Chapter 5 Prescriptions and Labels

Objectives  Define key terms.  Discuss precautions to ensure patient safety.  Identify the parts of a legal prescription.  List which healthcare providers are able to write prescriptions in your state.  Define abbreviations used in prescriptions.  Interpret labels safely.

Prescriptions  Types of orders  Written  Verbal  Standing  Stop

Critical Thinking  You review a prescription and find you can not determine if the medication is Trileptal (an antiseizure medication) or Tylenol 3 (a narcotic pain reliever). What would the difference be to the patient if the wrong drug were given? What should you do in this situation?

Abbreviations—Which do you know?  cap  mL  elix  mg  gm  oz  gr  tab  gtt  T, Tb  mcg  t, tsp  mEq

Answers  cap―capsule  mg―milligram  gr―grain  T, Tb―tablespoon  mEq―milliequivalent  mL―milliliter  gm―gram  tab―tablet  mcg―microgram  elix―elixir  oz―ounce  gtt―drop  tsp―teaspoon

Written Prescription  Parts of the prescription  Superscription—name, address, phone number and DEA number of prescriber, patient’s demographics, date  Rx  Inscription  Signature  Subscription  Refills  Generics  Prescriber’s signature

Parts of the Prescription  Superscription  Prescriber information  Patient demographics  Inscription  Signature  Subscription

Rules for Writing Prescriptions  Check state and office protocols before writing a prescription for a physician.  Keep close security of prescription pads.  Prescriptions are usually written with Latin abbreviations, which you must know.

Critical Thinking  If most patients do not understand Latin, why do you think physicians write the signature in Latin?

Protocols for Prescriptions  Keep pads safe—usually only certain staff can have access.  Physician should only have one pad at a time.  Allied health professionals can sometimes write or type prescriptions, but MUST be signed by prescriber.  Schedule II drugs MUST be written by prescriber.

Critical Thinking  You work in a busy gynecologist’s office. Many women run out of birth control pills before you can schedule them to come in to be seen. Create a protocol for refilling oral contraceptives without seeing the patient.

Summary  What new piece of information in this chapter were you most interested to learn?  What questions do you still have about the information in this chapter?  Return to Objectives to determine extent of learning.Objectives

Credits Publisher: Margaret Biblis Acquisitions Editor: Andy McPhee Developmental Editor: Yvonne N. Gillam Production Manager: Samuel A. Rondinelli Manager, Electronic Development: Kirk Pedrick Technical Project Manager, EP: Frank Musick Design Associate, EP: Sandra Glennie The publisher is not responsible for errors or omission or for consequences from application of information in this presentation, and makes no warranty, expressed or implied, in regards to its content. Any practice described in this presentation should be applied by the reader in accordance with professional standards of care used with regard to the unique circumstances that may apply in each situation.