Pharmacology Exam 1 Notes
**For Chapter’s 1-9 and other calculations related material, Refer to skills Module (calculations)
Morris Chapter 10
... [Show More] Medication Administration
As a nurse you need to assess the patient's ability to self-administer medications, determine
whether a patient should receive a medication at a given time, administer medications
correctly, and then closely monitor their effects. Do not delegate any part of the medication
administration process to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) and use the nursing process to
integrate medication therapy into care.
Medication Errors
When medications are administered carelessly and incorrectly, errors can be made, and
the consequences can be harmful and threatening to the life of a client.
A medication error is any 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. Such events may be related to professional practice,
health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing, order
communication, product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature, compounding,
dispensing, distribution, administration, education, monitoring, and use.
Outcomes from medication errors include;
Increased hospital stay
Increased health care costs
Acute or chronic disability
Death
Medication errors continue to be one of the most prevailing causes of client injury.
On average, each in-patient may experience at least one medication error per day
Medication errors can occur anywhere in the med admin process.
Remember to Focus on the task at hand during med admin., and minimize distractions!
Think about what you are doing, why you are doing it, and assess the client!
Certain medications are referred to as high-risk medications, which contribute to
harmful effect (be extra careful). These include concentrated electrolytes, heparin,
insulin, morphine, neuromuscular drugs, and chemotherapy drugs.
Organization Involved in Safe Medication Practices
Institute of Medicine- publishes data related to medication errors and preventing them.
Published report Identifying and Preventing Medication Errors, which presented a
national agenda for reducing medication errors.
Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) & United States Pharmacopeia (USP)- are
actively involved in monitoring medication error reports, develop strategies aimed at
correcting the problem, and educate personnel involved in medication administration.
TJC implemented National Patient Safety Goals, one of which is aimed at assisting health
care facilities in the prevention of medication errors.
The FDA recognized the potential of barcoding to improve client safety and is
responsible for “black box” warning labels on meds. The Quality and Safety Education for nurses (QSEN)- has a goal of preparing student
nurses with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are needed to improve quality and
safety of client care. Looks at 6 competencies including safety and informatics, which is
related to med admin and mitigating errors.
The National Quality Forum (NQF) developed a set of Serious Reportable Events (SREs),
which are a compilation of serious, largely preventable, and harmful clinical events,
designed to help the health care field assess, measure, and report performance in
providing safe care. Allows uniform and comparable reporting to enable learning and to
drive national improvements in patient safety.
Critical Thinking and Medication Administration
Critical thinking is a process of thinking that includes being reasonable and rational.
We use critical thinking in medication administration for processes such as calculating
dosages in an organized, systematic manner.
It also involves being an autonomous thinker, such as when we challenge an order that is
written incorrectly.
Involves distinguishing what is relevant vs. irrelevant. Also involves reasoning and the
application of concepts, and asking for clarification when needed.
Critical thinking allows a nurse to think before doing, translate knowledge into practice,
and make appropriate judgment. [Show Less]