ATI Pharmacology Final Exam Study Guide: Updated A+ Guide Solution

Pharm Final Exam Study Guide
Medication Administration, Prioritization (11 MC)
 Eye Drops and Ointments: apply in the conjunctival sac
 Ear Drops:
o Adult: pull the ear up and back
o Children under 3 years: pull the ear down and back
 Rectal suppositories: place patient on the left side in the sims position, lift buttock,
lightly lubricate suppository with water-soluble lube, insert past anal sphincter and into
rectum approximately 3 in or 7-8 cm., have patient remain in sims position for 5-10
minutes
 IM: 90 degree angle
o Gauge: 19, 20, 21, 22
o Length: 1, 1 ½, 2 in.
o Locations: deltoid, vastus lateralis, dorsogluteal, ventrogluteal
 SQ: 45 degree angle
o Gauge: 23, 25, 26
o Length: 3/8, ½, 5/8 in.
o Locations: back of the arm, 1 inch away from umbilicus, love handles, outside of
thigh
 Intradermal: 10-15 degree angle
o Gauge: 23, 35, 36
o Length: 3/8, ½, 5/8 in
o Locations: Inside forearm, back (allergies)
 Never give injections in the inner thigh
 Insulin is always measured in units
 Insulins are always SQ
 Regular insulin can be given IV
 Give 2 month old injection in outer thigh
 Give at least 30 mL for someone to swallow pill
 Priority one: ABCs, vitals, lab values
 Priority two: change in mental status, untreated medical problems, pain, urinary
elimination problems
 Priority three: health problems that don’t fit first or second categories
 When mixing insulin, (cloudy, clear, clear, cloudy)
Nursing Process, Principles, Lifespan, & Med Errors (4 MC)
 10 Rights of Medication Administration:
o Right drug
o Right dose
o Right time
o Right patient
o Right route
ATI Pharmacology Final Exam Study Guide

o Right documentation
o Right reason
o Right to refuse
o Right education
o Right assessment
 Pharmacologic Principles
o Pharmaceutics: how various drugs affect the body
o Pharmacokinetics: what the body does to the drug
o Pharmacodynamics: what the drug does to the body
o Pharmacogenomics
o Pharmacotherapeutics: clinical use of drugs to prevent and treat diseases
o Pharmacognosy
o Pharmacoeconomics
o Toxicology: science of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms
 Routes of Drug Administration
o Enteral Route: Absorbed into the systemic circulation through the oral or gastric
mucosa or the small intestine
 Oral
 Sublingual
 Buccal
 Rectal
o Parenteral Route: IV route directly into the blood (fastest delivery into the blood
circulation)
 IV
 IM
 SQ
 Intradermal
 Intraarterial
 Intrathecal
 Intraarticular
o Topical Route
 Skin
 Eyes
 Ears
 Nose
 Lungs
 Rectum
 Vagina
 Drug Therapy During Pregnancy
o Drugs cross across the placenta by diffusion
o Pregnancy Categories:
 Category A: no risk to human fetus
 Category B: studies indicate no risk to the animal fetus; info for humans is
not available

 Category C: adverse effects reported in animal fetus, info for human
unavailable
 Category D: possible fetus risk in humans has been reported; does the
benefit outweigh the risk?
 Category X: DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT
 Neonatal and Peds Considerations
o Greater total body water, lower fat content
o Immature blood brain barrier – more drugs enter the brain
o Immature kidneys and liver for metabolism and excretion
o Dosage calculations: use surface body method
 Older Adult Patients
o Decline in organ function occurs with increasing age
o Risk for polypharmacy (different meds from different providers or same med
from same providers
o Noncompliance and nonadherence
o Lower total body water, increased fat content
o BEERS criteria – drugs to be cautioned in older adults
 Med Errors
o Always preventable
o Types:
 No error occurs
 Medication error occurs that causes no harm
 Medication error that causes harm
 Medication error that results in death
o Preventing Errors
 Always check the medication three times
 Know the 10 rights
 Two patient identifiers (Name and DOB = 1 & wristband)
 Do not administer if you did not draw it up yourself
 Minimize verbal or telephone orders
 Never assume
 NEVER use trailing zeros
 ALWAYS use leading zeros
 Always listen to and honor patients concerns
 Always check patients’ allergies and identifications
Analgesics, Anesthetics, CNS, NSAIDS (8 MC, 2 MS)
 Analgesics: “Painkillers”
 Adjuvant Drugs
o NSAIDS
o Antidepressants
o Anticonvulsants
o Corticosteroids
 Opioid drugs
o Mild agonists: codeine, hydrocodone