Week 1 - Study Cards Flashcards
Causes of Medical errors
- Lack of information about patient - allergies, meds
- lack of information about drug
- communication and teamwork failures
- unclear, absent, or look-alike and sound-alike meds
- unsafe standardization, storage, distribution, and devices
- Calculation errors and failures to adhere to rights
- errors in computer entry
Six Rights of Medication
- Right Medication
- Right Dose
- Right client
- Right Route
- Right time
- Right documentation
Explain the right of right medication
Compare medical administration record with order
Explain the right of right dose
Check calculations and labels
Explain the right of right client
Two unique identifiers (ie name, DOB)
NOT ROOM NUMBER
Explain the right of right route
- How medication is administered (orally, injection, etc)
- Check ordered & drug guides
- Special considerations with feeding tubes
Explain the right of right time
- Time of day and frequency
- 30 minute rule
Explain the right of right documentation
- No documentation leads to double dosing
- Avoid “Do Not Use” abbreviations
- Outcomes of meds
Explain the right of right to refuse
- Nurse should document and notify caregivers
Kendra’s Law
- Legislation designed to protect the public and individuals living with mental illness by ensuring that potentially dangerous mentally ill outpatients are safely and effectively treated.
- Court ordered assisted out patient treatment.
Emergency court orders
- May give medications forcibly
- Requires judges orders.
Other rights
- Right to education about medication being given
- Right to understand interactions
- Right to medication reconciliation across continuum of care
Seven essential components of written medication orders
- Clients full name
- Date and Time written
- Name of medication
- Dosage
- Route
- Frequency
- Signature of prescriber or proxy
Trade name
The brand name or proprietary name under which a manufacturer markets the medication (i.e. Advil)
Generic name
The proper name, chemical name, or nonproprietary name of the medication. (i.e. Ibuprophen)
By law, the generic name must appear on all medication labels
Medications are written in the following order
- Name of medication
- Dosage
- Route
- Frequency
True or False: prn must have a frequency which designates the maximum time allowed between doses.
True
Medication Administration Record
- Handwritten or electronic form used to document medications client has and will receive
- Method of charting varies per institution
- Used to document patient refusals, delays in administration, and medication responses
Use the MAR to:
- Check medication order
- Prepare correct dosage
- Record medication administration
True or False: Oral (verbal) orders must be written down, read back to the prescribers, and confirmed with the prescriber that the order is correct.
True
Scored Tablets
- Tablets with indented markings designed to cut and deliver 1/2 to1/4 of tablet
- Breaking an unscored tablet is dangerous and can result in unintended dose
Oral Medication
- Most economical
- Easiest to administer
- Most common type of medication given
- Available as solids and liquids
- Most convenient and comfortable for patient
Enteric-coated tablets
- Special coating that protects against gastric secretions
- Never crush EC tablets - defeats the purpose
Layered Tablets
Layers or cores of two meds with different compatibilities or absorption components
Tablets
Powdered medications molded in shapes
Caplets
Elongated tablets coated to ease swallowing
Time Released or Extended release
Never crush, chew, or break
Capsules
Contains powder, liquid, or oil with hard or soft gelatin coating
- Never crush, chew, or break without consulting a pharmacist
Troches and Lozenges
A small medicated lozenge designed to dissolve
Slowly dissolved in mouth
Oral Liquid Meds for clients with dysphagia, NG tube or gastrostomy tube, infants, or young children
- Elixers, Suspentions, syrups
- Never give oral liquids by IV
Elixer
Medications dissolved in alcohol and water
Suspension
One or more medications finely divided into a liquid such as water
Syrup
Medication dissolved in concentrated solution of sugar and water
