NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide

NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide

This document serves as a comprehensive summary and study guide for the mid-term exam in NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology. The exam consists of 100 questions designed to evaluate your knowledge of the learning resources covered in Weeks 1-6 of the course. It is important to note that the exam has a time limit of 2 hours and includes multiple-choice or multiple-selection questions.

Pharmacokinetics:

– Gain an understanding of how changes in renal function can impact creatinine levels and drug dosing.
– Explore the effects of various factors on drug levels and dosing, including cirrhosis, protein binding, drug interactions, and half-life.

Unit 5: Infectious Diseases Pharmacology

Routes of Administration and Dosage Forms:

– Comprehend the different routes of drug administration and various dosage forms, along with the associated challenges and benefits.
– Learn when it is appropriate to crush or not crush specific dosage forms and the reasons behind these decisions.
– Familiarize yourself with the rates of absorption for different routes of administration, ranging from the fastest to the slowest.
– Be aware of the onset, monitoring, and proper use of various dosage forms, including patches (e.g., fentanyl, rivastigmine), suppositories (e.g., acetaminophen), sublingual tablets, tablets, liquid (including common measurements), injectables, sublingual administration, nasogastric administration, and elixirs (containing alcohol).

Therapeutics: Gastrointestinal, Cardiac, Respiratory, Psych, Neurology, Musculoskeletal:

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the following:

– Mechanism of action, side effects, appropriate use, and contraindications for drug classes and individual drugs:
– Anti-diarrheals (e.g., diphenoxylate HCl with atropine sulfate, loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate)
– Laxatives (fiber, osmotics, stimulants, and others)
– Therapy for various gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., antiemetics, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis)
– Cough, cold, and sinus therapies (including antihistamines and cough suppressants)
– Cardiac medications (e.g., Digoxin, Statins, Colestipol, Nitroglycerin)
– Blood pressure medications (various classes)
– Diuretics (e.g., spironolactone, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
– Benzodiazepines, sedatives, anxiolytics (e.g., buspirone), and agents for insomnia
– Inhalers (e.g., albuterol, ICS, LABA, anticholinergics)
– Asthma treatments (e.g., Theophylline, zafikurlast, steroids)
– Gout and arthritis therapies
– Antipsychotics and neuroleptic malignant syndrome
– Antineoplastics
– Agents for thyroid disease
– Antidepressants (SSRIs)
– Multiple sclerosis therapies
– Substance abuse treatment
– Antiepileptics
– Osteoporosis treatments
– Hypoglycemics
– Pain management
– Orlistat
– Adrenergic agonists
– Dextroamphetamines
– Lithium

Terminology:

Familiarize yourself with essential pharmacological terminology, including terms such as efficacy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug tolerance, addiction, dependence, withdrawal, first-pass effect, idiosyncratic response, and medication reconciliation.

Other Topics:

– Identify drug classes that can lead to withdrawal symptoms if abruptly discontinued, and understand when withdrawal can be life-threatening.
– Learn about the appropriate use of herbal therapies.
– Explore the components of cultural competence in healthcare.
– Understand strategies for minimizing adverse drug events.
– Gain insight into the importance of clinical studies and FDA approval for drugs.
– Know common conversions between teaspoons, tablespoons, and milliliters.
– Familiarize yourself with DEA schedules and examples of therapies in each scheduled class (1-5) and their associated prescribing restrictions.
– Recognize which medications should be taken with food and which should be taken on an empty stomach.
– Understand the purpose of the MedWatch Program.
– Be aware of the symptoms and treatment of drug intoxication from substances such as cocaine, opioids, and marijuana.
– Learn about the appropriate use of reversal agents for drugs like digoxin and opioids.

NURS 6521 Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide