Medication Administration (Safety) Flashcards
When administering medications you should..?
Double check the providers orders
Contact the provider if…?
The order is unclear, illegible, or transcribed incorrectly (either in computer or handwritten)
Watch out for…?
Sound alike medications
Know which medication is most important…?
Know the indication or therapeutic effect
Side effects…?
Prioritize top 3, will see 45 per drug
ex. dizziness, patient teaching and interventions
Interventions..?
Prioritize top 3
ex. IV need dilute and/or time frame
Putting into MAR…?
Completed by provider, nurse, and pharmacy (combination)
Checks and balances of MAR…?
Important with all disciplines to identify if there is a problem
First and Second 5 rights check…?
- Patient drug route, time, and dose
- from automated dispensing cabinet
What is mindfulness during med admin…?
No multitasking, correct dosage calculations
What should you do when taking medication to patients room…?
- Only take one patients meds per trip
- Don’t set it down on the way
- Label any syringes/liquids (pt name)
What should you do in the patient’s room
- Identify the patient 2 times (name/DOB)
- wash hands
Complete the 3rd check…?
- When giving medication to patients
- Encourage the patient to know what they are taking
What is considered the 6th right…?
- Documentation
- if not done properly, someone else might give an added dose
How should you evaluate med pass…?
- Oral: within 1-2 hrs
- IV: within 5-15 mins
- Piggy Back: 20-30 mins
- IM: 30-45 mins
Where medication errors occur most likely…?
- Lack of knowledge about the patient/medication
- Entering information in MAR
What are the 6 rights of medication administration…?
- Right drug
- Right dose
- Right route
- Right time
- Right patient
- Right documentation
Ways to prevent med errors…?
-Double check providers orders
-Check the medication administration record (MAR)
-Look up all medications before administering them
-Read drug insert and/or contact pharmacist if you still have questions
-Student nurses- check with clinical instructor
-Contact healthcare provider and/or charge nurse if still unsure
-Follow facility and institutional guidelines
-Never give meds you did not draw up or prepare yourself
-Follow the rights of safe medication administration
Follow up
-Never waste meds that you don’t know
#1 cause of error is lack of knowledge
#2- lack of info about the patient- don’t learn about allergies
What is the process for safe med admin…?
- Know your patient history (hx), labs and assess your patient
- Follow the orders
- Perform the rights of safe med administration
- Triple check the medications against the MAR before the patient takes them- most important, read when you get out of cabinet, pour check again, check third when you take in patients room
- Reassess your patient afterwards and document
How should you look up medications…?
- Drug name
- Action- what it does- important
- Onset- how quick it works
- Side effects- what are common
- Contradictions- only those that may affect patient
- Nursing interventions-how do you handle/administer/asses/ with this medication
- Down and dirty report
How should you assess a patient for medication administration…?
- Perform assessment
- Check if the pt is able to swallow (pills)
- Check skin integrity if using topicals/dermals/injections
- Consider mental status- cognitive impairment
- For patient that have been clear for oral meds but have difficulty swallowing
- Cut scored pills only
- Crush if able
- Mix with thickened liquids or pudding/apple sauce
- Check to see if drug comes in a liquid form
