-
by
allnurses (Editorial Team / Admin)
Nurses play a key role in patient care, often administering medications and monitoring their effects. A strong understanding of pharmacology is essential for preventing medication errors and improving treatment outcomes.
Key Concepts
- Pharmacokinetics: How drugs enter, move, break down, and exit the body.
- Pharmacodynamics: How drugs produce their effects, both intended and harmful.
- Drug interactions: How medications interact with each other.
- Medication administration: Safe and accurate administration of medications.
- Drug classes: Categories of drugs and their uses.
Example: Antihypertensives — Drugs used to treat high blood pressure. Nurses should understand:
-
Different classes:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., lisinopril)
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (e.g., losartan)
- Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (e.g., amlodipine)
- Diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide)
- Beta-blockers (e.g., atenolol)
- Mechanisms of action: How each class works to lower blood pressure.
- Common side effects: Dizziness, headache, fatigue, cough (ACE inhibitors), hypotension (low blood pressure).
- Drug interactions: Potential interactions with other medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
-
Medication administration:
- Routes: Oral, intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM)
- Dosage: Proper dosage calculations based on patient factors.
- Timing: Optimal times for administration (e.g., morning or evening).
- Special considerations: For example, holding a dose if blood pressure is too low.
- Monitoring: Blood pressure monitoring, potassium levels (for diuretics), renal function (for ACE inhibitors and ARBs).
Additional Resources
- Pharmacology textbooks: A comprehensive resource for in-depth study.
- Nursing Drug Handbook: A concise reference for quick look-ups.
- Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses: A portable guide for on-the-go reference.
-
Online study resources:
- Picmonic: Picture and story mnemonics to aid memory.
- TrueLearn: Practice questions and custom quizzes.
- Continuing education courses: Stay up-to-date on the latest pharmacological advancements.
A solid understanding of pharmacology equips nurses to deliver safe care. By mastering key concepts and utilizing available resources, nurses can confidently administer medications and improve patient health.
This is a sponsored article brought to you by allnurses.com in partnership with the advertiser. The views expressed in this article are those of the advertiser and do not necessarily reflect allnurses.com, its parent company, or its staff.
