THEOTETICAL COMPETENCIES

Please complete the following questions. Write your answers on this sheet
continue in a separate sheet in required.
1. What are the three categories of medications as defined by the
medicines Act 1968?
POM-prescription only medicines, only from pharmacist if prescribed
by appropriate practitioner.
P-pharmacy medicines, available only from a pharmacist but
without a prescription.
GSL-general sales list medicines which maybe brought-from any
shop without prescription.
2. What other Acts of Parliament relating to medicines do you as a
practitioner needs to be aware of and why?
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. It divides controlled drugs in to class A,
B, C according to the perceived degree of harm.
Class A-the most harmful when misused: morphine,
diamorphine, heroin, cocaine, and LSD
Class B- less dangerous but still harmful: barbiturall, speed,
cannabis, mephedrone and codeine
Class C- less dangerous but still illegal: ketamine, gammahidroxil
butrate, anabolic steroids
3. As a registred nurse what are your accountable for in relation to the
administration of medications?
Professional accountability in the best interest of my patients.
Accountable for my actions and omissions.
4. State five of principles you, as a registred nurse should fallow for the
administration of medicines.
Patient Time
Medication Route
Doze Documentation
5. Where on your ward or in your department is the RGHT Drug Policy
stored?
Insite
6. What is the BNF and where is it stored on your ward or in your
department?
The BNF is ,, The British National Formulary and we can find it on
Main desk.
7. Who has accountability for the stock of all drugs held on a ward or
department?
The chief pharmacist and the ward manager.
8. Who has responsibility for ensuring that drug procedures are followed
correctly?
All nurses.
9. Who is accountable when a student nurse administers a drug under
supervision?
 The nurse who is supervising the student.
10.Who is responsible for the keys to the drug cupboards?
Only nurses.

11.Where should the keys for the cupboards be stored?

Nurses only.
12.What information should be presented on the front on an in-patient
drug card and why?
Name Surname DOB RU NO
13.Whose responsibility it is to write this information on the drug card?
Mostly doctors, but also nurses
14.Can a verbal instruction be accepted to administer a controlled drug?
NO
15.What action would you take if you were unable to decipher a
prescription written on a drug card?
Ask preferable the doctor who prescribed
16.What routes are available for the administration of medications?
Identify five commonly used routes.
Parenteral: IV; IM; SC
Topical: patches; inhalers; transdermal; eye drops
Oral
Sublingual
Rectal
17.Name five antibiotic drugs commonly prescribed for patients.
Augumentin Tazocin
Amoxicillin Teicoplanin
Flicloxacillin Benzyl penicillin
18.What is anticoagulant drugs used for? Name two reasons it may be
used.
They are used to monitor people taking vit K antagonists, for the
mg. of AF and venous thromboembolism (VTE) =
PE
DVT +
require urg .intervention
19.What are diuretic drugs used for?
For reducing the amount of water retained by the body, heart and
kidneys failure, hypertension, acute pulmonary edema.
20.Name two drugs that are required to be stored in a refrigerator.
All insulin Cloramphenicol
21.What is the role of the ward pharmacist/technician?
Drug history 24-48 H from admission. Drug education.
22.If you or another person makes a drug error what action are you going
take in respect of this?
Doing a datix.
23.Describe what process occurs in order that stock drugs get to the ward
or department.
They are checked twice a week.
Green boxes earliest convenient.
24.What process do you follow to order named patients drugs?
Treatment sheet for dispending.
25.What process is followed to order controlled drugs?
 The book (if stocked in CD)
If not stocked usually in CD: drug card+CD book complete and sent
it to the pharmacy.

26.Who has the responsibility for ordering controlled drugs?

All nurses.
27.What do you do with medications that are no longer required for a
named patient?
Dispose them in the special bin for medications not in use anymore.
28.If a tablet was dropped or dispensed but not taken by the patient what
process would you follow to dispose of this medication?
Take the tablet and dispose in the special bin.
29.Under what circumstances are you permitted to accept a verbal or
telephone instruction to administer medication?
Two nurses witnesses and need urgent administration.
30.Describe the process that must be followed if verbal or telephone
instructions are followed.
Two nurses witnesses and documentation.