Mid-Term Summary & Study Guide
NURS-6521
100-question Exam which will assess your knowledge on the Learning Resources from Weeks 1-6.
Time limit of 2 hours.
Multiple choice or multiple selection.
Pharmacodynamics: how the drug effects the body
Pharmacokinetics: how the...
NURS 6521 Midterm Exam Study Guide Graded A
Mid-Term Summary & Study Guide
NURS-6521
100-question Exam which will assess your knowledge on the Learning Resources from Weeks 1-6.
Time limit of 2 hours.
Multiple choice or multiple selection.
Pharmacodynamics: how the drug effects the body
Pharmacokinetics: how the body effects the drug
Understand the implications of changing renal function on creatinine & drug dosing.
Kidney/Renal functions :
Filters blood = Remove Waste, Toxins, and Extra Fluid from the body
Returns needed substances to the blood – & the remainder becomes urine
Removes acid produced by cells of the body to maintain balanced water, salts; minerals
Makes hormones that control BP, make RBCs; keeps bones strong
Creatinine: Measures kidney function - byproduct of muscle metabolism (creatinine phosphate)
Normal Serum Creatinine levels: 0.6-1.3 mg/dL - healthy kidney (Easily filters & excretes creatinine)
More Reliable than BUN. Creatinine is Not Absorbed by the kidneys.
Rises indicate renal damage or failure = Kidney is unable to properly filter & excrete waste (creatinine) = Lab
Value rises in the serum.
Creatinine = Kidney Function = Requires a decreased dose of medication or different dosing schedule
= Renal Dosing
What is the impact of the following on drug levels and dosing:
Cirrhosis: a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue.
As liver cells die, the organ makes less of the proteins that regulate fluid retention & blood clotting and
the liver loses its ability to metabolize the pigment bilirubin.
Liver/Hepatic functions :
Produces proteins that help clot blood
Removes / neutralizes poisons, drugs and alcohol
Manufactures bile that helps the body absorb fats & cholesterol
Helps maintain normal blood sugar levels
Regulates hormones
With Cirrhosis - the liver fails to detoxify the blood & it becomes less able to metabolize medications, which
magnifies their effects. Eventually toxins build up in the brain & can produce:
Increased sensitivity to drugs
Levels of medication will be higher d/t decreased metabolism
Requires decreased dose of medication
Liver/Hepatic Function = Ability to metabolize medication = Requires a decreased dose of
medication or different dosing schedule = Hepatic Dosing
, Protein binding: Drugs can form reversible bonds with various proteins in the body.
Plasma albumin is the most important - large molecule - too large to leave the bloodstream!
Binding is reversive & Drugs can be bound or unbound.
% of drug molecules that are bound is determined by the attraction between it and albumin.
Ex. Albumin & Warfarin – Strong Attraction =
99% of warfarin molecules in plasma are bound. 1% Free.
Albumin & Antibiotic Gentamicin – Weak Attraction =
< 10% of gentamicin molecules in plasma are bound. > 90% Free.
Restricted drug distribution = Albumin is too large to leave; bound molecules cannot leave either!
o Bound molecules cannot reach their site of action or undergo metabolism/excretion until drug-protein bond is
broken so the is free to leave the circulation.
Drug Interactions = Each Albumin molecule has only a few sites where drug molecules can bind.
o Drugs will complete with 1 another for the limited binding sites = 1 drug displaces another from albumin = Free
concentration of the displaced drug Rises = Increasing intensity of drug responses!
o If plasma drug levels rise = Toxicity!
o If the drug is highly protein bound = Need higher dose of drug to attach to/saturate all areas of the drug
binding proteins & the Receptors TO GET RESULTS!
o If you have Drug A in place at all drug binding protein sites, and you add Drug B (which is more protein
bound), it will displace (Kick off) Drug A & take their place at the drug binding protein sites = Causing
more Drug A to be free floating
o Ex: Coumadin & Dilantin Both Highly Plasma Protein Bound Drugs!
o 3 days prior to surgery, Coumadin in stopped – leaving more protein binding sites for Dilantin. The
Dilantin binds and leaves less available to prevent Seizure
o Starting or stopping drugs that bind to plasma protein changes the free drug levels of other protein
bound drugs *Check Levels & Drug Effects more frequently!
Drug interactions: When two drugs interact, there are three possible outcomes:
(1) one drug may intensify the effects of the other
(2) one drug may reduce the effects of the other
(3) the combination may produce a new response not seen with either drug alone.
• Medications must be prescribed at doses that will allot for the appropriate level of outcome required
specifically for that patient.
• Frequent monitoring of effects & levels are required
Half-life: the time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by 50%.
Metabolism & excretion cause the drug in the body to decline.
Half-life of a drug determines the dosing interval (i.e., how much time separates each dose).
Short half-life = Dosing interval must be correspondingly short or therapeutic effects will be lost.
Long half-life = Long time can separate doses without loss of benefits.
, No matter what the amount of drug in the body may be, half (50%) will leave during a specified time period (the
half-life).
The actual amount of drug that is lost during one half-life depends on just how much drug is present: the more
drug in the body, the larger the amount lost during 1 half-life.
Routes of Administration and Dosage Forms:
Understand when it is OK to crush (or not crush) certain dosage forms & why.
OK to Crush: Immediate Release
Not OK to Crush: Sustained Release/ Enteric Coated
Immediate Release: Rapid absorption of a drug after ingestion ( < 30 minutes )
Extended-Release: Released over a period of time ( 8, 12, 24 hours)
o Sustained Release: Maintains drug release over a sustained period but not at a constant rate
o Controlled Release: Maintains drug release over a sustained period at a nearly constant rate
*prolongs actions but also attempt to maintain therapeutic drug levels
Delayed Release: Releases the dose after a set time. Usually enteric coated to prevent release in the
stomach – it releases the dose in the intestinal track.
Which Routes of administration have the fastest and slowest rates of absorption?
o Fastest to Slowest: IV, IM, SC, Oral
o IV, Inhaling, Snorting, Smoking, Swallowing, Rectal
o IV, IM, Intranasal, Intradermal, Subcutaneous, Oral, Rectal
Oral forms: Time until a pill/capsule is broken down enough to release the medication in the stomach:
Crushed/Chewed Tablet = under 10 mins
Chalk tablet = 10 mins & Solid tablet = 10 mins
Time-release capsule = 45 minutes
Gel capsule = > 60 mins
ENTERAL ROUTE: to the GI/ Intestinal Tract
• Oral: By Mouth: PO: Easiest & most economical way. Avoid if pt is lethargic, has N/V, or unable to
swallow/NPO [Involves 1st pass effect – decreasing concentration rapidly before hits target]
• Sublingual: Under Tongue to dissolve. Absorbed through the mucous membranes of the gums, Not to be
Swallowed. No water until dissolved fully.
• Buccal: Between the gum and cheek. Rotate sides to avoid irritation.
• Rectal: Suppository or Enema: When unable to take oral meds. Avoids about 2/.3 of first-pass
metabolism.
• Tubes: NG/Duodenal/G-Tubes: Meds needs to be crushed, so confirm orders!
MUCOUS MEMBRANE ROUTE:
• Transdermal: Patch: Through the skin. Left for extended time, Extended release meds are used for
longer effect.
• Drops/Sprays: Via Eyes, Nose, or ears. Absorbed through Mucous Membranes, Can Cause Systemic
Effects. Confirm # of drops/sprays to be administered.
• Vaginal: Can cause irritation to the mucous membranes.
TOPICAL ROUTE:
• Eye/ Nasal Mucosa/ Skin: Usually less lipophilic to reduce systemic absorption.
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