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Pharmacology
is one of the most difficult nursing content areas to master and feel comfortable with. One reason that it is so difficult is because of the enormous number of medications available. Another reason is that there is a cast amount of information to know about each medication. Therefore, it is important for you to spend ample time reviewing pharmacology in preparation for the Nurse Licensure Examination and it is BEST to do your review from a Question and Answer perspective. GUIDELINES and STRATEGIES Read the question carefully! Note the keywords Note the issue. Use the process of elimination. Use nursing knowledge. Use pharmacology guidelines. Use test-taking strategies.
Remember to read the question carefully, noting the keywords and the issue of the question, and always use the process of elimination to select the correct option. It is still best to use your nursing knowledge to answer the question. However, a question may appear on your examination that contains a medication with which you are unfamiliar. When this occurs, the guidelines and the strategies to answer a pharmacology question correctly will be valuable for you.
Pharmacology Guidelines
How will the Pharmacology Guideline be helpful in answering Pharmacology Questions and what are these guidelines? contraindications related to the There are some specific guidelines to medication; client teaching; monitoring follow when you administer medication for intended effects, side effects, adverse to a client. In addition to the five rights effects, or toxic effects; and evaluating for medication administration, these the clients response to the medication guidelines include client assessment and therapy. When you are presented with a assessment of other factors related to pharmacology question and are trying to the medication, such as checking certain select the correct option, using the laboratory values or vital signs; checking guidelines will assist you in eliminating for potential interactions or incorrect options.
Medication Effects
What are the differences between an intended effect, a side effect, an adverse effect, and a toxic effect of a medication? Intended Effect: an intended effect is the desired and expected effect of a medication. For example, the intended effect of morphine sulfate is pain relief. Sample Question: Intended Effect Ibuprofen (Advil) is prescribed for a client with rheumatoid arthritis. On a follow-up visit to the physicians office, the nurse asks the client whether the medication has provided relief from which of the following symptoms? A. Joint pain. B. Dyspepsia. C. Diarrhea. D. Flatulence. Answer: A Test-Taking Strategy: Remember to read the question carefully, noting the issue of the question and the keywords. In this question, the keywords are provided relief from and the issue is intended effect of the medication. Note that the question provides the clients diagnosis. Recalling the pathophysiology related to RA will assist in directing you to Option A. also note that Options B, C, and D are similar in that they all address gastrointestinal symptoms. When options are similar, it is best to eliminate those options because they are unlikely to be correct. In addition Options B, C, and D are side effects of ibuprofen, not intended effects.
Sample Question: Toxic Effect The nurse reviews the results of a therapeutic blood level that was drawn from a client taking theophylline (Theo-Dur) and notes that the level is 20 g/ mL. the nurse would most appropriately: A. Administer the next scheduled dose of theophylline. B. Place the results of the blood test in the clients chart. C. Report the result to the health care provider. D. Ask the laboratory personnel to draw another blood specimen to verify the result. Answer: C Test-Taking Strategy: Remember to read the question carefully, noting the issue of the question and the keywords. In this question, the keywords are most appropriately and the issue is a toxic effect of the medication. Recalling that the therapeutic blood level of theophylline is 10 20 g/ mL will assist in determining that the client is experiencing toxicity. Remember, toxic effects are always reported to the health care provider.
Medication Names
Do you Need to Memorize both the Generic and the Trade Name of a Medication? No memorizing is necessary! When a pharmacology question appears on your test booklet, both the generic name and the trade/ brand name will appear. This will be helpful to assist you in answering the question correctly. One medication name, perhaps generic name, may be unfamiliar to you but you may recognize the trade name presented. For example, a question may ask about a medication named furosemide (Lasix). You may not be familiar with the medication name furosemide, but it is very likely that you will be familiar with the medication name Lasix because it is a commonly administered medication. How will Medical Terminology Skills help to Answer a Pharmacology Question ?
Medication Classifications
How will it Help to Identify a Medication by the Classification to Which it Belongs? Medications that belong to a particular It is best if you associate side effects with classification have similar medication nursing interventions. Learn to recognize actions and usually have commonalities in the common side effects associated with their side effects and nursing each medication classification, and then interventions related to administration. It relate the appropriate nursing is nearly impossible to learn every feature interventions to each side effect. For about every individual medication. example, if a side effect is hypertension, Learning medications by a classification then the associated nursing intervention system method groups several would be to monitor blood pressure; if a medications wit similar properties side effects is hypokalemia, then the together and makes the amount of associated nursing intervention s are to information that needs to be learned monitor for signs and symptoms of condensed and manageable. hypokalemia and to monitor the clients With regard to side effects and potassium blood level. Again, this makes nursing interventions, do not try to the vast amount of information that you memorize every side effect and every need to remember manageable. nursing intervention for every medication. How can You Determine the Medication Classification if you are Unfamiliar with the Medication? If you are presented with a pharmacology question that contains the name of a medication with which you are unfamiliar, some of the strategies to use include the following: Note whether the question identifies the clients diagnosis. For example, if the question states: Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) has been prescribed for a client with
Commonalities in Medication Names Androgens: Most medication names end with terone such as testosterone (Andoderm, Testoderm). Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: Most medication names end with pril such as enalapril (Vasotec), captopril (Capoten) Antidiuretic hormones: Most medication names end with pressin such as desmopressin (DDAVP). Antilipemic medications: Most medication names end with statin such as attorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin. Antiviral medications: Most antiviral medications contain vir in their names such as acyclovir (Zovirax). Benzodiazepines: it includes alprazolam (Zanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tanxene), estazolam (ProSom) and triazolam (Halcion); most other benzodiazepines names end with pam such as diazepam (Valium). Beta-adrenergic blockers: Most medication names end with lol such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopresor). Calcium channel blockers: Most medication names end with pine such as amlodipine (Norvasc); some exceptions include diltiazem (Cardizem, Cardizem SR) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin). Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Most medication names end with - mide such as acetazolamide (Diamox). Estrogens: Most estrogen medications contain est in their names such as conjugates estrogen (Premarin). Glucocorticoid and corticosteroids : Most emdication names end with sone such as prednisone (Deltasone). Histamine H2 receptor antagonists: Most medication names end with dine such as cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac). Nitrates: Most medication names contain nitr in their names such as nitroglycerin (Nitrostat). Pancreatic enzyme replacements: Most medication names contain pancre in their names such as pancrelipase (Pancrease). Phenothiazines: Most phenothiazine medication names end with zine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine). Proton-pump inhibitors: Most medication names end with zole such as lansoprazole (Prevacid) Sulfonamides: Most medication names include sulf such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine). Sulfonylureas: Most medication names end with mide such as chlorpropamide (Diabinese). Thiazide diuretics: Most medication names end with zide such as hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL).
Sample Question: Commonalities in Medication Names Nurse Aikikee is preparing to administer atenolol (Tenormin) to a client. Nurse Aikikee checks which of the following before administering the medication? A. Potassium level B. Blood glucose level C. Blood pressure D. Temperature Answer: C Test-Taking Strategy: Remember to read the question carefully, noting the issue of the question and the keywords. In this question, the keywords are before administering, and the issue is an assessment. Note the name of the medication atenolol. Recalling that most beta-blocker medication names end with lol and these medications are used to control blood pressure will direct you to Option C. References: National Drug Handbook 2007 (NDH2007) Plus Pharmacology: A Nursing Process Approach Pharmacology for Nursing Care Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2005 Saunders Strategies for Success for the NCLEX-RN Examination
After learning the Strategies to crack down pharmacology questions, write down your goals here Remember that you are going nowhere without a goal or a purpose of doing things. Learning the strategies is useless if you will not apply it. YOU WILL PASS the BOARD EXAM!