EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2108 | Principles of Pharmacology
EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2108 | Principles of Pharmacology  starts with an introduction to the topic. This Chapter discusses important pharmacological terms, the fundamental principles of pharmacokinetics, the “rights” of giving medication and how to ensure safe drug administration in pre-hospital setting. It also deals with different ways to administer medications, various forms and practice safe administration techniques, followed by common medication errors and ways to prevent them.
The lessons covered are:
- Lesson 1:Â Introduction to Pharmacology for EMT
- Lesson 2:Â Medication Safety
- Lesson 3:Â Routes of Medication Administration
- Lesson 4: Forms of Medications
- Lesson 5: Medication Errors
- Lesson 6: Medication Administration Techniques
- Lesson 7: Pharmacology in Special Populations
Excerpt from EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2108 | Principles of PharmacologyÂ
Pharmacokinetics describes how drugs move through the body, often summarized by the acronym A-D-M-E: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion. Absorption is how the drug enters the bloodstream, which varies depending on the route of administration. Distribution refers to how the drug spreads throughout the body.
Metabolism is the process by which the body breaks down the drug, usually in the liver. Finally, excretion is how the body eliminates the drug, typically through the kidneys or liver. Understanding these processes helps EMTs anticipate how quickly a drug will take effect, how long it will last, and potential complications in patients with impaired organ function.
Several factors can affect how a patient responds to a drug. Age is crucial, as elderly patients often metabolize drugs differently than younger adults. Weight affects dosing for many medications. Gender can influence drug metabolism due to hormonal differences.
Genetic factors can significantly impact how individuals process certain drugs. A patient’s overall health status, especially liver and kidney function, affects drug metabolism and excretion. Other medications the patient is taking can interact with new drugs. Even the time of day a drug is administered can affect its efficacy in some cases. As EMTs, being aware of these factors will help you anticipate potential variations in drug responses among your patients.
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Core Concepts & Takeaways
- Define key pharmacological terms and concepts, including drug classifications, generic vs. brand names, and the basic principles of pharmacokinetics (ADME).
- Explain and apply the “Rights” of medication administration and demonstrate understanding of medication safety practices in prehospital care.
- Identify and describe various routes of medication administration, including their advantages, disadvantages, and appropriate use in emergency medical situations.
- Recognize different forms of medications and demonstrate proper administration techniques for each, with special attention to safety considerations for different patient populations.
- Analyze common types of medication errors, explain strategies for their prevention, and outline the proper procedure for reporting and learning from medication errors in EMS settings.
Important Notes:
To get credit for this course, you must watch all the lessons in their entirety, the course review, and pass the quiz at the end with a score of 75% or better.
This Chapter falls under the Patient Treatment and Transport section of the NREMT Test
Course Curriculum
EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2108 | Principles of Pharmacology
-
Lesson 0 – Chapter Introduction
02:47 -
Lesson 1 – Introduction to Pharmacology for EMTs
07:07 -
Lesson 2 – Medication Safety
07:40 -
Lesson 3 – Routes of Medication Administration
07:19 -
Lesson 4 – Forms of Medications
06:19 -
Lesson 5 – Medication Administration Techniques
07:03 -
Lesson 6 – Medication Errors
05:54 -
Lesson 7 – Pharmacology in Special Populations
08:10 -
Lesson 8 – Chapter Review
06:14 -
EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2108 | Principles of Pharmacology | QUIZ
