Questions and Answers
What are indications for use?
The reason the drug is given, e.g., pain medication for pain, blood pressure medications for high blood pressure.
Why should you know the best time of day to administer medications?
It is considered a best practice to understand the medications you are administering.
Why is it important to know common reactions or side effects of medications?
Medications can have expected side effects and unexpected adverse reactions.
What are allergy considerations when administering medications?
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What should you always do when measuring medications?
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What is required to start, change, or stop a medication order?
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What are the six parts of a medication order?
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What are the three parts of a 'dose'?
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What does 'strength of preparation' refer to?
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Why is the metric system preferred in medicine over the household system?
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How many milliliters are in 10 cubic centimeters?
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A mg is the same as a mL.
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How many teaspoons are in 1 tablespoon?
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How many milliliters are in 3 teaspoons?
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What must you do if you make a documentation error in the MAR?
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What is the definition of a controlled substance?
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What does the abbreviation 'PRN' stand for?
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What is the purpose of a Medication Administration Record (MAR)?
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What types of medications are referred to as OTC meds?
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Who can be considered a prescribing practitioner?
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What does monitoring medication being taken by a client involve?
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What does administering medication to a client entail?
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Self-administration of medication means a client can take medication independently without assistance.
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Which of the following are part of the 7 rights of medication administration?
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Administering medication improperly is referred to as wrongdoing. One example is giving the ______ instead of the intended medication.
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What are the four main routes of giving medication?
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What type of medication can QMAPs NOT administer?
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What is the purpose of medications?
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What does a prescription label include?
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Over-the-counter medications can be purchased without a prescription.
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What is a controlled substance?
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What is an Anaphylaxis reaction?
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What should you do with medications that are outdated or expired?
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What is the role of a drug reference manual?
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Study Notes
Monitoring Medication
- Monitoring medication involves reminders, lawful delivery, and observation to ensure clients take their medication.
- Includes documenting medication taken and notifying practitioners of refusal or inability to comply.
Administering Medication
- Administering medication includes assisting clients with taking medications as directed by authorized practitioners.
- Requires documentation of administration for both prescription and OTC drugs.
Self-Administration
- Self-administration means clients can take their own medications without assistance.
- Staff provides reminders for self-administering clients, ensuring safety and encouraging notifications of updates.
- Facilities must have written physician approval if clients self-administer any medication.
Seven Rights of Medication Administration
- Right client
- Right time
- Right medication
- Right dose
- Right route
- Right documentation
- Right to refuse
Medication Errors
- Common errors include wrong medication, dose, or route.
- Timeframe for administration has a half-hour grace period if specified.
Routes of Medication Administration
- Ingestion: Oral medications in the form of tablets, capsules, or liquids.
- Application: Medications applied to the skin or mucous membranes.
- Inhalation: Medications taken through inhalation into the respiratory system.
- Insertion: Inserting medications such as suppositories.
QMAP Limitations
- QMAPs cannot administer medications via tubes, injections, or perform assessments or judgments about medications.
- Special training may allow exceptions for certain cases.
Purpose of Medications
- Medications are used to prevent disease, treat illness, alleviate symptoms, aid diagnosis, restore, and achieve therapeutic effects.
Forms of Medications
- Liquids: Solutions and suspensions, with suspensions requiring shaking.
- Solid: Tablets can be scored; enteric-coated tablets must not be crushed or chewed.
- Semi-solids: Capsules, spansules, creams, and ointments for topical use.
- Patches: Transdermal systems that dispense medication slowly and should not be cut.
- Sublingual and Buccal: Medications designed for rapid release under the tongue or between the gum and cheek.
Effects of Medications
- Local effects target specific areas; examples include topical ointments.
- Systemic effects impact the whole body through circulation; examples include orally taken antibiotics.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
- Side effects are expected outcomes of medications; adverse reactions are unexpected or allergic responses requiring attention.
Anaphylaxis
- Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that necessitates immediate action, potentially life-threatening, including checking client plans for Epi Pen access.
Medication Labeling
- Prescription medications are obtained with a physician’s order and must have a pharmacist's label showing essential details.
- OTC medications require labeling with the client's name and need a physician's order to administer.
Controlled Substances
- Controlled substances are classified into five schedules based on their potential for abuse.
- Regulations require strict counting and double-locking of controlled substances.
Disposal of Medications
- Proper methods for medication disposal must be followed, documenting the process and ensuring irretrievability of destroyed medications.
Information Sources
- Reliable drug reference materials include PDRs and package inserts for instructions on medication use.
Drug Administration Timing
- Understanding the best administration times for medications ensures optimal effectiveness and may prevent adverse effects.
Allergy Awareness
- Document and be vigilant about client allergies to prevent severe reactions, including anaphylaxis.### Allergens and Allergic Reactions
- An allergen triggers allergic reactions.
- Common symptoms:
- Hives or rash
- Headache
- Runny nose and wheezing
- Swelling of eyes, lips, throat, leading to breathing difficulties
- Potentially dangerous drop in blood pressure
- Typical allergens include:
- Foods (nuts, wheat, eggs)
- Animal hair
- Fish and shellfish
- Insect bites or stings
- Medications
Medication Administration Guidelines
- Always measure using the metric system for accuracy.
- Use an oral syringe for doses less than 5 mL.
- Document medications accurately and immediately on the Medication Administration Record (MAR).
Important Documentation Rules
- A written physician's order is necessary to start, change, or stop a medication order; verbal orders are not accepted.
- Each MAR must include:
- Client's full name
- Medication name
- Dose
- Route of administration
- Date
- Provider's signature
Understanding Medication Orders
- Dose consists of:
- Size (total amount per administration)
- Frequency (how often, expressed in abbreviations)
- Duration (length of treatment)
- Strength of preparation indicates the concentration of medication in each unit.
Metric System vs. Household System
- The metric system (mg, g, kg, ml, l) offers standardized measurements, enhancing consistency and reducing errors compared to the household system (teaspoon, tablespoon), which can vary in size.
- Key equivalents to memorize:
- 1 tsp = 5 cc = 5 mL
- 3 tsp = 1 tbsp = 15 cc = 15 mL = ½ oz
- 2 tbsp = 30 cc = 30 mL = 1 oz
- 1 g = 1000 mg
Medication Error Protocol
- Errors must be documented on the MAR and reported to a supervisor immediately.
- Medication errors deemed harmful necessitate reporting to the licensing agency within one business day.
- Ensure proper storage and access control of medications.
Psychotropic Medications
- Alter mind, emotions, and behavior; informed consent is required prior to administration.
- Documentation for PRN medications must include the time, dose, and reason, including follow-up checks on the client's status.
Universal Precautions
- Steps to prevent disease transmission via blood or body fluids during health care or first aid were expanded to standard precautions.
Medication Reminder Box (MRB)
- An MRB organizes medications according to the schedule and can be filled up to 14 days in advance.
- All medications must be accurately labeled, and appropriate documentation on the MAR is required for each medication.
General Drug Information
- Controlled substances have the potential for addiction and require cautious handling.
- OTC medications are non-prescription, while prescription medications require a licensed provider's order.
- Side effects refer to any unintended effects of a medication that deviate from the desired outcome.
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