Theme 4: Reducing The Risk In Medicine Administration Flashcards
What are the 5R’s of medication
Right patient
Right medication
Right dose
Right route
Right time
What are the other 5Rssss
Right patient education
Right documentation
Right to refuse
Right assessment
Right evaluation
What’s our duty if we make medication error?
Nursing and Midwifery Council – The Code (2018):
•14 Be open and candid with all service users about all aspects of care and treatment, including when any mistakes or harm have taken place
•To achieve this, you must:
•14.1 act immediately to put right the situation if someone has suffered actual harm for any reason or an incident has happened which had the potential for harm
•14.2 explain fully and promptly what has happened, including the likely effects, and apologise to the person affected and, where appropriate, their advocate, family or carers
•14.3 document all these events formally and take further action (escalate) if appropriate so they can be dealt with quickly
What are consequence of drug errors
Usually, errors come to no harm
Nominated member of staff will contact you following the incident
Serious incidents require access to documentation and perhaps statements
Some errors may not be your fault, such as patient reactions
If you followed all key principles of medications administration and its documented this will reduce any implications on you
What can serious errors lead to?
Fitness to practice
Removal from the NMC register
Implications on trust CQX fines
Patients an families holding trusts accountable
What are the reasons for giving drugs?
Prevention/Prophylaxis
e.g. contraception, immunisation, antibiotics
Relief of symptoms:
e.g. analgesia, anti-emetic, bronchodilator
Cure:
e.g. antibiotics
Replacement of a missing factor:
e.g. insulin, iron, thyroxine, VIII
What are routs of administration?
oral/sublingual intravenous
subcutaneous intramuscular
topical vaginal
nasal rectal
inhalation
ocular
Whats a side effect?
An unwanted pharmacological response which is
known about and can not be separated from the main
action of the drug
Whats a contra-indication
Circumstances in which a drug should not be given
e.g. before and/or during pregnancy, aspirin should not be given to children under 12 or where there is a history of gastric problems
What is the role of safe storage?
Drug safety and storage is the responsibility of the nurse in charge
All medicines/drugs must be kept in a locked cupboard/’fridge.
Controlled Drugs must be kept in a locked cupboard within a locked cupboard
Key safety - controlled drugs key kept separate, keys kept on the person of the nurse in charge
Medicine trolley to be kept locked and secured to a wall when not in use
Meticulous record keeping and documentation.
Report any missing drugs and/or faulty equipment
