Pharmacology refers to the study of the functions of drugs and the effects on living systems. The main basic principles of pharmacology include pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacognosy. All these principles are related to nursing because it provides clinicians with the essential pharmacology information they require in order to administer drugs effectively and safely. It also promotes clinical reasoning related to nursing pharmacology.
Pharmaceutics is the study of how various drugs influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics activities. The second is pharmacokinetic, which is the study of what the body react to the drug that is absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. Pharmacodynamics refers to the study of what the drug does to the body; this means the mechanisms of drug actions in the living tissues. The next principle is pharmacotherapeutics that involves the utilization of drugs and the clinical indications for drugs to prevent and treat diseases. Lastly, is pharmacognosy that refers to the study of natural drug sources (Grover, Lam& Hunt, 2008). Pharmacology is significant in nursing because it helps the clinicians as they administer and prescribe the drugs to the sick. Every health care provider should keep in mind that patient safety is inevitable, therefore, must adhere to the ethics and code of work.
There have been several medical errors going on at the health center. They include the errors of incorrect administration of drugs by the nurses. Clinicians need to understand in-depth knowledge on drugs, so as to avoid the consequences or impacts caused by wrong prescription that can result to death. Medical professionals must know some information relevant when administering drugs, and they include allergy and side effect, quantity, sober mind and concentration. Allergy and side effect; before nurses administer certain drugs to patients, they have to know the types of drugs that are allergic to patients. Quantity and sober; in terms of quantity, nurses must be very careful so that they can administer the right quantity of drugs. Mostly caused when they work under pressure or when they are not sober, hence poor concentration at work (Thi-My-Uyenet al. 2014).
In conclusion, as medical professionals, understanding that pharmacology goes hand-in-hand with correct administration of drugs is essential. The reason is that different people react different to a given drugs hence having a side effect that may adversely worsen the situation instead of improving.
Reference
Grover, A., Lam, T., & Hunt, C. (2008). New Simulation Methods to Facilitate Achieving a Mechanistic Understanding of Basic Pharmacology Principles in the Classroom.Journal Of Science Education And Technology, 17(4), 366-372.
Thi-My-Uyen, N., Lau, E. L., Steadman, K. J., Cichero, J. Y., Dingle, K., & Nissen, L. M. (2014). Pharmacist, general practitioner, and nurse perceptions, experiences, and knowledge of medication dosage form modification.Integrated Pharmacy Research & Practice, 31-9. doi:10.2147/IPRP.S53797
