1807NRS Safe Administration of Medications - Foundational Skills

Foundational vocabulary and formulas for medication administration and calculations based on the 1807NRS tutorial notes.

1807NRS

Safe Administration of Medications course covering foundational skills, abbreviations, terminology, and medication calculations.

PO

Orally.

tds

Three times a day.

microg

Micrograms (also abbreviated as microgram or MICROg).

nocte

At night.

subcut

Subcutaneously.

prn

Pro re nata, or when required.

mane

In the morning.

IV

Intravenously.

IM

Intramuscularly.

qid

Four times a day.

NG

Nasogastric.

bd

Twice a day.

stat

Immediately.

Tablet (tab)

A formulation that allows an appropriate size and is disintegrated in the GI tract.

Capsule (cap)

A formulation consisting of a hard or soft gelatine shell; hard capsules contain drugs as a solid, while soft capsules are for liquids or substances not easily dissolved.

Enteric Coated (EC)

Preparations that are sugar coated to protect the drug from HCL acid in the stomach, ensuring they disintegrate in the intestine; these must not be crushed.

Sustained/Slow Release (SR)

Preparations with drug layers enclosed in inert coatings to produce pellets for slow release into the GI tract, increasing patient adherence.

mg

Milligram.

g

Gram.

mL

Millilitre.

L

Litre.

IU

International unit.

Medication Calculation Formula (Dose)

$$\text{Dose required} = \frac{\text{Strength required (SR)}}{\text{Strength in stock (SS)}} \times \frac{\text{Volume}}{1}$$

Medication Calculation Formula (Tablets)

$$\text{Number of TABLETS required} = \frac{\text{Strength required (SR)}}{\text{Strength in stock (SS)}}$$

Medication Competence

A conceptual model for nurses involving prerequisites like practical, theoretical, and decision-making competence, leading to patient safety.

Medication Errors

Errors including wrong patient, wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong frequency, adverse drug reactions, and omitted doses.