning drug suffixes helps identify drug classes quickly.
Medication Administration &
Pharmacology
1. PHARMACOLOGY OVERVIEW
Definition
Pharmacology = the study of drugs, their effects on the body, and how the
body processes them.
Nurses must understand:
• drug actions
• drug interactions
• food–drug interactions
• effects on diagnostic tests
• safe administration
Healthcare Team Roles
Role Responsibility
Physician / NP Prescribes medication
Pharmacist Prepares and dispenses
Nurse Administers and monitors
,Patient Reports effects and follows instructions
NCLEX Tip
Even if a physician orders the medication, the nurse is legally responsible
for administering it safely.
If an order seems unsafe → Do NOT administer it.
2. DRUG CLASSIFICATION & NAMING
Drugs are identified by two main names.
Generic Name
The official scientific name.
Example:
• ibuprofen
NCLEX mostly uses generic names.
Trade (Brand) Name
The company’s marketing name.
Example:
, • Advil
• Motrin
Example
Generic Brand
acetaminophen Tylenol
ibuprofen Advil
diphenhydramine Benadryl
Memory Tip
Think:
Generic = General name
Trade = Trademark
DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS
Medications are classified by:
1. Body System
Example:
• anticonvulsants → nervous system
, 2. Symptom Treated
Example:
• antihypertensives → high blood pressure
3. Drug Effect
Example:
• analgesics → pain relief
Common Generic Drug Endings
Drug Ending Drug Type Example
-pril ACE inhibitor lisinopril
-olol Beta blocker metoprolol
-statin Cholesterol drug atorvastatin
-cillin Antibiotic amoxicillin
-prazole Acid reducer omeprazole
NCLEX Tip
Learning drug suffixes helps identify drug classes quickly.
