Pharmacology Clear & Simple Nina Beaman, MS, RN,C, CMA(AAMA)

Chapter 1 Patient Safety

Objectives Define all key terms. Discuss the responsibility of allied health professionals in administering medications. List the six rights of medication administration. Discuss the ethics of medication administration. State the circumstances when you would call a poison control center. Describe how to respond to patient’s allergic reactions.

Patient’s Rights Give the drug to the right patient. Give the right drug. Give the drug in the right dose. Give the drug at the right time. Give the drug by the right route. Chart the drug using the right documentation.

Right Patient It is important to give the medication to the correct patient. In the hospital, the patient may have an identification bracelet on the wrist. In the medical office, you will need to identify the patient by sight or unique information.

Critical Thinking You enter the reception area of the medical office to look for the patient whose name is on the medication. How can you be certain of giving the medication to the right patient? Because patients are sometimes confused or hard of hearing, how can you be certain that the patient who responds is the right one?

Right Drug The wrong drug can have a dangerous effect. You must check the name of the drug at least 3 times. Arrange drugs in organized manner in office to avoid confusion.

Critical Thinking What is the safest way to arrange drugs in a drug cabinet to avoid medication errors?

Right Dose Check dosage 3 times. If the dosage seems unreasonable, notify MD before giving. Dose may be adapted to weight of patient.

Right Time Give stat orders immediately. Develop appropriate time schedule . Depends on medication, order, and convenience to patient.

Critical Thinking What kinds of drugs are usually prescribed to be given at equal intervals throughout the day? Explain why these drugs must be given at exact intervals.

Right Route Route important to dosage Convenience Availability of drug for that route Speed of effect Comfort Other circumstances

Critical Thinking Rachael Smith has been told to be npo after midnight before an x-ray series of her bowels. She calls to see if she should take her morning dose of insulin. An office assistant says she should take it because insulin is not given by mouth. If you had taken her call, what would you have said or done?

Right Documentation If it has not been documented, it has not been done. Follow office protocol. Maintain legal records. Correct errors without deleting.

Critical Thinking Imagine that you gave Cecile Massé 1 mL of a flu shot in the left deltoid muscle. You took it from a container that said lot #1234567, which expires on 12/01/10. How would you document this procedure?

Ethics Information—dangerous abbreviations Consent Privacy

Critical Thinking While entering a crowded reception room, a medical assistant calls back to a colleague that she has to tell a patient that her birth control samples are ready. Immediately afterward, she calls the patient’s name aloud. Is this appropriate? How might she have better handled patient confidentiality?

Emergency Responsibilities Toxic and poison response Allergies Anaphylaxis

Critical Thinking Kendall McGlasson is beginning a new prescription. Before she leaves the office, what would you tell her about potential adverse effects?

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.