Definition: The essential guidelines to ensure safe medication delivery.
Components:
Right patient
Right medication
Right dose
Right time
Right route
Right assessment/review
Right documentation
Right reason
Off-Label Drug Use
Definition: The practice of using a medication for indications or purposes beyond its approved labeling.
Do Not Use Abbreviation List
Publisher: The Joint Commission is responsible for publishing this list, which helps prevent medication errors related to unclear abbreviations.
Tall Man Letters
Definition: A method of writing that uses capitalized letters within drug names to help distinguish between look-alike and sound-alike medications, thus preventing medication errors.
Physical Activity and Medications
Effects:
Increases the speed of absorption of medications.
Enhances the metabolism of drugs within the body.
Food Interactions
Grapefruit: Known to interfere with many medications, affecting their metabolism and efficacy.
Average Weight for Drug Dosing
Standard Weight: 150 pounds is commonly used as the baseline for calculating drug dosages.
Organs of Metabolism and Excretion
Liver: Primarily responsible for drug metabolism.
Kidneys: Key organs for excretion of medications from the body.
Polypharmacy
Definition: The concurrent use of five or more medications, which may increase the risk of adverse drug reactions and interactions.
Fetal Protection from Medications
Barrier: The blood-placental barrier serves to protect the fetus from potentially harmful medications.
Fetal Vulnerability
Critical Period: The fetus is most vulnerable during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Patient Autonomy
Patient Rights: A patient has the right to refuse medication administration.
Legal Consideration: Forcing a medication upon a patient may constitute battery.
Patient Privacy Laws
Law: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects patient privacy regarding medical information.
Stat Order
Definition: An order for immediate administration of medication.
RX Meaning
Abbreviation: 'Prescription' is often denoted by the symbol RX.
Authors of Medication Orders
Eligible Prescribers: Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants are authorized to write medication orders.
Controlled Substances
Requirement: A DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) number is required for the prescribing of controlled substances.
Medical Abbreviations
AC: Stands for 'Before Meals'.
Injection Techniques
IM Injection Angle: 90 degrees is the angle for intramuscular injections.
Subcutaneous Injection Angle: Recommended at 45–90 degrees.
Intradermal Injection Angle: Requires an angle of 10–15 degrees.
Medication Administration Timing
Reason for Equal Intervals: Administering medications at consistent intervals is crucial for maintaining therapeutic drug levels in the bloodstream.
Drug Class Functions
Antihypertensives: Medications designed to lower blood pressure in patients suffering from hypertension.
Thrombolytics: A class of drugs that aid in breaking up clots in the bloodstream.
Risks Associated with Organ Dysfunction
Kidney Dysfunction: Heightens the risk for nephrotoxicity, which may result from drug accumulation.
Liver Dysfunction: Increases the risk of hepatotoxicity, often due to impaired metabolism of medications.
Allergic Reactions
Mild Symptoms: Include hives, itching, and rash as common signs of a mild allergic reaction.
Anaphylaxis Treatment: The emergency treatment for anaphylaxis involves administering epinephrine.
PRN
Meaning: The abbreviation 'PRN' signifies 'as needed', indicating medications that are administered on an as-needed basis.
Lavage
Definition: The process of washing out a body cavity, often used in toxicology and emergency medicine to clear ingested substances or contaminants.