Safe Medication Preparation and Administration in Nursing

Land Acknowledgment

Recognition of Indigenous lands and peoples.

Safe Medication Administration

Requires understanding and critical thinking skills.

Pharmacotherapeutics

Study of drug effects and therapeutic uses.

Pharmacokinetics

How drugs enter, act, and exit the body.

Therapeutic Effects

Intended physiological responses of a medication.

Adverse Effects

Unintended and undesirable effects of medications.

Side Effects

Predictable secondary effects at therapeutic doses.

Allergic Reactions

Unpredictable responses to medications in patients.

Routes of Administration

Method of delivering medication based on properties.

Three System Check

Verification process for safe medication delivery.

Unit Dose

Ordered medication dose given at one time.

Automated Dispensing Systems

Secure systems for medication distribution.

Bar Coding

Improves accuracy and reduces medication errors.

Preventing Medication Errors

Strategies to minimize distractions during administration.

Medication Preparation Signs

Visible indicators to enhance safety during preparation.

Medication Administration Checklists

Tools to ensure correct medication delivery.

Mathematics in Medication

Essential for accurate dose calculation and measurement.

Medication Errors

Mistakes in medication administration leading to harm.

Health Care Provider Role

Orders the right medication for the right purpose.

Pharmacist Role

Ensures correct medication ordering and provision.

Nurse Role

Verifies medication before administration.

Patient Assessment

Thorough evaluation before medication administration.

Growth and Development

Understanding patient stages affecting medication response.

Nutrition

Influences medication effectiveness and patient health.

Metric System

Decimal system organized into units of 10.

Household Measurements

Includes drops, teaspoons, and cups for volume.

Dosage Calculation

Determining medication amounts for administration.

Dimensional Analysis

Method for converting units in calculations.

Ratio and Proportion

Comparative relationship between quantities.

Desired Dose (D)

Amount of medication prescribed for patient.

Volume (V)

Amount of liquid medication to administer.

Amount on Hand (H)

Current stock of medication available.

Rights of Medication Administration

Ten principles ensuring safe medication delivery.

Patient Identification

Two identifiers to confirm patient identity.

Medication Purpose

Reason for administering a specific medication.

Medication Side Effects

Adverse reactions that may occur from medication.

Pre Administration Activities

Steps to ensure safe medication preparation.

Hand Hygiene

Technique to prevent contamination during administration.

Post Administration Activities

Documentation of medication effects and patient response.

Medication Errors Reporting

Process for documenting and addressing medication mistakes.

Patient Education

Teaching patients about their medications and usage.

Aspiration Precautions

Measures to prevent choking during medication intake.

Medication Administration Record (MAR)

Document tracking administered medications and dosages.

Health Canada Standards

Regulations for labeling medications and syringes.

Medication Cart

Mobile storage for medications in healthcare settings.

Pyxis or Omnicell

Automated dispensing systems for medication management.

Incident Report

Document detailing medication errors or incidents.

Individualized Teaching

Tailoring education to patient's specific needs.