Medication Orders Overview

• Introduction to medication orders and their components
  • Importance of understanding what to look for in medication orders
  • Typical requirements for medication orders include:
  • Medication name
  • Dosage

Example Order: Furosemide

• Specific order example: furosemide (commonly known as Lasix, a diuretic)
  • Dosage: 40 mg orally (PO)
  • Definition of PO:
  • Means "by mouth" indicating oral intake
  • Frequency of Administration:
  • "Daily" refers to 24 hours
• Importance of verifying medication with the label:
  • Align the order with the medication label from the distribution system (such as Pyxis)
  • Example label verification: furosemide 0.04 gram tablets

Conversion Calculations

• Grams to milligrams:
  • 40 mg = 0.04 g
  • Conversion process: 40 mg divided by 1000 = 0.04 g
  • Confirming whether the order matches the label (one tablet)
• Key point on ensuring measurement accuracy:
  • Understanding conversions ensures correct dosages are administered

Fluid Order Calculation

• Example fluid order: 0.75 liters of normal saline over 6 hours
  • Conversion:
  • 0.75 liters = 750 ml (0.75 x 1000)
  • Dosage Calculation:
  • Infuse 750 ml over 6 hours
  • Calculation: 750 ml divided by 6 hours = 125 ml/hour
• Significance of infusion rates:
  • Infusion rates are typically represented in ml/hour on IV pumps

Pediatric Medication Calculation

• Pediatric patient example:
  • Weight: 12.5 kg
  • Dosage order: 5 mg/kg/day
  • Calculation steps:
  • 12.5 kg x 5 mg/kg = 62.5 mg/day
  • Rounding considerations: if instructed, round to the tenths place if needed.

Dosage Frequency and Administration

• Understanding the meaning of abbreviations in orders:
  • "q" means every (e.g., q12h = every 12 hours)
• Calculating dose based on frequency:
  • Total Daily Dose: 62.5 mg
  • Divide by 2 for per-dose calculation when administering every 12 hours:
  • Resulting per dose: 31.25 mg (rounded to 31.3 mg)

Amoxicillin Example Order:

• Order details: amoxicillin one teaspoon (5 ml)
  • Strength observed: 125 mg in 5 ml
  • Dosage Check: Patient receives 125 mg per dose
  • Frequency of Administration: three times daily
  • Total dosage in 24 hours:
  • Calculation: 3 doses x 125 mg = 375 mg per 24 hours

Teaching and Measurement Best Practices

• Patient education note on administering liquid medications:
  • Using measuring devices instead of household spoons due to variability in sizes
  • Instructions for parents:
  • Measure using mL-marked syringes or measuring cups
  • Pour on a flat, stable surface at eye level for accuracy
• Weight Conversion Example:
  • Converting weight to kilograms:
  • Patient weight: 165 lbs
  • Conversion method: divide by 2.2
  • Resulting in a weight of approximately 75 kg