Medication and Pharmacology Flashcards
List and explain the “rights” of medication administration
The right client The right medication The right reason The right dose The right frequency The right route The right site The right time
What is the trade name of a medication
○ Trade name OR proprietary name:A brand name drug is a medication sold by a pharmaceutical company under a trademark-protected name (TM) stands for trade mark and follows each medication trade name, manufactureres chose trade names that are easy to pronounce, spell and remember to make it easier for the everyday person
What is the generic name of a medication?
○ Generic name OR non-proprietary name:is given by the manufacturer that first developd the medication. Acetominophine is the generic name for Tylenol. the generic name becomes the official name uner which the medication is listed in official publications
What is the official name of a medication?
Official name:the title under which a drug is listed in theUnited States Pharmacopeia(USP) or theNational Formulary(NF)
What information is required on a medication label?
- the name and address of the dispenser
- the serial number of the prescription
- the date of the prescription (date of filling or refilling)
- the name of the prescriber
- the name of the patient
- the directions for use , includingprecautions(if any)
- the name of the drug and strength(if any)
- a caution note (if any)
What are the components of a complete medication order?
- Medication name;
- Strength of medication (if one is required);
- Dosage of medication to be administered;
- Route of administration;
- Specific directions for use, including frequency of administration; and,
- PRN or “as needed” orders must also clearly state the reason for administration
List the nursing responsibilities in administering medication
- know which med isprescribed,therapeuticand non-therapeuticeffects, and any nursing implications associated with the med.
- responsible for performing a physicalassessment (ie. monitoring andinterpretingBP before admin. a hypertensive medication)
- determine whether a medication is safe to administer based on assessment
- know why the client needs the med
- know know if the client needssupervision during admin. or necessary education about the drug and its effects
- always monitor the effect of the drug after admin and report any reaction to prescriber
What “three checks” are required when preparing medication?
- Check the order (prescribed amount)[Check when you take it out of the chart.]
- Check the contents from the dispenser [Check it before you pour it in.]
- Check the order again to verify what you are administering[Check it before you put it back.]
Tablet:
a solid dosage form containing a medicinal substance with or without a suitable diluent
Lozenges:
A small medicinal tablet, originally of this shape, taken for sore throats and dissolved in the mouth: “throat lozenges”
Capsule:
an enclosing structure, as a soluble container enclosing a dose of medicine
Caplet:
A smooth, coated, oval-shaped medicine tablet intended to be tamper-resistant
Enteric Coated
designating a special coating applied to tablets or capsules that prevents release and absorption of active ingredients until they reach the intestine
Syrup:
a concentrated solution of a sugar, such as sucrose, in water or other aqueous liquid, sometimes with a medicinal agent added; usually used as a flavored vehicle for drugs.
Elixir:
a clear, sweetened, alcohol-containing, usually hydroalcoholicliquid containing flavoring substances and sometimes active medicinal ingredients
Suspension:
a liquid preparation consisting of solid particles dispersed throughout a liquid phase in which they are not soluble.
Suspended Release:
allowing a twofold or greater reduction in frequency of administration of a drug in comparison with the frequency required by a conventional dosage form.
When is it appropriate to “crush” a medication and which medications should never be crushed?
- pt cannot swallow
As long as it isn’t a slow release or an enteric coated
The nurse should know what medications can or cannot be crushed.
When is it appropriate to halve a tablet or caplet?
Only when it is scored
What are some different routes to administer medication?
Oral Sublingual Oral inhalers Eye drops and ointment Ear drops Nose Drops & Nasal Sprays/Inhalers Transdermal products and patches Topical
Describe responsibility in relation to telephone orders:
Telephone or verbal orders may be accepted only by a licensed nurse, registered pharmacist or qualified staff
responsible for medication administration.
The order is to be dated and signed by the person receiving the order and signed by the prescribing practitioner within 15 days of when the order is received. It is important that the employee understands that a copy of an order, including a telephone order, is always kept in the resident’s record.
Describes resident’s rights regarding medications, i.e., refusal, privacy, respect
- Respect – How the resident is addressed; The resident should not be interrupted while eating for the
administration of medications such as oral inhalers and eye drops. The resident should not be awakened to
administer a medication that could be scheduled or administered at other times; Explain to the resident the
procedure that the employee is about to perform; Answer questions the resident may have about the medication. - Refusal – The resident has a right to refuse medications. A resident should never be forced to take a
medication. The facility should have a policy and procedure to be followed when residents refuse medications.
The policy and procedure is to ensure the physician is notified timely (based on the resident’s mental and physical
condition and the medication). - Privacy – Knock on closed doors before entering; Do not administer medications when the resident is
receiving personal care or in the bathroom; Administration of injections outside the resident’s room is not
acceptable if the resident receiving the injection or other residents present are offended by this; Administration of
medications requiring privacy, e.g., vaginal and rectal administrations, dressing changes and treatments requiring
removal of clothing. - Chemical Restraint Medications, especially psychotropics, are not to be administered for staff convenience.
Describe what constitutes a medication error and actions to take when a medication error is made or detected
A medication error occurs when a medication is not administered as prescribed.
Examples of medication errors include: omissions; administration of a medication not prescribed by the prescribing practitioner; wrong dosage; wrong time, wrong route; crushing a medication that shouldn’t be crushed; and documentation errors. T
Define Drug:
Any chemical that can affect living processes
