Pottery & Perry Cp 34 (Topical Meds) Flashcards
Guidelines for safe narcotic administration and control
- store all narcotics in a locked, secure cabinet or container
- count narcotics frequently-inventories to be count on a continuous basis (esp when the draw is open or during shift change)
- report discrepancies in narcotic counts immediately
- after dispensing a narcotic, use the record to document the its name, date, time of administration, name of med, dose, and signature
- if you dispense only part of a premeasured dose of a controlled substance, a second nurse must witness disposal of the unused portion
- never place waste portions in the sharps containers
- medications are never to be disposed into sink, toilet, or garbage can- must be returned to pharmacy or disposed of in a pharmacy-designated container
- controlled liquid are never left in their vials-draw up using a needles syringe and disposed of as a liquid
blood flow to the site of administration
when the site of administration contains rich blood supply, the body absorbs medications more rapidly.
more blood supply=enhanced absorption
body surface area and medication
the larger the surface area, the medication will be absorbed at a faster rate
lipid solubility of a medication
- cell membranes have lipid layer
- high lipid soluble medication easily cross the cell membrane and are absorbed more quickly
- medication is also affected by the presence of food in the stomach
- food can change the structure of a medication and impair absorption
protein binding and elders
- elders have a decrease in albumin in their bloodstream=a change in liver function
- the same is true for pts who have liver disease or are malnourished
- causes the potential for medication to be unbound and thus may be at risk for increase in medication activity or toxicity (or both)
why is liver function important for medication?
a decrease in liver function results in a medication to usually be eliminated more slowly and results in an accumulation of the medication
-pt is at risk for toxicity
how much fluid intake is needed to promote proper elimination of medication in an average adult?
50mL/kg/day
therapeutic effect
The therapeutic effect is the expected or predictable physiological response that a medication causes.
side effects
are the unintended, secondary effects that a medication predictably will cause
adverse effects
are severe, negative responses to medication
-When adverse responses to medications occur, the prescriber immediately discontinues the medication. Some adverse effects are unexpected effects that were not discovered during drug testing. When this situation occurs, health care providers should report the adverse effect to the Health Protection Branch of the federal government
toxic effects
develop after prolonged intake of a medication or after a medication accumulates in the blood because of impaired metabolism or impaired excretion.
idiosyncratic reactions
when a patient overreacts or underreacts to a medication or has a reaction different from the normal reaction.
allergic reaction
are unpredictable responses to a medication
- Some patients become immunologically sensitized to the initial dose of a medication. After repeated administration of the medication, the patient develops an allergic response
- antibiotics cause a high incidence of allergic reactions
anaphylactic reaction
are severe reactions that are life-threatening and are characterized by sudden constriction of bronchial muscles, edema of the pharynx and larynx, severe wheezing, shortness of breath, and circulatory collapse. Immediate use of antihistamines, epinephrine, or bronchodilators is required to treat anaphylactic reactions.
allergic reactions (mild) include:
urticaria, rash, pruritus, and rhinitis
how do we achieve constant blood level in a medication within a therapeutic range?
Repeated doses are required to achieve a constant therapeutic concentration of a medication because a portion of a drug is always being excreted.
peak concentration
highest serum concentration of a medication usually occurs just before the body absorbs the last of the medication
-IV meds-peak concentration occurs quickly, but the serum level also begins to fall immediately
trough level
point at which the lowest amount of drug is detected in the serum is called trough concentration.
-usually drawn 30 minutes before the drug is administered, and the peak level is drawn whenever the drug is expected to reach its peak concentration
onset
The time it takes for a medication to produce a response after it has been administered.
duration
the time during which a medication is present in sufficient concentration to produce a response.
plateau
Blood serum concentration of a medication has been reached and is maintained after repeated fixed doses
serum half-life
the time it takes for the excretion processes to lower the serum medication concentration by half.
- to maintain a therapeutic plateau, the patient needs to receive regular fixed doses
- most effective when pain medications are given “around the clock”
considerations for sublingual route
- medication should not be swallowed b/c it will not have the desired effect
- avoid giving the pt liquids
- instruct the pt not to drink anything until the medication is completely dissolved
buccal administration considerations
- to avoid mucosal irritation, teach patients to alternate cheeks with each subsequent dose
- Advise patients not to chew or swallow the medication or to take any liquids with it
- A buccal medication acts locally on the mucosa or systemically when it is dissolved in a person’s saliva.
intradermal
Injection into epidermis
Subcutaneous (subcu)
injection into tissues just below the dermis
Intramuscular (IM)
-Injection into a muscle
Intravenous (IV):
Injection into a vein
contraindications/disadvantages with oral meds
- avoid when pt has alterations in GI function (e.g., nausea, vomiting), reduced motility (after general anaesthesia or bowel inflammation), or surgical resection of a portion of the gastrointestinal tract
- unable to swallow (e.g., patients with neuromuscular disorders, esophageal strictures, mouth lesions).
- oral meds can irritate the lining of the GI tract, discolour teeth, or leave an unpleasant taste
- unconscious or confused pts
- hold with pt’s that have gastric suctions
- before medical tests/surgeries
contraindications for subcut, IM, and ID routes
-are avoided in patients who have bleeding tendencies.
-risk of introducing infections
-risk of tissue damage with subcutaneous injections.
IM and IV routes have higher absorption rates, which places the patient at higher risk for reactions.
topical medication contraindications
Patients with skin abrasions are at risk for rapid medication absorption and systemic effects.
mucous membranes contraindications
- pts with ruptured eardrums cannot receive irrigations
- rectal suppositories are contraindicated if pt has had rectal surgery or if active rectal bleeding is present
what to consider when giving topical medications?
- wear gloves to prevent absorbing medication through the applier’s skin and for hygienic reasons
- systemic effects can occur if the pt’s skin is thin/broken down, if the med concentration is high, or if the med contact with the skin is prolonged
intraocular route
medication delivered in a form of a contact lens directly into the pt’s eye. the disc can remain in the pt’s eye for up to 1 week
what to do when a nurse receive a verbal order?
- must read it back and receive confirmation from the prescribed to ensure accuracy
- must immediately enter the order into the pt’s medical record and records the time and the name of the prescriber who gave the order
- nurse must sign the record
- within 24 hours the prescriber needs to sign the order
- nursing students cannot receive verbal orders
routine medication orders
-the order is carried out until the prescriber cancels it by writing a new order or until a prescribed number of days have elapsed
as-needed (prn) orders
a medication is to be given only when a pt requires it
single (one-time) orders
-prescriber will often order a medication to be given only once at a specified time