Question

It is important that nurses who administer medications understand the importance of pharmacokinetics. Discuss how knowledge of pharmacokinetics (be complete) impacts the drug doses that are ordered and administered. If you are not complete, there will be no credit. With this understanding, also add what the nurse can do to assure patient safety when the patient condition changes.

Answer 1

The nurse needs to understand the pharmacokinetics for the medication which is going to administer. Pharmacokinetics includes absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the drug. With different in the age group, the way of pharmacokinetics is different. The drug dose should be calculated properly to maintain proper pharmacokinetic according to the age group. For example, children's pharmacokinetics of a drug will be different from the adult pharmacokinetics. That is why the children have a lower dose as compared to the adult. In the case of extra dose, there will be more absorption of the drug in the body leads to drug toxicity. During this time, there may be changes in the patient's condition. The nurse should stop immediately the drug and informed the primary physician. If there is a presence of any antidots then it should be administered immediately. So before giving the drug the nurse should check the expiry date, dose, frequency, and time properly and administered it to the patient. Cross check should be done before giving it. Label the medication properly if it is in infusion.