Review of Knowledge: Introduction to Pharmacologic Principles
Review of Knowledge- NR 291
Chapters 2-7, 36 & 37; Part 1
Chapter 2: Pharmacologic Principles
“Any chemical that affects the physiologic processes of a living organism can broadly be defined as a drug. The study or science of drugs is known as pharmacology. Without understanding basic pharmacologic principles, the nurse cannot fully appreciate the therapeutic benefits and potential toxicity of drugs. Drugs are grouped together based on their similar properties. This is known as a drug classification. Drugs can be classified by their structure (e.g., beta-adrenergic blockers) or by their therapeutic use (e.g., antibiotics, antihypertensives, antidepressants). Within the broad classification, each class may have subclasses; for example, penicillins are a subclass within the group of antibiotics and beta-adrenergic blockers are a subclass within the group of antihypertensives. Pharmacotherapeutics (also called therapeutics) focuses on the clinical use of drugs to prevent and treat diseases. The following terms are necessary for nurses to know, understand, and apply to their clients”. (Lilley, p. 21)
Definitions: Review definitions at the beginning of the chapter.
Identify the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics, and explain briefly what occurs in each phase.
1. absorption it is the movement of drug from its site of administration into the blood stream for distribution to the tissue.
2. distribution it is the movement of drug from its site of administration into the blood stream for distribution to the tissue.
3. Metabolism: is referred to as biotransformation. It involves the biochemical alteration of a drug into inactive metabolite a more soluble compound.
4. Excretion: is the elimination of drugs from the body.
The half-life of a drug is the time required for one-half (50%) of a given drug to be removed from the body. It is a measure of the rate at which the drug is eliminated from the body. For instance, if the peak level of a particular drug is 100 mg/L &
Chapters 2-7, 36 & 37; Part 1
Chapter 2: Pharmacologic Principles
“Any chemical that affects the physiologic processes of a living organism can broadly be defined as a drug. The study or science of drugs is known as pharmacology. Without understanding basic pharmacologic principles, the nurse cannot fully appreciate the therapeutic benefits and potential toxicity of drugs. Drugs are grouped together based on their similar properties. This is known as a drug classification. Drugs can be classified by their structure (e.g., beta-adrenergic blockers) or by their therapeutic use (e.g., antibiotics, antihypertensives, antidepressants). Within the broad classification, each class may have subclasses; for example, penicillins are a subclass within the group of antibiotics and beta-adrenergic blockers are a subclass within the group of antihypertensives. Pharmacotherapeutics (also called therapeutics) focuses on the clinical use of drugs to prevent and treat diseases. The following terms are necessary for nurses to know, understand, and apply to their clients”. (Lilley, p. 21)
Definitions: Review definitions at the beginning of the chapter.
Identify the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics, and explain briefly what occurs in each phase.
1. absorption it is the movement of drug from its site of administration into the blood stream for distribution to the tissue.
2. distribution it is the movement of drug from its site of administration into the blood stream for distribution to the tissue.
3. Metabolism: is referred to as biotransformation. It involves the biochemical alteration of a drug into inactive metabolite a more soluble compound.
4. Excretion: is the elimination of drugs from the body.
The half-life of a drug is the time required for one-half (50%) of a given drug to be removed from the body. It is a measure of the rate at which the drug is eliminated from the body. For instance, if the peak level of a particular drug is 100 mg/L &