Basics Flashcards
Medical information gathering
Allergies (food drug herbal environment.) note the nature of the drug.
Prescription medications
OTC medications
Herbals, supplements, vitamins
Illicit drugs if any
Ask if any medications are recent (last two months) and if any reactions have occurred
Asked if they have not taken any that the doctor prescribed.
Parts of an MD order
Patients name and identification Date and time the order was written Name of medication Dosage Route Frequency Monitoring parameters Signature
Do not use abbreviation list
QD must be written as daily
QOD must be written as every other day
1.0 shouldn’t have trailing zeros and should be written as 1
.5 should have a leading zero 0.5
U must be written as units
IU must be written as international units
MS must be written as morphine.
MgSO4 or MG must be written out as magnesium sulfate
What are the five rights
Right drug Dose Time Route Patient
Right drug
Know what the drug is for
Compare the drug to package label
Compare label to MAR or medication order
Right dose
Verify the right drug
Make sure that the amount is correct-account for size and age
Extra caution in neonates, peds, critically ill, elderly
If you have to give multiple vials, call the pharmacy to be sure the dose is correct
Right time
Know the institutions policy where you work
Know your buffers
Know what to do if the dose is late
Right route
Very important to know how the drug is given
Oral, iv, im, Intradermal, enteral continuous infusion, piggy back, push
Rule of thumb, if you have to go through a lot of work to get it in the patient, take a time out and call the pharmacy
Iv medications are rarely thick or cloudy
Right patient
The most important
Always verify the patient via your institutions correct policy and procedure even if you have worked with the patient for days.
Normally utilize the patients name and the medical Record number, financial number, ssn, or DOB
Never use room number of physical characteristics.
Evaluation
Occurs after the plan has been implemented.
Has the medication worked
Is the pain resolved
Blood pressure resulted
What is the pharmacology rule of thumb with medication administration?
If you ever have to give more than two of anything or the order calls for more than two always verify it with the pharmacy or another senior nurse or with the physician
What is best for your patient?
It is important to always follow through on any problems or barriers
Always think If it was one of your loved ones
Otis the patient you are caring for.
