Pharmacology and Medication Administration
Core concepts
Pharmacology questions combine drug knowledge with safe administration. Know the rights of medication administration (right client, drug, dose, route, time, documentation, and reason). Understand pharmacokinetics: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, with attention to half-life and therapeutic range. Know high-alert medications and their safeguards. Calculate doses accurately, including weight-based and infusion rates. Recognize common drug classes, mechanisms, side effects, and interactions. Antidotes matter, such as naloxone for opioids. Monitor for adverse reactions and know when to hold a dose and notify the provider. Patient teaching about adherence and side effects is tested.
Traps to watch
Calculation errors often come from unit mismatches; convert before computing. A common trap is an answer that gives the drug but skips verification of the order or the client. Another is missing a contraindication, such as holding a beta blocker when the heart rate is too low. Watch for questions about which finding requires holding the medication versus documenting and giving. Do not confuse side effects that are expected with those that are dangerous.
Worked rule of thumb
Before giving any medication, run the rights and check the parameters. If a vital sign or lab value falls outside the safe range, hold the dose and notify the provider. Example: hold digoxin and report if the apical pulse is below the ordered threshold.