NUR 2474 Pharmacology for Professional Nursing

NUR 2474 Exam 1 {Modules 1-3. New Curriculum}

how to we treat barbiturate overdose?

No antidote for barbiturates= only oxygen and activated charcoal.

how do we treat insomnia?

first assess cause, then can give small amount of benzos or benztropine until cause

identified, then treat cause.

what should you do if you have an incomplete order or parts missing?

call the doctor to clarify the order before giving anything.

explain what serotonin syndrome is

when there is an increased amount of serotonin in the brain for use of SSRI/SNRI/TCA

when does serotonin syndrome begin?

2-72 hrs after starting SSRI treatment

manifestations of serotonin syndrome are:

confusion, HA, agitation, poor concentration, disorientation, delusion, hallucination,

delirium, tachycardia, unstable BP, sweating, fever, incoordination, N,V,D,ABD pain,

coma 

what is one very important intervention regarding lithium, fluids and salt?

if one increases or decreases their fluid level, they may retain or loose salt. if they

retain too much salt, it can decrease effectiveness of lithium, while if they are diluted

from salt, then the drug can become toxic.

when should we complete blood testing with use of lithium?

early in therapy- every 2-3 days, until a therapeutic dose has been established, then

long term-every 3 to 6 months

therapeutic level of lithium

0.8-1.4 mEq/L

toxic level of lithium

greater than 1.5 mEq/L

when can we start to see side effects of lithium?

when the drug is at a therapeutic level. they are expected.

what are the side effects of lithium (therapeutic level)?

GI effects, tremors, polyuria, renal toxicity, goiter, hypothyroidism, teratogenesis.

what will happen to side effects when one has a toxic level of lithium?

the effects will be much worse and possibly life threatening i.e. tremor that becomes

larger with muscle incoordination