NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide
NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide
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Mid-Term Summary & Study Guide
NURS-6521
o 100-question Exam which will assess your knowledge on the Learning Resources from Weeks 1-6.
o Time limit of 2 hours.
o Multiple choice or multiple selection.
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Pharmacokinetics:
• Understand the implications of changing renal function on creatinine and drug dosing.
• What is the impact of the following on drug levels and dosing:
o Cirrhosis
o Protein binding
o Drug interactions
o Half-life . NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide
Routes of Administration and Dosage Forms:
• Understand the different routes of administration and dosage forms and some of the challenges
and benefits associated with these routes and forms.
• Understand when it is OK to crush (or not crush) certain dosage forms and why.
• Which routes of administration have the fastest and slowest rates of absorption?
• Know the relative onset, monitoring and appropriate use of various dosage forms including:
o Patches (ie; fentanyl, rivastigmine)
o Suppositories (ie; acetaminophen)
o Sublingual tablets
o Tablets
o Liquid (know common measures)
o Injectables
o Sublingual
o Nasogastric
o Elixir (contains alcohol)
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Therapeutics: Gastrointestinal, Cardiac, Respiratory, Pscyh, Neurology, Musculoskeletal
Understand the mechanism of action, side effects, appropriate use and contraindications for the classes
of drugs and individual drugs listed below. Also, know the key patient education points including
cautions, expected effects, and appropriate use (with food, empty stomach, etc.).
• Anti-diarrheals (diphenoxylate HCl with atropine sulfate, loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate)
• Laxatives (fiber, osmotics, stimulants, other) NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide
• Therapy for various gastrointestinal disorders including antiemetics, ulcers, irritable bowel
syndrome, Crohn’s ulcerative colitis (ie; alosetron, PPIs like omeprazole, Mesalamine, ranitidine,
etc.)
• Cough, cold, and sinus therapies including antihistamines and cough suppressants (ie;
dextromethorphan, loratadine, fexofenadine, nasal decongestants)
• Cardiac Medications – Digoxin (understand toxicity, dosing, use), Statins, Colestipol,
Nitroglycerin
• Blood pressure medications (calcium channel blockers, ACE Inhibitors, diuretics, beta-blockers,
nitroprusside, others)
• Diuretics (spironolactone, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
• Benzodiazepines, sedatives, anxiolytics (buspirone) and agents for insomnia (zaleplon, zolpidem)
• Inhalers (albuterol, ICS, LABA, anticholinergics)
• Asthma – Theophylline, zafikurlast, steriods
• Gout and arthritis therapies (allopurinol, etanercept, sulfinpyraxone, methotrexate)
• Antipsychotics (olanzapine, risperidone, haloperidol, others) – What is neuroleptic malignant
syndrome?
• Antineoplastics (etoposide, 5FU, cisplatin, bicalutamide, others)
• Agents for thyroid disease (Levothyroxine, methimazole)
• Antidepressants – SSRIs
• Multiple sclerosis therapies (Dantrium, Glatirimer, Baclofen, Tizanidine, others)
• Substance abuse treatment (disulfuram, buprenorphine, nicotine products, others)
• Antiepileptics (phenytoin, ethosuximide, diazepam, others)
• Osteoporosis (calcitonin, others)
• Hypoglycemics (glyburide, glipizide, metformin, insulin, etc.)
• Pain (opioids, muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, acetaminophen, topical lidocaine, etc.)
• Orlistat
• Adrenergic agonists
• Dextroamphetamines
• Lithium
Terminology:
• Efficacy
• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacodynamics
• Drug tolerance
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• Addiction
• Dependence
• Withdrawal
• First pass effect
• Idiosyncratic response
• Medication Reconciliation
Other Topics:
o Which drug classes produce withdrawal if stopped abruptly? When is withdrawal life threatening?
o Understand the appropriate use of herbal therapies
o Understand components of cultural competence
o How can adverse drug events be minimized?
o Why do drugs require clinical study and FDA approval?
o Know common teaspoon, tablespoon, and milliliter conversions
o Know DEA schedules and examples of therapies in each scheduled class (1-5). What are the special
prescribing restrictions for these various classes?
o Which medications should be taken with food? Which on an empty stomach?
o What is the purpose of the MedWatch Program? NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide
o Symptoms and treatment of drug intoxication from cocaine, opioids, marijuana
o Appropriate use of reversal agents for digoxin, opioids, etc.
NURS 6521 Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide
NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology Mid-Term Exam Summary & Study Guide
