Pharmacy Terminology and Regulations

Abbreviations and Acronyms

• ADME: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (pharmacokinetics)
• AWP: Average Wholesale Price
• HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (privacy rules for health info)
• HEPA: High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter
• IVPB: Intravenous Piggyback
• NaCl: Normal Saline (0.9% Sodium Chloride)
• OTC: Over the Counter
• R.Ph.: Registered Pharmacist
• Tsp vs. Tbsp: Teaspoon vs. Tablespoon
• CQI, QA, TQM: Continuous Quality Improvement, Quality Assurance, Total Quality Management (measures business performance)

Agencies and Laws

• DEA: Drug Enforcement Administration (regulates drug production, distribution, and sale)
• Boards of Pharmacy: Responsible for pharmacist registration
• OBRA 90: Requires pharmacist patient counseling

Customers

• Customer satisfaction: Absence of complaint doesn't guarantee satisfaction

Medication Errors

• Goal of studying medication errors: Identify causes and improve systems to prevent future errors

Definitions

• Antineoplastic: Medications for cancer treatment
• Compounding: Mixing ingredients to create a non-commercial drug
• Handwashing: First line of defense against infection
• Pharmacokinetics: ADME
• Acute vs. Chronic: Acute = sudden, requires immediate treatment; Chronic = long-term condition
• Enteral vs. Parenteral: Enteral = GI tract; Parenteral = outside the GI tract
• Knowledge Deficit vs. Performance Deficit: Knowledge = insufficient training; Performance = knowing but doing wrong
• Local vs. Systemic: Local = one area; Systemic = throughout the body
• Otic vs. Optic: Otic = ear; Optic = eye
• Tolerance vs. Dependence: Tolerance = higher doses needed for effect; Dependence = need for medication

Technician Roles and Responsibilities

• Technician tasks: Counting tablets, preparing IV admixtures, filling unit dose carts, restocking automated dispensing machines, restocking emergency code carts, and telephone insurance companies.
• Technician limitations: Cannot discuss allergic reactions, make drug recommendations, or recommend OTC meds, give nurses therapeutic alternatives, discuss therapy with doctors, or consult and educate patients.

Medications

• Chemotherapy agents: Should not be handled by pregnant employees
• Expiration Dates: Expire on the last day of the month (e.g., 05/21 = 05/31)
• Storage: 36-46°F
• Unit Dosing: Specific drug amount per dose; labeled with drug name, strength, and expiration date; liquid format gives dosage per mL (e.g., 125mg/5mL); carts contain 24-hour supply for each patient; sometimes filled by robot.

Dosage Formulations

• Elixir: Contains alcohol

Routes of Administration

• Sublingual: Under the tongue
• Transdermal: Patch (e.g., nicotine, nitroglycerin, fentanyl)
• Parenteral Routes: Fastest absorption route (e.g., IV)

Scheduled Drugs (Controlled Substances)

• CII: Morphine (opioid analgesic)
• CIII: Suboxone (opioid antagonist)
• CIV: Xanax (anti-anxiety)
• CV: Lomotil (anti-diarrheal)
• DEA form 222: Required for ordering Class II medications

Prescriptions

• Prescription Expiration: Most prescriptions last 12 months (controlled substances excluded)
• DAW (Dispense as Written): Brand-name dispensing, no generic substitution

Sig Codes

• BID, TID, QID, QD: (twice daily, three times daily, four times daily, once daily)
• q _ h: Every _ hours
• ac, pc: Before meals, after meals
• hs: At bedtime
• AD, AS, AU: Right, left, both eyes
• OD, OS, OU: Right, left, both ears
• PO: By mouth
• prn: As needed
• gtts: Drops

Calculations

• Days supply (4 calculations)
• Infusion Rate (total volume ÷ total time = mL/hr)
• Conversions: Metric and household (various conversions)
• Percentage Strengths: w/v, w/w, and v/v (various calculations)
• Ratio and Proportion (6 calculations)
• Roman Numerals (2 uppercase vs lowercase) conversions

Sterile Compounding

• IV additive prep: Clean the port with alcohol before use
• IV tubing priming: Prime the tubing before adding the medication
• LVPs vs. SVPs: LVPs >100mL, continuous use; SVPs ≤100mL, intermittent use
• Biological Safety Cabinets: Top-to-bottom airflow, inspections every 6 months
• Horizontal Laminar Flow Hood: Airflow toward the operator, 30-minute initial run-up after being turned off.

Syringes and Needles

• Syringe parts: Barrel, plunger, tip (handle only the barrel)
• Needle parts: Hub, shaft, bevel
• Needle gauge sizes: Smaller gauge = larger bore

Home Infusion Pharmacy

• Services: IV antibiotic therapy, IV pain medication, total parenteral nutrition (TPN)

Long-Term Care Pharmacy

• Responsibilities: Inspecting nursing units/stations (refrigerator temps, med dates, storage); consultant pharmacists perform monthly medication reviews.

TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition)

• Substrates: Dextrose (4 cal/g), lipids (9 cal/g), amino acids (4 cal/g)
• Additives: Electrolytes, avoid adding phosphate & calcium together (can precipitate)
• Max dextrose concentration in peripheral veins: 10%

Exam Information

• Exam Type: Final comprehensive exam (80 multiple-choice questions)
• Time Limit: 2 hours
• Point Value: 160 possible points
• Importance: Covers national certification exam material
• Code of Conduct: Adhere to the student code of conduct

Test your knowledge on essential abbreviations, acronyms, and important regulations in pharmacy. This quiz covers various topics including pharmacokinetics, medication errors, and the role of different regulatory bodies. Perfect for students or professionals in the healthcare field!