1. Interpreting Drug Orders
Chapter 7
MAT 119

2. Objectives Read and write correct medical notation.
Write the standard medical abbreviation from a list of common terminology.
Classify the notation that specifies the dosage, route, and frequency of the medication to be administered.
Interpret physician and other prescribing practitioner orders.

3. Nursing Responsibilities
Interpret order
Prepare exact dosage of prescribed drug
Identify the patient
Administer dosage by prescribed route at prescribed time intervals
Record the administration of the prescribed drug
Monitor the patient’s response for
desired and possible adverse effects

4. Route
Interpretation IM
Intramuscular IV
Intravenous
IVPB
Intravenous piggyback
Subcut / (SQ)
Subcutaneous SL
Sublingual, under the tongue ID
Intradermal GT
Gastrostomy tube NG
Nasogastric (tube) NJ
Nasojejunal (tube) po
By mouth, orally pr
Per rectum, rectally

5. Frequency
Interpretation ac
Before meals pc
After meals
prn
When necessary, as needed
Stat
Immediately
bid
Twice a day
tid
Three times a day
qid
Four times a day
min
Minute h
Hour
qh, q2h, etc.
Every hour, every two hours

6. ā General Interpretation before after with without q every NPO
nothing by mouth
gtt
drop
tab
tablet
cap
capsule hs
hour of sleep, bedtime

7. Seven Parts of a Drug Order
1. Date and time of order
2. Patient name
3. Drug name
4. Dosage
5. Route of administration
6. Frequency / time and any special instructions
7. Signature and licensure of person writing the order

8. Examining Drug Orders Drug order must be written clearly
If any part(s) is missing, it is incomplete
If ever in doubt, you MUST ask the prescribing practitioner to clarify

9. Six Rights of Medication Administration
1. Right patient 2. Right drug 3. Right dosage/amount 4. Right route 5. Right time/frequency 6. Right documentation

10. What’s Missing?? Heparin 5,000 units IV Lasix bid Depakene 250 mg po
frequency
Lasix bid
Dosage and route
Depakene 250 mg po
Demerol 50 mg IV, prn for pain
- frequency

11. What’s Missing?? Amoxocillin 250 mg po Xanax 0.1 mg bid
frequency
Xanax 0.1 mg bid
route
Gentamicin sulfate po q 12 h
dosage

12. Preventing Medication Errors
Clarify incomplete orders
Identify scheduling of doses
Read entire medication administration record (MAR) at beginning of each shift
Verify times scheduled with ordered frequency
Review all medications to identify any potential drug interactions or inconsistencies

13. Critical Thinking
What are the legal implications related to medication administration?
What are some potential outcomes of unsafe medication administration?

14. Example of a Written Drug Order
Patient: Ben Jackson MRN
01/23/ Amoxil 500 mg po qid pc & hs
J. Physician, M.D.
Interpretation:
Give Amoxil 500 milligrams by mouth four times a day after meals and at bedtime.

15. How to interpret… Ancef 1 g IVPB q 6 h
Give Ancef 1 gram by intravenous piggyback every 6 hours
Humulin R Regular U-100 insulin 5 units subcut stat
Give Humulin R Regular U-100 insulin 5 units subcutaneous immediately

16. How to interpret… Potassium chloride 10 mEq po bid pc
Give Potassium chloride 10 milliequivalents orally two times a day after meals
Keflex 500 mg po qid
Give Keflex 500 milligrams by mouth four times a day
Atarax 100 mg po hs prn
Give Atarax 100 milligrams orally at bedtime,
as necessary

17. How to interpret… Decadron 0.5 mg po q 12 h Tegretol 0.2 g po tid
Give Decadron 0.5 milligrams orally every 12 hours
Tegretol 0.2 g po tid
Give Tegretol 0.2 grams orally three times a day

18. Drug Orders To convert to abbreviations:
Give Cortisporin otic suspension two drops each ear three times a day and bedtime:
Cortisporin otic suspension 2 gtt each ear tid & hs
Give Digoxin 0.25 milligrams by mouth daily
Digoxin 0.25 mg po daily
Give Humulin R Regular U-100 insulin 10 units subcutaneously 30 minutes before meals
Humulin R Regular U-100 insulin 10 units subcut
30 min ac

19. Practice Prescriber’s order: Digoxin 0.25 mg po daily
The frequency of administration in this order is: ____________________
daily
What is the route? _______________
orally

20. Practice Prescriber’s order: Heparin 8000 units subcut bid
The route of administration in this order is: _________________
subcutaneous
What is the frequency of administration? _______________
Two times a day