Drug Administration & Safety Flashcards

Flashcards for drug administration and safety review.

Purpose of National Patient Safety Goals

To improve patient safety by focusing on problems in healthcare safety and how to solve them.

The Joint Commission's 2023 National Patient Safety Goals for Hospitals

Identify patients correctly, Improve staff communication, Use medicines safely, Use alarms safely, Prevent infection, Identify patient safety risks, Improve healthcare equity, Prevent mistakes in surgery.

Drug/Medication Reconciliation

Process of identifying the most accurate list of all medications that the patient is taking at transitions in care.

Superscription

Patient's name, address, age, and date for identification purposes.

Rx

Latin for 'recipe,' which means 'take thou' and precedes the inscription.

Inscription

Contains the drug name, strength, and dose.

Signature

Information to be written on the label, such as directions to the patient.

DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)

Practitioners who wish to prescribe controlled substances must register with this federal agency.

Instead of 'U, u (unit)'

Write 'unit'

Instead of 'IU (International Unit)'

Write 'International Unit'

Instead of 'Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily)'

Write 'daily'

Instead of 'Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d, qod (every other day)'

Write 'every other day'

Instead of Trailing zero (X.0 mg)

Write X mg

Instead of Lack of leading zero (.X mg)

Write 0.X mg

Instead of MS MSO4 and MgSO4 when referring to morphine sulfate

Write 'morphine sulfate'

Instead of MS MSO4 and MgSO4 when referring to magnesium sulfate

Write 'magnesium sulfate'

High-Alert Drugs

Drugs that can cause significant harm to the patient if given in error.

PINCH (Common High Alert Drugs)

POTASSIUM, INSULIN, NARCOTICS, CHEMOTHERAPEUTICS, HEPARIN

Automated Dispensing Cabinet

Used to hold patients’ medications for dispensing.

The Six Rights of Medication Administration

Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation.

Patient Identification Required by The Joint Commission (TJC)

Two forms of identification before administration Ex: Patient Name, Date of Birth, Medical Record #

Routes of Drug Administration

Oral, Nasal, Inhalation, Parenteral, Otic, Ocular, Topical, Transdermal, Rectal/Vaginal

Administering Liquid Medication

Pour desired volume of liquid so base of meniscus is level with mL increment on plastic dosing cup; measure liquid medication in mL syringe and squirt liquid into dosing cup.

Administering Eye Drops

Gently pull down on the skin below the eye to expose the conjunctival sac; apply medication to the middle third of the sac, and apply gentle pressure over the lacrimal duct after administration.

Administering Eye Ointment

Squeeze a ¼-inch–wide strip of ointment into the conjunctival sac.

Administering Eardrops

(A) Straighten the external ear canal by pulling the auricle down and back in children under 3 years of age. (B) In patients older than 3 years of age, including adults, pull the auricle upward and outward.

Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDIs)

Handheld devices used to deliver asthma and bronchitis drugs to the lower respiratory tract via inhalation.

Spacers

Devices used to enhance the delivery of medications from the MDI.

Nebulizer

Changes a liquid medication into a fine mist or aerosol and has the ability to reach the lower, smaller airways.

Transdermal Medication

Medication is stored in a patch placed on the skin and absorbed through the skin, having a systemic effect.

Topical Medications

Most frequently applied to the skin by painting or spreading the medication over an area and applying a moist dressing or leaving the area exposed to air; has a local effect.

The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (NSPA)

Requires that employers implement safer medical devices for their employees, provide a safe and secure workplace environment, and develop written policies to help prevent sharps injuries.

Methods of PARENTERAL administration

Intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, Z-track technique, and intravenous administration.

Intradermal Injection Angle

Angle of 10-15 degrees

Subcutaneous Injection Angle

Angle of 45 degrees

Intramuscular Injection Angle

Angle of 90 degrees

Z-Track Injection Technique

Use a deep muscle (e.g., ventrogluteal), pull skin laterally to one side, inject needle deep into muscle, and wait 10 seconds before removing needle & releasing skin.

Position for Administering Medications via Feeding Tubes

High Fowler's position or elevate the head of bed at least 30 degrees.