Module 5: Medication management Flashcards
define medication error
a preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional , patient, or consumer.
List 7 examples of medication errors
- Misinterpretation of the medication ordered
- Misinterpreting illegible handwriting
- Omitting medication
- Using the wrong document, medication or dose form
- Giving wrong patient, drug, dose, route, or wrong time/day
- Giving extra dose
- Failure to document
List 4 factors that can contribute to medication errors
– Similar names or similar packaging
– Not commonly used or prescribed
– Commonly used medications to which many patients are allergic
– Medications that require pathology to ensure maintenance of therapeutic levels are maintained
Medications can 3 types of names, list and define each
1) Chemical:
- precise description of drug’s chemical composition.
- used by the pharmacist
2) Generic:
- Assigned by the manufacturer who first develops the drug
- often derived from the chemical name
- official name as identified in the official publication
3) Trade / brand:
- selected by the company selling the drug and is copyrighted.
- drugs can have several trade names when produced by different manufacturers
What is the definition of a medication interaction?
- combined effect of two or more drugs acting simultaneously
- each drug may have a positive or negative effect on the effectiveness of the other drug
- Antagonistic = lessening the effectiveness
- Synergistic = enhancing or improving the effectiveness
Define a side effect of medications
A known effect that is other than that intended
define adverse reaction
Unwanted, unintended effect of administration of a drug due to allergy or sensitivity
Can be immediate or delayed for hours-days
list examples of ‘best practice’ for medication administration
- Use generic names
- Do not return unused medications to the containers
- Observe the patient taking the medication
- Listen to your patient
- Document immediately after administration
- Re-evaluate within an appropriate timeframe
- Report drug interactions/ reactions/ errors
- Know your facility systems and processes
- Avoid distractions
- Prevent infection - 5 Moments of HH
- Do not touch medication with hands
- Do not leave medications unattended
- Ensure all labelling is clear
- Ask questions
what is the medication calculation formula for:
tablets and capsules?
Number of tablets/capsules to give =
Stock strength
what is the medication calculation formula for:
oral liquids
Volume to give =
Dose ordered X volume of stock solution
___________ ____________________
Stock strength 1
what is the medication calculation formula for:
injections
Volume to give =
Dose ordered X volume of stock solution
___________ ____________________
Stock strength 1
what is the medication calculation formula for:
infusions in mL/hour
Infusion rate (mL/hr) =
volume (mL)
____________
Time (hr)
what is the medication calculation formula for:
infusions in dpm
Infusion rate (drops/min) =
volume (mL) X Drop factor
____________ —————-
Time (hr) 60
what are the 6 rights of medication administration and what does MAX stand for?
Right:
- Drug
- Dose
- Documentation
- Time / and date
- Patient
- Route
M: MIMS
A: Allergies
X: expiry date
IVT fluid types used are based on desired outcome.
what are the ‘5Rs’
- Resuscitation
- Routine maintenance
- Replacement
- Redistribution
- Reassessment
