Perioperative Pharmacology: Pharmacotherapeutics, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics

Abstract

Results of current research into perioperative medication errors have revealed that more than half of medication errors occur during the administration phase of the medication-use process. The administration phase is the point at which the medication and the patient intersect and the medication imposes its pharmacological effect. During this phase, the only safety net between the patient and the medication is the health care provider's attention and care when administering the medication. To help mitigate these errors, perioperative nurses must understand pharmacotherapeutics: the use of medications to prevent, treat, cure, or alleviate symptoms of disease. Pharmacotherapeutics incorporates pharmacokinetics (ie, what the body does to a medication after it enters the system) and pharmacodynamics (ie, how a medication acts on the body to achieve a desired therapeutic effect).

Medication knowledge among dental students in Australia—a cross‐sectional study

“…Thorough knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics (the use of medications to treat, cure, prevent, or alleviate symptoms of disease) ensures that dentists prescribe medicines safely and effectively. 1 Dentists can independently prescribe and administer medications related to oral health. Common medications prescribed for dental use include antimicrobials, antiinflammatories, and analgesics, which have been identified as therapeutic areas that are often suboptimally prescribed.…”

“…Thorough knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics (the use of medications to treat, cure, prevent, or alleviate symptoms of disease) ensures that dentists prescribe medicines safely and effectively 1 . Dentists can independently prescribe and administer medications related to oral health.…”