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˜ Drug: a natural or artificial substance

that is given to treat, prevent, or
diagnose a disease or to lessen pain
˜ Pharmacology: study of drugs and their
interactions with living systems
˜ Clinical pharmacology: study of drugs in
humans
˜ Therapeutics: the medical use of drugs
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˜ 0ffectiveness- the drug does what it is

supposed to do/ has the desired effect
˜ Safety- does not produce harmful
effects
˜ Selectivity- causes only the desired
response, not side effects

˜ Important- no drug is ideal! All drugs

have side effects, with different effects
on different people
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Provide maximum benefit

with
minimum harm/side effects!
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˜ ºow the drug gets to where it is
supposed to work in the body

˜ Affected by:
Absorption into the body
Distribution of the drug throughout the
body
Metabolism (breakdown) of the drug by the
liver or the kidneys
0xcretion of the drug (into urine or stool)
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˜ ºow the drug works once it has reached the
correct area/system of the body (orƕ)

˜ The impact of the drug on the body

˜ Varies from person to person as everybody is

different (gender, body weight, kidney and
liver function, allergies, sensitivities, etc.)

˜ No two people will react exactly the same way

to a drug
 
˜ The most important properties of a
drug are: effectiveness, safety and
selectivity

˜ If a drug is not effective, it should not

be used

˜ There is no such thing as a safe drug;

all drugs can cause harm
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˜ Assessing patients before giving medications
˜ Checking dosage and administration
˜ 0valuating and promoting therapeutic
(desired) effects
˜ Minimizing adverse (bad) effects
˜ Minimizing adverse interactions (with other
drugs)
˜ Decisions regarding medications that are
ordered PRN (as needed) for patients
˜ Managing toxicity (when the patient has too
much of the medication in their system)
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˜ PRN: Əas neededƐ by patient

˜ RN is allowed to decide how much to give and

when to give it (depending on how the
medication order is written)

˜ RN must know the drug and why it is ordered

˜ Judgment skills are required to decide when

and how much of the drug is needed,
depending on the RNƍs assessment of the
patient

˜ Assess patients prior to giving
medication
i.e. check blood sugar before giving insulin
Check to see if patient is high-risk (drug
allergies, taking lots of medications)
˜ Giving medications
Read orders V0RY carefully (handwriting
may be bad, order may be missing
important information)
Never give medication that you donƍt
understand!
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˜ Always verify drug dosage calculations
before giving the drug
Some drugs will require to calculate with an
other RN
˜ If unfamiliar with a drug, check the
drug book or the pharmacist
˜ Make sure that you are aware of any
special handling that the drug requires
Diluting medications
Protection from light
Special IV filters
Refrigeration
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˜ 0valuate patient responses to
medications
Relief of pain
Vital signs
Laboratory values
˜ Teach patients about medications
Promote patient compliance (following
through with treatment plan)
  

˜ Xhat side effects a drug can have

˜ The time that side effects may occur (2

minutes after administration? 2 days later?)

˜ 0arly signs that an adverse (bad) reaction is

starting

˜ Interventions that can minimize discomfort or

harm
Antidotes
Non-drug treatments (ice to IV site)
Additional medications to minimize side
effects
 
˜ Chemical name:
N0(4-hydroxyphenyl) acetamide

˜ Generic name:
Acetaminophen

˜ Trade name (brand name)

Tylenol

˜ You may see either generic or brand

names on drug orders, depending on
the doctor or facility
 
˜ Drugs have one generic name, but may
have more than one trade/brand name
(Motrin, Advil, Midol IB, Nuprin, Medipren)
˜ The same name may be used for
different products
Contac-D
Contac Cold
Maximum Strength Contac Cold & Flu
Day & Night Contac Cold & Flu
(all of these versions of Contac have different
ingredients!)