Module 5: Medication management Flashcards
define medication error
a preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional , patient, or consumer.
List 7 examples of medication errors
- Misinterpretation of the medication ordered
- Misinterpreting illegible handwriting
- Omitting medication
- Using the wrong document, medication or dose form
- Giving wrong patient, drug, dose, route, or wrong time/day
- Giving extra dose
- Failure to document
List 4 factors that can contribute to medication errors
– Similar names or similar packaging
– Not commonly used or prescribed
– Commonly used medications to which many patients are allergic
– Medications that require pathology to ensure maintenance of therapeutic levels are maintained
Medications can 3 types of names, list and define each
1) Chemical:
- precise description of drug’s chemical composition.
- used by the pharmacist
2) Generic:
- Assigned by the manufacturer who first develops the drug
- often derived from the chemical name
- official name as identified in the official publication
3) Trade / brand:
- selected by the company selling the drug and is copyrighted.
- drugs can have several trade names when produced by different manufacturers
What is the definition of a medication interaction?
- combined effect of two or more drugs acting simultaneously
- each drug may have a positive or negative effect on the effectiveness of the other drug
- Antagonistic = lessening the effectiveness
- Synergistic = enhancing or improving the effectiveness
Define a side effect of medications
A known effect that is other than that intended
define adverse reaction
Unwanted, unintended effect of administration of a drug due to allergy or sensitivity
Can be immediate or delayed for hours-days
list examples of ‘best practice’ for medication administration
- Use generic names
- Do not return unused medications to the containers
- Observe the patient taking the medication
- Listen to your patient
- Document immediately after administration
- Re-evaluate within an appropriate timeframe
- Report drug interactions/ reactions/ errors
- Know your facility systems and processes
- Avoid distractions
- Prevent infection - 5 Moments of HH
- Do not touch medication with hands
- Do not leave medications unattended
- Ensure all labelling is clear
- Ask questions
what is the medication calculation formula for:
tablets and capsules?
Number of tablets/capsules to give =
Stock strength
what is the medication calculation formula for:
oral liquids
Volume to give =
Dose ordered X volume of stock solution
___________ ____________________
Stock strength 1
what is the medication calculation formula for:
injections
Volume to give =
Dose ordered X volume of stock solution
___________ ____________________
Stock strength 1
what is the medication calculation formula for:
infusions in mL/hour
Infusion rate (mL/hr) =
volume (mL)
____________
Time (hr)
what is the medication calculation formula for:
infusions in dpm
Infusion rate (drops/min) =
volume (mL) X Drop factor
____________ —————-
Time (hr) 60
what are the 6 rights of medication administration and what does MAX stand for?
Right:
- Drug
- Dose
- Documentation
- Time / and date
- Patient
- Route
M: MIMS
A: Allergies
X: expiry date
IVT fluid types used are based on desired outcome.
what are the ‘5Rs’
- Resuscitation
- Routine maintenance
- Replacement
- Redistribution
- Reassessment
what assessment tool is always used with a patient who has an IV inserted?
PIVAS
Peripheral Intravascular Assessment Score
What are the indications for IV therapy?
- restore/maintains fluid electrolyte balance
- nutritional support
- rapid administration - trauma/codes
- medication administration
What are the 5 basic principles for drug therapy
1) Oral admin of analgesics
2) Analgesia is prescribed according to pain intensity (pain scale)
3) Analgesics is given at regular intervals
4) Dosing is adapted to the individual
5) Analgesia is prescribed with a constant concern for detail.
