| milliequivalent | refers to the concentration of electrolytes in a certain volume of solution, expressed as milliequivalent per liter (mEq/L) |
| numerator | the "top" number of a fraction |
| denominator | the "bottom" number of a fraction |
| percent | its symbol, %, mean "hundredths" |
| fraction | is called a "percentage" |
| proportion | is a relationship between two ratios of equal value |
| means | the inner terms of the proportion |
| extremes | the outer terms of the proportion |
| ratio | is the relationship of one number or quantity to another number or quantity |
| dimensional analysis method | also called factor labeling or the label factor method |
| body surface area | is defined as the total area exposed to the outside environment |
| pharmacology | is the study of drugs (medications) & their action on the living body |
| metabolite | is a substance produced by metabolic action, which results in the breakdown of the drug |
| cumulative | increasing by increments |
| dosage | is the schedule of administration (amount & frequency) of a drug prescribed for the patient by the health care provider |
| therapeutic | beneficial |
| drug interaction | a modification of the effect of a drug when administered with another drug |
| potentiation; or synergism | when one drug increases the action or the effect of another drug |
| compatibility | is the quality or state of harmonious coexistence |
| agonist | a drug that produces a predictable response at the intended site of action |
| antagonist | is a drug that blocks the action of another drug |
| idiosyncratic | reaction to a drug results from the individual's unique hypersensitivity to it |
| toxicity | dangerous buildup of a substance, & unexpected drug reactions |
| tolerance | a reduced response to a drug over time |
| adverse drug reaction | a harmful, unintended reaction to a drug administered at a normal dosage |
| enternal | are absorbed within the GI tract |
| enteric-coated | tablets are encased by a coated shell that keeps the tablet from being absorbed in the stomach; absorption takes place in the intestines |
| pulverized | crushed to a powder |
| graduated | has markings indicating marked amount; total volume of cup is 30 mL, or 1oz or appropriate graduated syringe |
| meniscus | curved formed by liquid's upper surface |
| souffle cup | ungraduated disposable paper cup |
| percutaneous | (through the skin or mucous membrane) include lotions, ointments, creams, & powders |
| sublingual | under the tongue |
| buccal | in the cheek |
| total applications | applied to the skin |
| irrigations | involve a gentle washing of an area with a stream of solution delivered through a syringe |
| parenteral | routes are those other than the digestive system route |
| ampules | glass containers accessed by snapping off the top part of the ampule with a collar, gauze, or alcohol swab |
| syringe | consists of a barrel, a plunger, |
| lumen | the inside of the hollow shaft |
| gauge | a standard or scale of measurement |
| intermittent venous access device | (commonly called a saline lock, previously called a heparin lock) is an IV infusion device with male adapters covered by diaphragms for the administration of intermittent infusions & as an access site for emergency drug infusion |
| patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) | is a drug-delivery system that dispenses a preset IV dose of an opiod analgesic into a patient's vein when the patient pushes a button that is connected to the PCA system via a cord |
| drip factor | an apparatus that is used to deliver measured amounts of IV solutions of specific flow rates that are based on the size of drops of the solution |
| anaphylactic shock | a severe, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction |
| liter(L) | volume (amount) of fluids |
| gram(g) | weight of solids |
| meter(m) | measure of length |
| deca | 10 times the unit |
| hecto | 100 times the unit |
| kilo | 1000 times the unit |
| 1 liter (L) | 1000 milliliters (mL) |
| 0.001 liter (L) | 1 milliliter (mL) |
| 1 milliliter (mL) | 1 cubic centimeter (cc) |
| 1 gram (g) | 1000 milligrams (mg) |
| 0.001 gram (g) | 1 milligram (mg) |
| 1 kilogram (kg) | 1000 grams (g) |
| 0.001 kilogram (kg) | 1 gram (g) |
| 30 milliliters (mL) | 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) |
| 500 milliliters (mL) | 1 pint (pt) |
| 1000 milliliters (1L) | 1 quart (qt) |
| 60 milligrams (mg) | 1 grain (gr) |
| 1000 milligrams (mg) | 15 grains (gr XV) |
| 30 grams (g) | 1 ounce (oz) |
| 0.45 kilogram (kg) | 1 pound (lb) |
| 1 kilogram (kg) | 2.2 pounds (lb) |
| 1 teaspoon (tsp) | 5 mL |
| 1 tablespoon (tbs) | 15 mL |
| 1 ounce | 30 mL |
| 1 cup | 240 mL |
| Nursing responsibilities in solving dosage problems | check whether the answers reasonable, do not allow any errors in calculating, recheck calculations, reduce distractions, work problems systematically & carefully, & perform dosage calculations independently; then ask another nurse to perform the same dosage calculation problem, & check answers |
| method of calculation | used most commonly for dosages of medications for infants & children, but it can be used for a patient of any age |
| Factors the health care provider should consider when administering meds for a child? | age, weight, body surface area, & the ability of the child to absorb, metabolize, & excrete medication |
| Young's rule | a method of calculating the appropriate dose of a drug for a child 2 years of age & older; Age of child/Age of child + 12 multiply Average adult dose = Child's dose |
| Clark's rule | another method of calculating the appropriate dosage of a drug for a child, in this rule the child's weight is used to determine dosage; Weight of child in pounds/150 multiply Average adult dose = Child's dose |
| Fried's rule | is used to calculate appropriate dosages for infants younger than 2 years; Age in months/150 multiply Average adult dose = Child's dose |
| What are drugs used for? | to restore & maintain the healthy functioning of body tissues, organs, & systems & in diagnostic procedures |
| pharmaceutical phase | from the manufacturing of the drug until the absorption of the drug in the patient's body |
| pharmacokinetic phase | involves the movement of the drug's active ingredients from the body fluids into the patient's system & to the site where the intended action of the drug takes place |
| pharmacodynamic phase | the drug's active ingredient interacts with the intended body tissues |
| What is necessary to assess & consider when administering drug? | patient's hepatic (liver) & renal (kidney) functions because decrease hepatic & renal function has the potential to prolong the length of time a drug stays in the body & may continue to be active |
| toxic | harmful |
| lethal | deadly |
| liver | main organ that inactivates & metabolizes drug |
| kidneys | the principal organs that eliminate the metabolites of drugs from the body |
| dose of medicine | refers to a single administration of a drug |
| Terms used with medication orders | stat, now, one time only, & prn (give as necessary) |
| stat | medications that are planned to mange an emergency patient condition; have the highest priority ranking; need to be completed before other orders; time of actual administration must be documented; order is a one time only dose |
| now | high in priority but should be completed after stat orders |
| one time only | medication is to be administered as a single dose |
| prn (give as necessary) | patient is permitted to request this medication, or the nurse may offer it; must specify a definite time interval between permitted repeat administrations |
| What 2 types of action do medications produce in patient's body | local & systemic |
| local action by a drug | produces an effect only in the area where the drug has been placed |
| systemic action | affects the entire body, because the drug enters the patient's systemic circulation |
| drug compatibility | the ability to administer medications together easily without any difficulty for the patient |
| drug incompatibility | the medications do not combine well chemically or physically; should not be given together |
| cardiotonics | drugs that slow & strengthen the heart |
| antihypertensives | drugs that lower blood pressure |
| hypoglycemic agents | oral medications that lower blood glucose level |
| insulin | injectable medication that lowers blood glucose level |
| heparin | medication that decreases the clotting of blood |
| What must the nurse be knowledgeable about with medications? | agonistic & antagonistic effects |
| naloxone hydrochloride(narcan) | common antagonist prescribed |
| The patient who has developed tolerance to a drug requires? | a larger dose of the drug to achieve the same effect that a smaller therapeutic dose once produced |
| How do patients develop a drug tolerance to a drug? | From taking increasing dosages of the drug over time or may result from genetic factors that are unique to the individual |
| To establish baseline information | the patient should be assessed before & after a new medication is started |
| Never give any medication that you are not familiar with to a patient without doing what first? | accessing information about it from an approved facility resource |
| contraindications | conditions in which the drug should not be used |
| Factors that may affect how patients respond to medication | age, weight, gender, ethnicity, physical condition, psychological status, environmental temperature, amount of food in the stomach, route of administration |
| The trade name | is the brand name given to it by the manufacturer; usually short readily recognized, easy to spell, & easy to pronounce; first letter is capitalized |
| The generic name | usually longer, may refer to the chemical composition of the medication & is not capitalized |
| The suffixes provide | information about the classification & uses of medications |
| Health care provider's order includes | patient's name, date of birth, date & time of the order, name of the drug, dosage of the drug including size & frequency, route of administration, signature of the health care provider, & any special instructions |
