DSCC NURSING EXAM THREE | LATEST
2025 UPDATE ON GROWTH, HYGIENE,
THERAPY & MEDICATIONS
◉What are automated dispensers? ✓ Answer: -PYXIS, OMNICELL
-password-accessible locked cart
-computerized tracking
-can combine stock and unit doses
◉What are self-administration medications? (SAM) ✓ Answer: -individual containers
-kept at patient's bedside
-saline nose spray
-harmless medications only
◉What are pharmacokinetics? ✓ Answer: -what happens to the drug in the body
-four processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
◉What is absorption? 1st process ✓ Answer: -movement of drug into the blood stream
-factors affecting absorption:
1. route of administration
2. drug solubility (time-release, enteric coated)
3. pH/ionization (more acid-readily absorbed in stomach; less acid-> takes long to
absorb)
4. blood flow (more flow->quicker gets in system)
◉What is distribution? 2nd process ✓ Answer: -drug transport to tissues and organs
-factors affecting distribution:
1. local blood flow
2. membrane permeability
3. protein-binding capacity
◉What is protein-binding capacity? ✓ Answer: -a drug's tendency to bind to plasma
proteins in blood
-affects distribution
-some molecules bind to plasma proteins and the remainder will be "free"
-can be a problem with toxicity if have low protein/albumin levels and a high protein
binding medication
◉What is metabolism? 3rd process ✓ Answer: -biotransformation: chemical conversion
of drug
-factors affecting metabolism:
,1. liver function (eliminate more slowly)
2. health/disease status (severely ill, hard time converting)
3. first-pass effect (oral meds go through liver first, which almost inactivates the
medication) (why oral meds are usually higher in concentration than parenteral meds)
◉What is excretion? 4th process ✓ Answer: -elimination of the drug
-factors affecting excretion:
1. organ function (especially the kidneys, liver, and lungs)
◉What are pharmacodynamics? ✓ Answer: -how does the drug affect the body
-primary effects (reason you are taking the drug; benadryl decreases allergy symptoms)
-secondary effects (side effects; helps with sleep)
◉What are the therapeutic ranges? ✓ Answer: -peak level: higher concentration; after
drug is admin.
-trough level: low concentration; right before next dose
-therapeutic level: level of concentration to achieve what trying to achieve
◉What is biological half-life? ✓ Answer: -time it takes for half of the medication to be
eliminated from system
◉What does the concentration of active drug-effectiveness depend on? ✓ Answer: -the
concentration at the intended site
◉What is a peak and trough? ✓ Answer: -serum sample
◉When would you complete a trough draw? ✓ Answer: -30 minutes before next does
◉When would you complete the peak draw? ✓ Answer: -oral meds: 2-3 hours after
administration
-IM meds: 2-4 hours after administration
-IV meds: 30 mins-1 hour after administration
◉What are some factors affects pharmacokinetics? ✓ Answer: -age (younger systems
immature)
-body mass
-gender
-pregnancy
-environment
-route of administration
-timing of administration
-fluids
-pathological states (circulatory or hepatic/renal function)
-genetic factors
-psychological factors (placebo effect)
,◉What are primary effects of drugs? ✓ Answer: -therapeutic effects
-predicted effects
-intended effects
-desired effects
-why the drug was prescribed
◉What are palliative effects? ✓ Answer: -relieves the signs and symptoms of a disease
but have no effect on the disease itself
-pain meds for a cancer patient on hospice care
◉What are supportive effects? ✓ Answer: -support the integrity of body functions until
other medications or treatments can become effective
-blood transfusions
◉What are substitutive effects? ✓ Answer: -replace either body fluids or a chemical
required by the body for improved function
-supplements
◉What are chemotherapeutic effects? ✓ Answer: -destroy disease-producing
microorganisms or body cells, such as antibiotics and anti-neoplastic drugs
-anything entering the body to destroy something harmful
◉What are restorative effects? ✓ Answer: -return the body to or maintain the body at
optimal levels of health
-OCT vitamins or minerals
◉What are secondary effects of drugs? ✓ Answer: -unintended
-non-therapeutic
-can be predictable, harmless, or harmful
◉What are types of secondary effects of drugs? ✓ Answer: -side effects can range from
mild to severve
-adverse reactions are considered harmful (may need medical treatment; life
threatening)
-toxic reactions are dangerous and can damage organs (overdosing)
-allergic reactions
-idiosyncratic reactions (med should cause sedation but causes agitation; usually in
older adults and younger children)
◉Measurement systems? ✓ Answer: - 1 kg = 1,000 g / 2.2 lbs
- 1 g = 1,000 mg
- 1 mg = 1,000 mcg
- 1 tsp = 5 mL
- 1 tbs = 15 mL
, - 1 oz = 30 mL
- 1 cup = 240 mL / 8 oz
- 1 lbs = 16 oz
- 1 in = 2.54 cm
◉What is dimensional analysis? ✓ Answer: A way to analyze and solve problems using
the units, or dimensions, of the measurements
◉What are some assessments for middle adulthood? ✓ Answer: -lipid panel
-blood glucose
-clinical breast and pelvic examination
-annual or biannual mammogram for women
-digital rectal exam for prostate evaluation
-annual eye exam
-colorectal cancer screening
-osteoporosis screening
◉What are some interventions for middle adulthood? ✓ Answer: -nutrition (needs may
change, fixed income, dental health)
-hormone replacement therapy (risks > benefits)
-exercise (balance may change, routine altered for safety)
-immunizations (flu, pneumonia, shingles >60, pertussis)
◉Demographics for older adults? ✓ Answer: -fastest growing age group
-by 2060, they will make up 24% of population
-population pyramid (fewer young, more old)
◉What are some perspectives on aging? ✓ Answer: -life expectancy (measured at birth
and measured at 65)
-migration and distribution of age groups
-percentage of total population
-lifespan perspectives (genes, behaviors, environment)
◉Housing options for older adults? ✓ Answer: -aging in place
-age-friendly residences
-age-friendly communities
-naturally occurring retirement communities
-retirement communities
-continuing care retirement communities
-assisted living facilities
-nursing homes
◉What is aging in place? ✓ Answer: -persons live in their own residences and recieve
support services for their changing needs
2025 UPDATE ON GROWTH, HYGIENE,
THERAPY & MEDICATIONS
◉What are automated dispensers? ✓ Answer: -PYXIS, OMNICELL
-password-accessible locked cart
-computerized tracking
-can combine stock and unit doses
◉What are self-administration medications? (SAM) ✓ Answer: -individual containers
-kept at patient's bedside
-saline nose spray
-harmless medications only
◉What are pharmacokinetics? ✓ Answer: -what happens to the drug in the body
-four processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
◉What is absorption? 1st process ✓ Answer: -movement of drug into the blood stream
-factors affecting absorption:
1. route of administration
2. drug solubility (time-release, enteric coated)
3. pH/ionization (more acid-readily absorbed in stomach; less acid-> takes long to
absorb)
4. blood flow (more flow->quicker gets in system)
◉What is distribution? 2nd process ✓ Answer: -drug transport to tissues and organs
-factors affecting distribution:
1. local blood flow
2. membrane permeability
3. protein-binding capacity
◉What is protein-binding capacity? ✓ Answer: -a drug's tendency to bind to plasma
proteins in blood
-affects distribution
-some molecules bind to plasma proteins and the remainder will be "free"
-can be a problem with toxicity if have low protein/albumin levels and a high protein
binding medication
◉What is metabolism? 3rd process ✓ Answer: -biotransformation: chemical conversion
of drug
-factors affecting metabolism:
,1. liver function (eliminate more slowly)
2. health/disease status (severely ill, hard time converting)
3. first-pass effect (oral meds go through liver first, which almost inactivates the
medication) (why oral meds are usually higher in concentration than parenteral meds)
◉What is excretion? 4th process ✓ Answer: -elimination of the drug
-factors affecting excretion:
1. organ function (especially the kidneys, liver, and lungs)
◉What are pharmacodynamics? ✓ Answer: -how does the drug affect the body
-primary effects (reason you are taking the drug; benadryl decreases allergy symptoms)
-secondary effects (side effects; helps with sleep)
◉What are the therapeutic ranges? ✓ Answer: -peak level: higher concentration; after
drug is admin.
-trough level: low concentration; right before next dose
-therapeutic level: level of concentration to achieve what trying to achieve
◉What is biological half-life? ✓ Answer: -time it takes for half of the medication to be
eliminated from system
◉What does the concentration of active drug-effectiveness depend on? ✓ Answer: -the
concentration at the intended site
◉What is a peak and trough? ✓ Answer: -serum sample
◉When would you complete a trough draw? ✓ Answer: -30 minutes before next does
◉When would you complete the peak draw? ✓ Answer: -oral meds: 2-3 hours after
administration
-IM meds: 2-4 hours after administration
-IV meds: 30 mins-1 hour after administration
◉What are some factors affects pharmacokinetics? ✓ Answer: -age (younger systems
immature)
-body mass
-gender
-pregnancy
-environment
-route of administration
-timing of administration
-fluids
-pathological states (circulatory or hepatic/renal function)
-genetic factors
-psychological factors (placebo effect)
,◉What are primary effects of drugs? ✓ Answer: -therapeutic effects
-predicted effects
-intended effects
-desired effects
-why the drug was prescribed
◉What are palliative effects? ✓ Answer: -relieves the signs and symptoms of a disease
but have no effect on the disease itself
-pain meds for a cancer patient on hospice care
◉What are supportive effects? ✓ Answer: -support the integrity of body functions until
other medications or treatments can become effective
-blood transfusions
◉What are substitutive effects? ✓ Answer: -replace either body fluids or a chemical
required by the body for improved function
-supplements
◉What are chemotherapeutic effects? ✓ Answer: -destroy disease-producing
microorganisms or body cells, such as antibiotics and anti-neoplastic drugs
-anything entering the body to destroy something harmful
◉What are restorative effects? ✓ Answer: -return the body to or maintain the body at
optimal levels of health
-OCT vitamins or minerals
◉What are secondary effects of drugs? ✓ Answer: -unintended
-non-therapeutic
-can be predictable, harmless, or harmful
◉What are types of secondary effects of drugs? ✓ Answer: -side effects can range from
mild to severve
-adverse reactions are considered harmful (may need medical treatment; life
threatening)
-toxic reactions are dangerous and can damage organs (overdosing)
-allergic reactions
-idiosyncratic reactions (med should cause sedation but causes agitation; usually in
older adults and younger children)
◉Measurement systems? ✓ Answer: - 1 kg = 1,000 g / 2.2 lbs
- 1 g = 1,000 mg
- 1 mg = 1,000 mcg
- 1 tsp = 5 mL
- 1 tbs = 15 mL
, - 1 oz = 30 mL
- 1 cup = 240 mL / 8 oz
- 1 lbs = 16 oz
- 1 in = 2.54 cm
◉What is dimensional analysis? ✓ Answer: A way to analyze and solve problems using
the units, or dimensions, of the measurements
◉What are some assessments for middle adulthood? ✓ Answer: -lipid panel
-blood glucose
-clinical breast and pelvic examination
-annual or biannual mammogram for women
-digital rectal exam for prostate evaluation
-annual eye exam
-colorectal cancer screening
-osteoporosis screening
◉What are some interventions for middle adulthood? ✓ Answer: -nutrition (needs may
change, fixed income, dental health)
-hormone replacement therapy (risks > benefits)
-exercise (balance may change, routine altered for safety)
-immunizations (flu, pneumonia, shingles >60, pertussis)
◉Demographics for older adults? ✓ Answer: -fastest growing age group
-by 2060, they will make up 24% of population
-population pyramid (fewer young, more old)
◉What are some perspectives on aging? ✓ Answer: -life expectancy (measured at birth
and measured at 65)
-migration and distribution of age groups
-percentage of total population
-lifespan perspectives (genes, behaviors, environment)
◉Housing options for older adults? ✓ Answer: -aging in place
-age-friendly residences
-age-friendly communities
-naturally occurring retirement communities
-retirement communities
-continuing care retirement communities
-assisted living facilities
-nursing homes
◉What is aging in place? ✓ Answer: -persons live in their own residences and recieve
support services for their changing needs
