This Introduction to Pharmacology post features a collection of videos that provide a more visual approach for student nurses, for study purposes…
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their actions on the body.
Below you can find a collection of videos that can help provide a more visual approach to an introduction to pharmacology for nursing students.
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics refers to the mechanisms of drug action…the study of how a drug affects our bodies.
The majority of drugs elicit a response depending on how they interact with a particular protein, which happens through a receptor protein embedded in the cell membrane, or inside the cell within the cytoplasm or in the nucleus.
Sometimes a drug acts as a ligand for a receptor.
A drug may be:
- Agonist: mimics the native ligand and elicits the typical physiological response (a.k.a. facilitator) – Agonist promotes normal function of the protein.
- Antagonist: binds to the active site but DOES NOT activate the receptor (a.k.a. blocker / inhibitor) – Antagonist silences the protein and prevents function.
Drug Potency: the strength of a drug at a particular dosage or the amount of a drug required to produce a particular effect. Potency can also be described as the affinity of a drug for a receptor (high affinity = small amount of drug needed).
Drug Efficacy: maximum effect that can be achieved by a drug. Efficacy can also be described as the effect the drug has on the receptor and how well it acts as an agonist or an antagonist.
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption: how the drug moves from site of administration into the bloodstream
- Distribution: journey through the bloodstream to reach target cells and molecules
- Metabolism: modification by enzymes to render the drug ineffective
- Excretion: the removal of the drug from the body via urine/faeces
Pharmacodynamics: Mechanisms of Drug Action
Pharmacokinetics: How drugs move through the body
Special thanks to the creator of the featured videos on this post, specifically Youtube Channel Professor Dave Explains.
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Claire is keen about public education on health-related subjects as well as holistic patient-centered care. She is also passionate about spreading awareness on the negative effects that domestic abuse leaves on its victims’ mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing.
Claire aspires to continue studying following completion of her Nursing Degree, because she truly believes in lifelong education.
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