Nursing Buddy

Psychotherapeutic Agents Psychotherapeutic Agents Used to treat psychoses: perceptual and behavioral disorders Drugs do not cure psychoses: they help patients function in a more acceptable manner and carry on activities of daily living Used in both children and adults Mental Disorders and Their Classifications Schizophrenia Mania/bipolar disease Narcolepsy Attention-deficit disorder Schizophrenia Characteristics Hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, [...]

Antidepressant Agents Affective Disorders vs Depression Affective disorder A person’s mood goes far beyond the normal “ups and downs” Depression Severe and long-lasting feelings of sadness beyond the precipitating event Signs and Symptoms of Depression Low energy level Sleep disturbances Lack of appetite Limited libido Inability to perform activities of daily living Overwhelming feelings of [...]

Anxiolytic and Hypnotic Agents Types of Anxiolytic and Hypnotic Agents Anxiolytics Prevent feelings of tension or fear Sedatives Calm and make patients unaware of the environment Hypnotics Cause sleep Minor tranquilizers Produce a state of tranquility in anxious patients States Affected by Anxiolytic and Hypnotic Drugs Anxiety –Feeling of tension, nervousness, apprehension, or fear involving [...]

Introduction to Nerves and the Nervous System Role of the Nervous System Controls the functions of the human body Analyzes incoming stimuli Integrates internal and external responses Makeup of the Nervous System Central nervous system (CNS) Composed of the brain and spinal cord Peripheral nervous system (PNS) Sensory receptors bring information into the CNS Motor [...]

Vaccines and Sera Biologicals—Actions Stimulate the production of antibodies Provide preformed antibodies to facilitate an immune reaction React specifically with the toxins produced by an invading pathogen Types of Immunity Active immunity The body recognizes a foreign protein and begins producing antibodies to react with it Passive immunity Occurs when preformed antibodies are injected into [...]

Immune Modulators   Sites of Actions of Immune Modulators Immune modulators Modify the actions of the immune system Immune stimulants Energize the immune system when it needs help fighting a specific pathogen Immune suppressants Block the normal effects of the immune system in organ transplantation and autoimmune disorders Immune Stimulants Interferons Naturally released from human [...]

Anti-inflammatory Agents Inflammatory Response Protects the body from injury and pathogens Uses chemical mediators to produce the reaction that helps destroy pathogens and promote healing Anti-inflammatory Agents Block or alter the chemical reactions associated with the inflammatory response Types of Anti-inflammatory Agents Corticosteroids: used systemically to block the inflammatory and immune systems Antihistamines: block the [...]

Introduction to the Immune Response and Inflammation Body’s Defenses Barrier defenses Cellular defenses Inflammatory response Immune response Barrier Defenses Skin Protects the internal tissues and organs of the body Mucous membrane Lines the areas of the body that are exposed to external influences but do not have skin protection Gastric acid Secreted by the stomach [...]

Hildegard Peplau is one of the first theorists since Nightingale to present a theory for nursing. She introduced her interpersonal concepts in 1952 and based them on available theories at the time: psychoanalytic theory, principles of social learning, and concepts of human motivation and personality development. Psychodynamic nursing is defined as understanding one’s own behavior [...]

Antineoplastic Agents Neoplasm Cancer—Mechanisms of Growth Anaplasia Cancerous cells lose cellular differentiation and organization and are unable to function normally Autonomy Cancerous cells grow without the usual homeostatic restrictions that regulate cell growth and control This allows the cells to form a tumor Metastasis Cancer cells travel from the place of origin to develop new [...]