developing a nursing course regarding medications to give and which ones to hold

by Celine Waelchi 5 min read

When it comes to medication administration a nurse must prepare?

When it comes to medication administration, a nurse must personally prepare any medications properly ordered for a patient and personally administer them. Log In Sign Up Courses Courses Unlimited CE Free CE Courses

What is the nurse’s responsibility for preparing and documenting medications?

This responsibility speaks to a nurse’s accountability when preparing, administering and documenting medications given. Moreover, if you prepare a medication for someone else to administer, but you document the medication as given, you have just falsified that entry in the patient’s medical record.

Do You need A Guide to medications for nurses?

Here’s something useful for new nurses — a guide to medications for nurses. A nurse’s shift never ends without preparing and giving medications to patients. For this reason, mastering every little detail about medication preparation and administration is essential in improving your skill competency as a nurse.

How should a nurse start a new medication?

Nurses must, therefore, begin a new medication with the lowest possible dosage and then increase the dosage slowly over time until the therapeutic effect is achieved. The initial dosage may be as low as ½ of the recommended adult dosage.

When giving medications What should a nurse do first?

Start with the basicsVerify any medication order and make sure it's complete. ... Check the patient's medical record for an allergy or contraindication to the prescribed medication. ... Prepare medications for one patient at a time.Educate patients about their medications. ... Follow the eight rights of medication administration.

What is the nurse's role in administering these medications?

Nurses' responsibility for medication administration includes ensuring that the right medication is properly drawn up in the correct dose, and administered at the right time through the right route to the right patient.

What are the 7 factors to consider when administering medication?

7 Rights Of Medication AdministrationMedication administration. ... Right Individual. ... Right Medication. ... Right Dose. ... Right Time. ... Right Route. ... Right Documentation. ... Right Response.

What are the 5 basic principles for administering medications?

One of the recommendations to reduce medication errors and harm is to use the “five rights”: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time.

What are the steps for medication administration?

There are five stages of the medication process: (a) ordering/prescribing, (b) transcribing and verifying, (c) dispensing and delivering, (d) administering, and (e) monitoring and reporting.

What should you check before administering medication?

Check that the prescription is unambiguous/legible and includes the medicine name, form (and/or route of administration), strength and dose of the medicine to be administered (RPS and RCN, 2019).

What nursing actions do you need to complete before administering ordered medications?

Prior to the administration of medications, the nurse must check and validate the medication order, and also apply their critical thinking skills to the ordered medication and the status and condition of the client in respect to the contraindications, pertinent lab results, pertinent data like vital signs, client ...

What are the 3 Mar checks?

WHAT ARE THE THREE CHECKS? Checking the: – Name of the person; – Strength and dosage; and – Frequency against the: Medical order; • MAR; AND • Medication container.

What are the 6 rights and 3 checks of medication administration?

These 6 rights include the right patient, medication, dose, time, route and documentation. Futhermore, nurses are also urged to do the three checks; checking the MAR, checking while drawing up medication and checking again at bedside.

What is nursing principle in medication administration?

One of the first general principles in medication administration that a nurse must adhere to is to personally prepare any medications properly ordered for a patient and to personally administer those medications.

What do nurses do before administering medication?

Prior to the administration of medications, the nurse must check and validate the medication order, and also apply their critical thinking skills to the ordered medication and the status and condition of the client in respect to the contraindications, pertinent lab results, pertinent data like vital signs, client allergies, and potential interactions of the medication that is to be given.

What should be taught about medications?

Educating the Client About Medications. Clients and significant others should be taught about all aspects of the medications that they are taking. The content of this teaching and education should minimally include: The purpose of the medication. The dosage of the medication. The side effects of the medication.

Why is it important to keep medications in a secure place?

The importance of keeping medications in a secure place that would not place a curious child or a cognitively impaired adult at risk for taking medications not intended for them. The proper and safe disposal of any biohazardous equipment such as used needles that the client uses for insulin and other medications.

What is the importance of taking the medication as instructed?

The importance of taking the medication as instructed. The need to continue the medication unless the doctor discontinues it. Information about foods, supplements and other medications, including over the counter medications and preparations, that can interact with the ordered medication.

Which muscle is used for intramuscular medication?

The sites for intramuscular medications are the gluteus maximus, the deltoid muscle, the vastus lateralis, the rectus femoris muscle, and the ventrogluteal muscle. The gluteus maximus muscle and the deltoid muscle are NOT used for infants or young children who are less than 3 years of age.

How to release a medication while taking in a long, slow inhalation?

Have the client then firmly place their lips around the mouthpiece immediately after the strong exhalation. Press the bottle against the mouthpiece to release the medication while the person is taking in a long, slow inhalation. Instruct the client to hold their breath for a couple of seconds and then slowly exhale.

How to administer otic route?

Otic Route Administration. Warm the ear drops to body temperature. Instruct the person to lie on their side so that the ear to receive the medication is upright. Straighten out the ear canal by pulling the auricle up and back for the adult and down and back for the infant and young child less than 3 years of age.

How long does it take to push a med?

Most meds are to be pushed around 1-2 minutes, but always check! Sometimes you need to reconstitute with some normal saline, but most IV push meds are ones that you draw up from the vial and administer without diluting/reconstituting with saline.

What fluids are used to hang an IV antibiotic?

So their primary IV fluids (normal saline, half normal saline, D5, D10, normal saline with potassium added, etc.) are the main fluids running. When you need to hang an IV antibiotic, you typically “piggy back” (hence the term IV piggyback) this onto your primary fluids, provided they are compatible.

What is the most common med given for DVT?

The most common med given this way is insulin! So, so much insulin. Another common one is subcutaneous heparin (for DVT prophylaxis). You’ll give so many insulin injections, you’ll lose track after the first two weeks. It’s a smaller needle and you pinch some skin in various approved areas and inject.

Do you have to look up off label medication?

Sometimes patients take things for an off-label use. So don’t forget to take a peek at off-label uses for the medication before you freak out. Typically nursing students have to look up the meds that their patient is on the night before their shift. Therefore, you’re looking things up without physically seeing them.

What is nursing competency?

As described above, nursing competency is a complex integration of knowledge including professional judgment, skills, values and attitude. It is an intelligent practical skill set that integrates or combines different factors and issues in complex ways, specific to each circumstance.

Why is nursing practice important?

Nursing practice, by itself, is crucial for competency improvement. Needless to say, nursing practice is situation-dependent. To reflect on a particular clinical situation, it is important to understand the background of that situation.

What is competency in psychology?

On the other hand, competency is a behavioral characteristic that is based on one’s interests and experiences influenced by his/her motivation and attitude. It is an optimal behavioral trait that likely leads to achievements. Competence (ability) is a premise for developing competency (behavioral characteristics).

What is reflection in nursing?

In other words, effective reflection is closely related to nursing competency improvement. Professional nursing practice includes making judgments, both as a care provider and learner, and reflecting upon one’s actions as the care is being delivered, and after the care is completed.

What is core competency in nursing?

The Association defines core nursing competency as “the ability to perform clinical nursing care that is based on the nurse’s ethical thinking and accurate nursing skills and that is provided to meet the needs of the cared.”.

Why is it important to define nursing competency?

Therefore, it is important to clearly define nursing competency in order to establish a foundation for nursing education curriculum.

What is competence in education?

Competence is an ability acquired through experience and learning. The concept of competence is two-fold: 1) potential abilities that may work effectively under certain circumstances and 2) motivation to show one’s usefulness using those abilities.

Why is it important to check for drug incompatibilities when giving a parenteral medication?

This is important because some parenteral medications are not compatible to be administered in an IV line with ongoing drug incorporation. In cases such as these, you might need to start another IV line.

What should you check before giving a patient a drug?

For example, if you were asked to administer Furosemide or Captopril, you should check for the patient’s blood pressure level first.

How much saline is needed to reconstituted a drug?

A drug is reconstituted to a 100-1000 ml of saline or any other ordered parenteral fluid. The reconstituted drug is prepared to be infused at an ordered rate per hour through an IV pump. It is usually hooked as a side drip in a mainline.

Should you give medicine to a nurse?

As a rule of thumb, you should never give any medicine when you’re not sure what it’s for. As a nurse, you should always know the rationale behind the physician’s order for it.

Can you give parenteral drugs through IV push?

A parenteral drug preparation needs to be reconstituted to be administered directly to the vein or to the IV line. Not all parenteral drugs can be given through IV push and some preparations need to be administered slowly. Read the drug’s literature well before giving it through IV push.

What is the first general principle of medication administration?

Proper preparation and medication administration. One of the first general principles in medication administration that a nurse must adhere to is to personally prepare any medications properly ordered for a patient and to personally administer those medications.

Can a nurse falsify medication?

In contrast, if the nurse who administered the medication that you prepared documents the medication as given, your nurse colleague also has falsified the entry, since he or she did not prepare the medication. Falsification of any record is a serious allegation that can result in an employee being fired or reported to the state board of nursing.

Is it safe to administer medication that another nurse has prepared?

Nor is it acceptable practice to administer a medication that another has prepared. The reasons for this strict rule are numerous. First and foremost, because preparation and administration are fraught with potential for error, relying on another nurse to prepare a medication that you administer is dangerous at best.

Can you give medication to more than one person?

Although there may be instances in which more than one healthcare provider may be required to administer a single medication, such as in a code, it is not generally acceptable practice to prepare any type of medication for another person to administer.

Can you administer a medication you did not personally prepare?

In addition, since you administered a medication you did not personally prepare, you will need to overcome the testimony of a nurse expert that a general, cardinal rule in administering medications is that one never administers a drug not personally prepared.

How to help patients with medication?

Educate patients about their medications. Encourage them to speak up if something seems amiss. Follow the eight rights of medication administration. Know that interruptions and distractions have a marked effect on your performance, causing a lack of attention, forgetfulness, and errors.

What should be included in a medication order?

Verify any medication order and make sure it’s complete. The order should include the drug name, dosage, frequency and route of administration. If any element is missing, check with the practitioner. Check the patient's medical record for an allergy or contraindication to the prescribed medication.

What do you wear to administer medication?

If required by your facility, wear a special vest, apron, sash, lighted lanyard, or other item that indicates that you are administering medications and shouldn’t be interrupted.

What are the most common mistakes nurses make?

Mistakes can happen at any point in the process. Administration errors are one of the most serious and most common mistakes made by nurses. The result may lengthen a hospital stay, increase costs, or have life and death implications for the patient. So, what can you do to safely administer medications?

What is the left side of the medication education sheet?

The left side of the medication education sheet has the purpose of the medication and the most common side effects. The right side has the list of the most commonly used medications of that type at Beebe Healthcare.

Does color affect medication communication?

According to psychologists Dzulkifli and Mustafar, color can have a positive effect on memory. 2

What is medication administration teaching module?

Medication Administration Teaching Modules. The Registered Nurse is accountable for validating the qualifications of personnel to whom nursing care is assigned or delegated. Qualifications include the knowledge and skills directly related to the nursing activities to be performed.

What is a registered nurse?

The Registered Nurse is responsible for assuring the delivery of safe patient care by establishing the mechanisms for validation of knowledge, skills, and competency. Before delegating the technical task of medication administration to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP), the Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse are accountable ...

What are the activities related to ordering medications at the adult care home and teach/demonstrate?

Review procedures for the following activities related to ordering medications at the adult care home and teach/demonstrate: simple refills; emergency pharmaceutical services; receiving medications when delivered from the pharmacy; accounting of medications administered by staff.

How long is the medication administration course?

During the Medication Administration – 5-hour Training Course, you will be tested on skills listed below. You will be expected to do the skill without comments or instruction from your instructor/evaluator.

What is a student manual?

A student manual may be created using the handout and activities. The student may benefit from review of the materials prior to the training. The student should receive a copy of the skills checklist. The information will help the student understand and perform the basic competencies required to safely administer medications by the following routes: oral, sublingual (under the tongue), otic (ear), ophthalmic (eye), nasal (nose), topical (on the skin), and inhalant (breathed into the lungs).

What is a medication aid in adult care?

A Medication Aide in adult care homes is an individual who has successfully completed the required Medication Aide course(s) approved by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, passed the state written medication exam for unlicensed staff in adult care homes and has competency skills validation at the employing facility.

What to do if a resident refuses to take medication?

If the resident refuses and gives no reason, wait a few minutes and then offer the medication again. If the resident refuses again, try again in another few minutes before considering a final refusal. This is particularly important with residents who have a diagnosis of dementia.

Can a medication aid accept a verbal order?

The pharmacy also may not accept a verbal order from a Medication Aide

Results

  • In this section of the NCLEX-RN examination, you will be expected to demonstrate your knowledge and skills of medication administration in order to:
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Curriculum

  • The client should be educated about the safe and correct method of self administration of medications. In addition to the education discussed immediately above, some clients may also have to be instructed about special procedures like the proper use of an inhaler, taking insulin, mixing insulins, giving oneself an intramuscular injection or self-administering tube feedings.
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Safety

  • Narcotics must be in a locked and secured in a safe place; other medications must be stored in a place that is secure and one that prevents accidental poisonings among the pediatric population and also among those who are confused and/or cognitively impaired. Additionally, medications that need refrigeration must be refrigerated.
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Risks

  • The risk factors associated with medication errors and other medical errors such as wrong patient or wrong site surgery are discussed below: Psychiatric disorders: Patients/residents/clients with a psychiatric disorder are at risk for medications as based on their psychiatric mental health disorder and the medications that they may be taking. Some psychotr…
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Scope

  • Developmental disorders: The same concerns and interventions described above for infants and children apply to those with developmental disorders, as specific to the degree of their developmental delay.
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Prevention

  • Infants and children: These young children are at risk for medication errors because they are not able to ask questions about medications and procedures; they may not even be able to state their name. The support and presence of the family is one way to prevent medication errors among this high risk population. Sensory disorders: Assistive devices, such as eyeglasses and hearing aids, …
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Administration

  • The routes of administration include the following routes: The oral route of administration is the preferred route of administration for all clients but the oral route is contraindicated for clients adversely affected with a swallowing disorder or a decreased level of consciousness. Oral medications can, at times, be crushed and put into something like apple sauce, for example, for …
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Security

  • All incomplete, questionable and/or illegible orders must be questioned and validated by the nurse transcribing the order before it is administered to the client. This questioning and validation requires that the registered nurse use, integrate and apply their critical thinking and professional judgment skills. Automated order entry using a computer eliminates some medication order erro…
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Writing

  • Medication orders are often transcribed by hand onto a medication administration record (MAR) or Medex, when the facility is not using computerized order entry.
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Contraindications

  • The client's allergies are determined, all contraindications for the medication as based on the client's health problems and disease conditions are determined, pertinent diagnostic laboratory results such as checking the client's prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time prior to the administration of heparin, client data like a blood pressure and a pulse rate prior to the administr…
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Example

  • For example, if the client has an order for 10 units of NPH insulin in the morning and they also need 3 units of regular insulin according to their sliding scale for coverage, the client will draw up both insulins according to the above procedure and then inject 13 units total for the NPH and the regular insulins.
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Treatment

  • Some topical medications are only suitable on intact skin and others that contain a medication are used for the treatment of broken skin or a wound. Ophthalmic eye medications are applied using sterile technique which is one of the few routes that require more than medical asepsis or clean technique.
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Preparation

  • Transdermal medications are absorbed from the surface of the skin. The site should be without hair so it may be necessary to shave the area and these medications are applied on the client's upper arm or chest. Some transdermal medications are commercially prepared with the ordered dosage and others require the nurse to measure and apply the ordered dosage on a transderma…
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Medical uses

  • Subcutaneous injections can be given in the abdomen, upper arms and the front of the thighs. Subcutaneous injections are used for the administration of insulin, heparin and other medications. The sites for these injections should be rotated.
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Locations

  • The sites for intramuscular medications are the gluteus maximus, the deltoid muscle, the vastus lateralis, the rectus femoris muscle, and the ventrogluteal muscle. The gluteus maximus muscle and the deltoid muscle are NOT used for infants or young children who are less than 3 years of age.
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Equipment

  • The procedure for IV push without an existing IV line is as follows: The procedure for an IV push bolus with an existing IV line is as follows:
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Operation

  • When a bar coded entry system for narcotics and controlled substances are used, each nurse can access these medications because the nurse's identification is automatically processed and the controlled substances are also automatically processed and recorded. When this automated system is not used, the \"narcotic keys\" are retained by one nurse and, if another nurse has to a…
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Recording

  • All controlled substances are documented on the narcotics record as soon as they are removed, and all controlled substances, like all other medications, are documented on the client's medication record as soon as they are administered. If a controlled substance is wasted for any reason, either in its entirety or only partially, this waste must be witnessed or documented by th…
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Why These Meds?

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One of the most important things to know is why your patient is taking these specific medications. So take a look at their diagnoses and their medical history to identify whythey might be on them. Also, if you’re looking up medications and can’t figure out why the heck a medication was prescribed, never fear! Sometimes pati…
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Routes

  • There are a few different ways you can give meds. These are the most common.. there are a few others that I won’t go into now because we’re talking basics.
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Compatibility

  • When you’re giving IV medications, it’s important to insure everything is compatible. What does this mean? When IV fluid is running, it is running through a primary line. So their primary IV fluids (normal saline, half normal saline, D5, D10, normal saline with potassium added, etc.) are the main fluids running. When you need to hang an IV antibiot...
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to Crush Or Not to Crush

  • Many patients cannot swallow whole pills. This is typically due to impaired swallowing. I don’t mean to brag, but I am a fantastic applesauce mixologist and can get even the grumpiest patients to take their meds. However, before you crush medications you must know ifthey can be crushed! If it is an extended release med, chemo, or capsule.. don’t crush it! There are also some meds th…
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Overwhelmed Much?

  • There are so many medications for nurses to learn, but don’t lose hope! No one expects you to know all of the medications ever made, their dosages, interactions, trade and generic names, etc. When you get out of school and start your first job, you will get very used to the medications you give day in and day out. You will learn them inside and out. If you’re a cardiac nurse, you will kno…
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Enteral Preparations

Parenteral Preparations

Topical Preparations

Routes of Administration

12 Rights of Medication Administration

  • In discussing medications for nurses, ensuring the patient’s safety is always a priority. Here are the eight “rights” that you need to remember when giving medications to your patients: 1. Right client Do: 1. Have the patient state his or her name. 2. Check the ID bracelet. 3. Call the patient by name before giving the medication. 4. Double-check o...
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A Few More Reminders