Dosage 360

Gram

-Measures Mass -Equivalent to weight of a paper clip

Liter

-Measures volume -Slightly more than 1 quart or equivalent to 32 fluid ounces

Tall Man Lettering

-Reduces risk for med errors -Mixes upper and lowercase letters to help highlight section of drug name that can be confused with another similar one

Brand Name

-Trade Name -Given by Manufacturer

Meter

-Used to measure length -Slightly more than 3 feet, 3 inches or 39.37 inches

REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies)

-ensures that the benefits of a specific drug outweigh the risks -Requires manufacturers of drugs to develop a program to monitor safety and address training of healthcare providers -Requires drugs under the program contain a package insert that provides information about the drug and patient safety information

Time-Released Medication Formats

1. CR 2. Contin 3. ER, XR, XL 4. SA 5. SR 6. TR

Tablets

1. Contain the drug's active ingredient in a compressed form 2. May be scored 3. May have an enteric coating 4. Includes a variation called a caplet, which is small and has a smooth covering that makes it easier to swallow

Capsules

1. Have a gelatin-like covering that holds the powdered form of the drug 2. Include a softgel variation, used specifically for liquid or oil-based drug ingredients 3. May contain tiny beads or pellets that are dissolved and released over time, allowing the drug's active ingredient to enter into the bloodstream at a slower and steadier rate

Parenteral Drugs -Absorbed outside of GI Tract

1. Intradermal (ID) injections are given into the top layer of the skin. 2. Subcutaneous (subcut) injections are given into the subcutaneous tissue. 3. Intramuscular (IM) injections are given directly into muscle. 4. Intravenous (IV) medications are given directly into the vein.

Topical Drugs

1. Intranasal drugs are given through the nasal mucosa. 2. Transdermal patches are applied to the skin. 3. Ophthalmic medications are applied to the lower lid of the eye. 4. Intra-auricular (otic) medications are given into the ear. 5. Intravaginal medications are inserted into the vagina. 5. Inhaled medications are inhaled into the nose or mouth into the respiratory tract.

What does pt information include?

1. Name 2. Age 3. Gender 4. DOB 5. Med Record # 6. Allergies

When documenting meds, it is important to remember the following...

1. No trailing zeros, but always use leading zeros 2. Spell out units and use abbreviation mcg and mL 3. No periods after abbreviations 4. Use commas for #'s larger than a thousand 5. For doses in the hundred thousands, use the word "thousand." Use the word "million" for doses in the millions

Enteral routes of drug administration

1. Oral 2. Sublingual/Buccal 3. Feeding Tube 4. Rectal

Enteral/gastrointestinal drugs

1. Oral (PO) drugs are given by mouth. Includes drugs in liquid or solid form. 2. Buccal (buc) drugs are given between the gums and inner lining of the cheeks. 3. Sublingual (SL) drugs are given under the tongue. 4. Rectal (PR) are given into the rectum.

6 rights of medication administration

1. Right drug 2. Right dose 3. Right route 4. Right pt 5. Right time 6. Right documentation

Powdered Oral Medications- Special Considerations

1. They must be mixed just before administration, involves mixing the powder with a liquid so that the powdered medication can be administered 2. To correctly obtain the dosage strength of the drug, follow the reconstitution directions as listed on the drug label. 3. identify the storage information on the label specific for the reconstituted drug

Generic Name

1. Universal Name for the drug 2. Identifies drugs by chemical groups or pharmaceutical properties

Steps of solving a dimensional analysis problem

1. Write ordered dose as fraction 2. Write the amount to be given to pt (desired amount) 3. Write conversion factors, starting w the dosage strength & adding additional factors as needed to cancel units 4. Cancel units leaving only desired unit 5. Multiply the numerators then multiply denominators

cylindrical dosing spoon

1. a measuring device with calibration lines from 1 mL to 10 mL and equivalent measurements in teaspoons. 2. designed with a spoon end shape for ease of medication administration.

oral syringe

1. a measuring device, available in various sizes ranging from 3 mL to 10 mL capacity. 2. The tip of the syringe allows for easy administration. -The oral syringe is needleless.

calibrated dropper

1. designed to facilitate oral medication administration, especially in children. 2. Sizes vary; often measures 1 mL to 5 mL of medication.

What should the nurse who initially mixes the medication place on bottle?

1. the date the medication was reconstituted 2. the time the medication was reconstituted 3. the initials of the nurse.

Medicine Cup

1. used to hold oral medications, including liquid and solid forms. 2. marked with calibrated units used to measure dosages.

How many cm in an inch?

2.54

ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices)

A nonprofit agency whose primary purpose is identifying causes of med errors & recommending evidence based strategies for preventing them

Black Box Warning

A warning on the drug label that indicates the carries significant adverse effects that may be life-threatening or cause serious harm.

How to prevent med errors?

Always double check doctor's order and the pt's med record

Formula Method D=

Desired -Ordered dose of medication

controlled substances

Drugs or therapeutic agents that have potential for abuse or addiction and may cause physical or mental harm -Identified by a letter C and a roman numeral

Types of Liquid Oral Medications

Elixirs Syrups Suspensions

Formula Method H=

Have -Dose you have; strength of medication written on drug label

rectal administration

Medication may be administered into the rectum, such as a suppository.

Feeding tube: administration

Medications may be administered into the gastrointestinal tract through feeding tubes. -Feeding tubes are placed directly into the gastrointestinal tract and provide a means for giving nutrition and medications.

Oral Medications

Oral medications are administered by mouth into the stomach and are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and then enter into the body.

Formula Method Q=

Quantity -Dosage form of the drug (tab, cap, amount of liquid) & the quantity of dosage form

Dosage Form

Solid or Liquid form that holds the strength of the medication

Sublingual and Buccal Administration

The route allows for medications to be placed under the tongue (sublingual) or between the gum and the inner lining of the cheek (buccal) to dissolve. -This facilitates rapid absorption of the medication through the mucous membranes.

Conversion Factors

Two equivalent measurements written as a fraction in which the numerator is equivalent to the denominator -used to cancel unnecessary units of measurements leaving desired unit

Formula Method x=

Unknown -Answer to the problem, amount of meds to administer

Suspensions

a liquid that contains small particles of the drug that cannot be dissolved.

Elixirs

a mixture of the drug mixed with water, alcohol, and flavored substances.

Where do you read the liquid when using a medicine cup?

at the meniscus level or at the horizontal center of the liquid and not from the outer edges of the cup.

centi

c 0.01

Syrups

contains the drug in a viscous liquid preparation consisting largely of purified water and sucrose or a sugar substitute for a more pleasant taste.

deci

d 0.1

Deka

da 10

Hecto

h 100

kilogram

kilo k 1,000

milli

m 0.001

micro

mc 0.000001