ESSENTIAL ACTION 3 Flashcards
What are the nine key stages of the medication process aimed at preventing medication errors?
The nine key stages are acquisition, storage, prescription, transcription, dispensation, reception, preparation, administration, and double-checks.
What are the color codes and concentrations for different electrolytes?
Sodium (Blue, 7.5%)
Magnesium sulfate (Green, 10%)
Calcium gluconate (Yellow, 10%)
Potassium chloride (Red, 14%)
Potassium phosphate (Orange, 15%)
Sodium chloride (White, 17.7%)
What are the essential actions for the acquisition of concentrated electrolytes?
Concentrated electrolytes should be acquired in 10 ml vials, clearly labeled and stored according to safety standards.
What are the storage requirements for medications to ensure safety?
Medications must have batch control, expiration dates, high-risk medicines must be identified with red visual warnings, and look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications must have blue warnings.
What information must be included in a medication prescription?
The prescription must include the medical institution’s name and address, prescriber’s full name, ID, signature, preparation date, patient’s name, generic name of the medicine, dosage, frequency, route, and duration of treatment.
How should medications with similar appearance or names be identified?
Medications with a similar appearance or name should have visual warnings such as capital letters, bold font, and different color backgrounds to differentiate them, especially for high-risk medications.
What is required for the transcription of medication orders?
The transcription must be clear, legible, without deletions or corrections, and must exactly match the original prescription.
What should pharmacy staff verify when dispensing medication?
Pharmacy staff must verify that the medication request is accurate and ensure that all medications have expiration dates and inventory control records.
What is the responsibility of the nursing staff upon receiving medications?
Nursing staff must verify that the received medications correspond to the prescriptions, and ensure that they are labeled with two identification data points (e.g., full name and date of birth).
What steps must be verified during the preparation of medications?
The preparation must ensure the correct patient identification, concentration, name of the medication, route, dilution (if applicable), and the preparation and expiration date/time.
What must be confirmed during the administration of medication?
Only authorized personnel may administer medication, ensuring the correct patient, medication, dose, route, speed, time, and expiration date. Electrolytes, insulin, or anticoagulants must be prepared just before administration.
What must be done immediately after administering medication?
The administration data must be entered into the nursing sheet immediately, and any discontinued medications should be delivered to the pharmacy or follow the specific protocol.
What are the guidelines for double-checking painkillers and high-risk medications?
Double-checks help reduce the likelihood of measurement errors, particularly for high-risk medications like painkillers.
What actions should be taken in the case of sentinel events, adverse events, or near-failures related to medication?
Immediate stabilization should be prioritized, the treating physician should be notified, and a root cause analysis must be conducted to assess issues related to medication administration.
What controls are in place for medicines, equipment, devices, and supplies in healthcare facilities?
Healthcare facilities must establish protocols for the control of medications, equipment, and supplies, including their inactivation or final destination, and ensure that the use of multi-dose medications follows specific guidelines regarding opening and expiration times.
