DOSAGE CALC (TERMINOLOGY) PT.1

glory of the snow-clairo

rights of med admin

time, route, amount, medication, patient, and documentation. check all three times before administering a medication. documentation should be done immediately after administering a med.

routine prescription

prescribed for a specific time or frequency (ex: daily, 2x a day)

standing prescription

protocol-based and contain a list of directives to implement in specific situations (ex: facility protocol for patient with asystole, naloxone for opioid overdoses)

single prescription

one time doses, such as those with pre-operation medications

stat prescription

implemented immediately one time; usually in emergency situations. should be within 30 min of providers orders.

PRN prescription

as needed; specifies the medication, dose, route, frequency, and reason indicating its implementation.

additive effects

when the combined effect of two drugs you give together is the same as each drug you give alone in similar doses (ex: alcohol plus opioids can lead to significant CNS depression due to their effects compounding).

synergistic effects

when the effect of 1 drug is greater if you give it with another drug (ex: aspirin plus warfarin intensifies the effects of warfarin, possible leading to extreme bleeding).

antagonistic effects

when the effect of 1 drug is decreased or blocked if you try and give it with another drug.

medication reconciliation

comparing lists of a client’s current meds (supplements included) with the client’s new medications. a means of preventing errors and avoiding interactions.

high alert meds

those that have the potential for serious consequences when administered. two nurses must verify dose before administering (ex: insulin).

tall-man lettering

practice of writing medication names with a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, highlighting distinctions that help recognize them from look-alike meds

med admin record (MAR)

document containing a client’s prescribed medications, dosage, route, admin times, and other details such as start and end times or parameters for med admin. has client ID and current date attached.

tablet

medication compressed into a small disk for ease of administration; a scored pill has a line marked into it to make it easier to divide into two equal parts.

enteric coated tablet

coated tabled that delays dissolving until intestines rather than dissolving in the stomach. is absorbed in the intestines and cannot be crushed or chewed.

troche/lozenge

designed to be dissolved in the mouth and not swallowed.

capsule

med enclosed in a container of gelatin. can be sustained release with beads that allow prolonged med admin

elixer

clear liquid medication that is suspended in water and/or alcohol

syrup

a concentrated sugar solution in which medication is suspended

suspension

liquid containing fine particles of a medication dispersed throughout. requires shaking as particles settle.

solution

medication dissolved in water or .9% normal saline

intradermal route

reserved for small amounts of fluid (usually less than .1mL) into the dermis. site for injection should be easily accessible for monitoring; hairless; and free of wounds, lesions, or tattoos. usually for diagnostic testing (TB or allergy). 5-15º angle, about 1/8 inch below skin. bleb should appear.

subcutaneous route (SUBQ)

injected into tissue just below the dermis, has a slow absorption rate. common sites include back of arm, abdomen, upper back, the hips, and the thighs. volume is usually 0.5-1mL. can use short (45º angle) or long (90º angle) needle.

intramuscular route (IM)

used for large volumes of medications or immunizations. have a fast absorption rate. has a slight risk for complications such as nerve injury, abscesses, fibrosis, and thrombosis. needle size depends on size of client, the muscle being used for injection, and the viscosity of the medication.

rapid acting insulin

begins to work 15-30 minutes after admin; most rapid onset and shortest duration (peaks 30 min-1 hour). patient should eat a meal immediately after administration to prevent hypoglycemia.

short acting insulin

regular form of insulin that prevents blood sugar spikes after eating, taken 30-60 minutes before a meal. peaks at 2-4 hours. can be administered subcutaneously or intravenously, but IV route is reserved for dire situations like diabetic ketoacidosis.

intermediate acting insulin

covers insulin needs for half a day or overnight. often used with rapid- or short-acting insulin. works 1-2 hours after admin, peaks 4-12 hours in.

long acting insulin

often used, when needed, with rapid- or short-acting insulin. cannot be mixed with other insulins. duration of up to 24 hours. can be administered at any portion of the day (morning, afternoon, night), but should be consistently administered at that time.

external insulin pump

delivers rapid-acting insulin subcutaneously over 24 hours. set to infuse insulin at a set basal rate that closely mimics secretion of insulin by the pancreas; client can program it to deliver higher or lower doses of insulin based on the time of day and individual insulin needs