Medications Flashcards
Preferred needle gauge for administering blood products
18G or higher
Maintenance fluid that can be used for blood administration
0.9% NaCl (Normal saline)
Rate used for initial 15 minutes of blood administration
5 mL/min
Blood MUST be administered within how many hours?
4 hours
How frequently should vital signs be checked when administering blood?
Every 15 minutes for at least the first hour
If a transfusion reaction is suspected, the nurse should…
- STOP TRANSFUSION
- Restart NS to maintain IV access
- Bag blood and IV tubing and return to blood bank
- Draw blood samples and collect urine samples
- Monitor for hematuria
What medications can be given for a transfusion reaction?
- Diphenhydramine
- Aspirin
- Steroids
Contraindications to receiving autologous blood
- Acute infection
- Chronic disease
- Hemoglobin less than 11 g/L, hematocrit less than 33%
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Cardiovascular disease
Fluid overload transfusion reaction (S/S and interventions)
- S/S: SOB, rales/crackles
2. Interventions: Administer O2, Slow transfusion, Call MD
Allergic transfusion reaction (Hypersensitivity) (S/S and interventions)
- S/S: Mild = Uticaria, itching, flushing
Anaphylaxis = HypoTN, Dyspnea, low O2, flushing - Interventions: Stop blood, O2, NS, antihistamine
Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (S/S and interventions)
- S/S (SYSTEMIC): N/V, lower back pain, hypoTN, increase HR, decreased urine, hematuria
- Interventions: Stop blood, airway, antihistamines
Febrile transfusion reaction (most common) (S/S and interventions)
- S/S: Fever, chills, HA, flushing, tachycardia, palpitation
- Interventions: Stop blood, ASPIRIN
Bacterial transfusion reaction (S/S and interventions)
- S/S: Tachycardia, HypoTN, Fever, chills, shock
2. Interventions: Stop blood, obtain culture, antibiotics, steroids
Isotonic solutions
Same concentration as body fluids (no shift of fluids)
- NS
- Lactated Ringers
- D5W
Hypotonic solutions
Concentration less than body fluids (fluid shift to tissues)
1. 1/2 NS
Hypertonic solutions
Concentration greater than body fluids (fluid shift to vessel)
- 10-15% dextrose in water
- 3% NaCl
- Sodium bicarbonate 5%
Main goal of IV therapy
Maintain or restore fluid/electrolyte balance
IV insertion procedure STERILE TECHNIQUE
- Apply tourniquet 4-6” above site
- Clean with alcohol swab working from center outward
- Repeat cleaning with iodine
- Hold skin taunt and stabilize vein
- Insert catheter bevel up at 15-20 degrees
- Lessen angle and advance watching for blood flash
- Once blood is seen, advance another 1/4” and remove tourniquet
- Withdraw needle and advance catheter to hub
- Secure
How frequently should IV tubing be changed?
Every 72 hours
How frequently should IV bags be changed?
Every 24 hours (even if not empty yet)
Infiltration from IV therapy (S/S and interventions)
Medication goes into tissues
S/S: Edema, pain, COOLNESS, decreased flow rate
Interventions: Discontinue IV, WARM compresses, elevate arm
Extravasation from IV therapy (S/S and interventions)
Infiltration with blistering and sloughing of skin
Interventions: Discontinue IV (aspirate as removing), Prevention
Medications that will cause extravasation
- Gentamycin
- Penicillin
- Vancomycin
- Dilantin
- Antineoplastic drugs
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Epinephrine
Phlebitis/Thrombophlebitis from IV therapy (S/S and interventions)
Irritation of the vein
S/S: Reddened, WARM, tender, swelling
Interventions: Discontinue IV, WARM, MOIST compress
Hematoma from IV therapy (S/S and interventions)
S/S: ecchymosis, swelling, leakage of blood at insertion
Interventions: Apply pressure, COOL compress/ICE
Clotting from IV therapy (S/S and interventions)
S/S: Decreased flow rate, back flow of blood into tubing
Interventions: Discontinue IV, Urokinase
Interventions that should NOT be performed if clotting occurs during IV therapy
- Irrigation or milking of tubing
- Increase of IV flow rate
- Aspiration of clot
Length of time a PICC can remain in place
Up to 6 months
S/S to look for to prevent PICC complications
- SOB
- Pain with respiration
- Decreased movement of arm
Length of time a MLC can remain in place
1-8 weeks
Triple lumen catheter lumen uses
- Distal lumen = Infuse or draw blood
- Middle lumen = TPN
- Proximal lumen = Infuse/draw blood, medications
If resistance is met when trying to flush a triple lumen catheter, the nurse should…
Call the HCP. NEVER FORCE FLUSH!!
Dressing change procedure for a triple lumen catheter
- Low-fowler’s
- Masks for both nurse and patient
- Alcohol and iodine to clean site
Adrenergic medications (ENDD)
- Epinephrine
- Norepinephrine
- Dopamine
- Dobutamine
Common side effects of adrenergic medications
- Dysrhythmias
- Tremors
- Anticholinergic reaction (dry mouth, urinary retention)
Nursing interventions for adrenergic medications
- Monitor BP
- Monitor peripheral pulses
- Monitor output
- Maintain safety (can cause drowsiness)
Benzodiazepines medications (Suffix specific)
- PAM or -LAM suffix
* *expect for Chlordiazepoxide
Non-benzodiazepine medications
- Buspirone
2. Hydroxyzine
Herbal antianxiety medications
- Kava
2. Melatonin
Most important to remember for patient taking benzodiazepines
CNS DEPRESSION! (sedation, confusion, hepatic dysfunction) - Avoid alcohol!
Teaching regarding antianxiety medications
- Discontinue slowly (no abrupt stopping)
- Changes in smoking/caffeine intake will affect effectiveness of medication (HX IMPORTANT!)
- Avoid alcohol (CNS depression)
Antacid medications (One word specific)
HYDROXIDE
- Aluminum hydroxide
- Magnesium hydroxide
Side effects of antacids
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Acid rebound between doses
- Metabolic acidosis
Administration timing for antacids
1-2 hours AFTER eating and/or other medications
General side effects of antibiotics
- Allergy (not necessarily after first dose)
- Superinfection
- Organ toxicity (specifically kidney and liver)
General teaching when administering antibiotics
- Take until gone!!
- Always do a culture and sensitivity FIRST before administering
- Encourage fluids (3000 ml/day)
- Generally taken 1 hour BEFORE or 2-3 hours AFTER meals (2 exceptions)
- Check expiration dates! (can be toxic if expired)
Aminoglycoside medications (Suffix specific)
Antibiotics; -MYCIN suffix
**EXCLUDES erythromycin, azethromycin, vancomycin
Aminoglycoside specific side effects
- Ototoxicity (8th cranial nerve)
2. Nephrotoxicity
Cephalosporin medications (Prefix specific)
Antibiotics; CEF-/CEPH- prefix
Cephalosporin specific side effects
- Rash
- Bone marrow suppression
- False positives for protein or glucose in urine
Cephalosporin specific patient teaching
- TAKE WITH FOOD
2. Cross allergy with penicillin
Fluoroquinolone medications (Suffix specific)
Antibiotics; -FLOXACIN suffix
Macrolide medications (exception -mycin’s)
Antibiotic
- Erythromycin
- Azethromycin
Macrolide specific side effects
- Confusion
2. Increased effectiveness of warfarin and theophylline
Penicillin medications (Suffix specific)
Antibiotics; -CILLIN suffix
Penicillin specific side effects
- Breakdown of mouth and GI tract (stomatitis and gastritis)
- Biggest allergy reaction**
Penicillin specific teaching
- Take yogurt or buttermilk if diarrhea develops
2. DON’T double doses if dose is missed
Sulfonamide medications (Prefix specific)
Antibiotics; SULF- prefix
Sulfonamide specific side effects
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Crystalluria/proteinuria
- Photosensitivity