Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NURSE IN
DRUG ADMINISTRATION
&
PREVENTING
MEDICATION ERRORS
PATIENTS RIGHTS
There are risks involved in the drug
administration, therefore,
patients have the right to:
Right Patient
Right Drug
Right Dose
Right Route
Right Time
RIGHT PATIENT
check the patients name & hospital
number against the chart & I.D. band.
ask the patient to state his/her name, &
their date of birth (D.O.B)
Important
Check if your patient:
1. has any known drug allergies
2. has had any previous adverse drug
reactions
3. has been assessed for her pregnancy
status
RIGHT DRUG
Identify the drug from the M.O.s order.
Clarify
with the M.O. if in doubt.
Check the drug three (3) times:
- before removing it from the trolley or shelf
- when the drug is removed from the
container
- before the container is returned to storage
Check the expiry date of the drug/s
Important
Check for Drug Interactions
Example:
Generic name = Aspirin
Trade names available = Jusprin, Disprin
Be aware that in different countries
generic and trade names will also differ,
e.g. in Australia & the United States one
drug has the generic names of
paracetamol & acetaminophen, i.e.
Panadol/Tylenol
ciprofloxacin ofloxacin
clonidine quinidine
clotrimazole co-trimazole
Desoxyn digoxin
Diatab Diatabs
dobutamine dopamine
Eurax Urex
folic acid folinic acid
fosphenytoin phenytoin
guiafenesin guanfacine
Lamasil Lomotil
losartan valsartan
mebendazole methimazole
metoprolol misoprostol
naloxone naltrexone
Panadol pindolol Plendil
ranitidine rimantadine
salbutamol salmeterol
Tobradex Tobrex
tretinoin trentine
Verelan - Virilon
Zantac - Zyrtec
RIGHT DOSE
- check the dose, read the container label,
calculate the dose & check with another
RN if necessary
- use proper measuring devices for liquids,
do not crush tablets or open capsules
unless directed by the pharmacist
- if a drug is required in another dosage
form, you may get it from the pharmacy.
Important
Knowledge of the different dosage forms is
essential in giving the right dose to the
patient so that the intended therapeutic
effect of the drug will be achieved.
Example:
Tablets maybe effervescent, sublingual,
buccal, chewable, enteric coated, etc
Other liquid dosage forms should be
shaken well before administration like oral
suspensions and oral emulsions
RIGHT ROUTE
- make sure the M.O.s order is clear & only
give the medications by the route
designated.
Knowledge of the different dosage
forms is also important in giving the
medication in the right route.
- know the common abbreviations used for
the different routes.
IP intraperitoneal
IV intravenous
IVP intravenous push
IVPB intravenous piggy back
PR per rectum / rectally
TOP - topical
VAG - vaginal
RIGHT TIME
- check the appropriate time of the day,
time interval, and frequency, ordered by
the M.O. &
give the medication at the prescribed
time.
- drugs should be given within 20 minutes
of the prescribed time.
MEDICATION ORDERS
a.c. - ante cibum - before meals
BDS, b.d.s. - bis die sumendum - twice daily
b.i.d., b.d. - bis in die - twice daily
EOD -every other day
h.s. hora somni at bedtime
mane mane in the morning
noct nocte at night
p.c. post cibum after meals
p.r.n., PRN - pro re nata - as needed, when
necessary
Error-Prone Abbreviations,
Symbols, and Dose Designations
g microgram - mistaken as mg - Use mcg
AD, AS, AU - right ear, left ear, each ear Mistaken as OD, OS, OU
(right eye, left eye, each eye)
Use right ear, left ear, or each ear
OD, OS, OU - right eye, left eye, each eye
Mistaken as AD, AS, AU
(right ear, left ear, each ear)
Use right eye, left eye, or each eye
mg)**
- mistaken as 10 mg if the decimal point is
not seen
- Do not use trailing zeros for
doses
expressed in whole numbers
1 mg
Naked decimal point (e.g., .5 mg)**
- mistaken as 5 mg if the decimal point
is
not seen
- Use zero before a decimal point when
the dose is less than a whole unit
0.5 mg
@ - at - mistaken as 2 - Use at
- hour - mistaken as a zero
(e.g., q2 seen as q 20)
- Use hr, h, or hour