Category 6 · 13–19% of the exam
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Medication classes, adverse effects, nursing assessments, antidotes, and dosage math.
Client need · Physiological Integrity
Providing care related to the administration of medications and parenteral therapies.
Learning objectives
- ✓Know major drug classes, actions, and serious adverse effects
- ✓Calculate doses, IV rates, and weight-based dosing accurately
- ✓Administer blood products and monitor for reactions
- ✓Manage central lines, TPN, and IV complications
3-day lesson plan
Day 1
Learn
Learn one drug class per session: suffix, action, top adverse effect, nursing check.
Day 2
Apply
Do 15 dosage calculations. Practice blood transfusion and central line questions.
Day 3
Check
Take the category quiz and the antidote drill in the simulated exam.
Study checklist
Medication classes to master
| Class | Examples | Risk / monitoring |
|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Heparin, warfarin | Bleeding; coagulation monitoring |
| Insulin | Regular, lispro, glargine | Hypoglycemia; timing and administration safety |
| Opioids | Morphine, fentanyl | Respiratory depression and sedation |
| Beta blockers | Metoprolol | Bradycardia, hypotension |
| ACE inhibitors | Lisinopril | Hyperkalemia, cough, angioedema |
| Diuretics | Furosemide | Volume depletion, electrolyte changes |
| Digoxin | Digoxin | Bradycardia and toxicity |
| Antibiotics | Vancomycin, aminoglycosides | Drug-specific reactions and organ toxicity |
| Benzodiazepines | Lorazepam | Sedation and respiratory depression |
| Lithium | Lithium | Toxicity, hydration, renal function, levels |
Antidotes and reversal agents
| Medication or exposure | Reversal agent |
|---|---|
| Opioids | Naloxone |
| Heparin | Protamine sulfate |
| Warfarin | Vitamin K; additional measures may be needed |
| Benzodiazepines | Flumazenil in selected cases |
| Acetaminophen overdose | N-acetylcysteine |
| Magnesium sulfate toxicity | Calcium gluconate |
Test plan related content
Content areas NCSBN lists for this category.
Adverse effects / contraindications / side effects / interactionsBlood and blood productsCentral venous access devicesDosage calculationExpected actions / outcomesMedication administrationParenteral / intravenous therapiesPharmacological pain managementTotal parenteral nutrition
Must know
- ●Formula: mL/hr = total volume (mL) ÷ time (hours).
- ●Don't memorize antidotes alone — know signs of toxicity, the immediate nursing response, and what to monitor.
- ●Always verify units and the prescribed dose. A dose isn't safe just because the arithmetic works.