Administrating Medication 3 checks

Summary

This script follows a nursing student's process of administering medications to a patient with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. The student ensures patient safety by performing thorough checks of the medication orders, confirming patient identity, assessing vital signs, and addressing allergies. Medications including oral, ocular, and transdermal are then carefully prepared and administered following a three-step verification process. The nurse also monitors the patient's comfort, evaluates pain levels, and provides appropriate interventions. Proper documentation and patient privacy are emphasized throughout the process.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script details a nursing student’s procedure for administering various types of medications including oral, ocular, and transdermal treatments.
• 😀 Hand hygiene is emphasized as the first step before approaching the patient and reviewing their orders.
• 😀 The patient's medical information, including diagnosis and allergies, is verified before administering medication.
• 😀 The nursing student verifies the patient’s identity and confirms the date of birth before proceeding with any treatment.
• 😀 An assessment of the patient's pain, including its location, intensity, and triggers, is conducted before any medication is given.
• 😀 Vital signs, including lung sounds and heart rate, are checked to ensure the patient is in a stable condition to receive medication.
• 😀 The script emphasizes the importance of checking the expiration dates and condition of medications before administration.
• 😀 The nursing student performs multiple medication checks (first, second, and third checks) to confirm the right drug, dose, and time for administration.
• 😀 The student ensures the proper administration of each medication, including eye drops, pills, and patches, while ensuring the patient is comfortable and informed.
• 😀 Proper disposal of used patches and other medical waste is outlined as an essential step in maintaining patient safety and hygiene.
• 😀 Post-administration, the nurse confirms the patient’s comfort, checks in on their pain levels, and ensures proper documentation and privacy are maintained.

Q & A

What is the primary task being performed in the transcript?

The primary task being performed is the administration of oral, ocular, and transdermal medication to a patient named Shirley.

What is the patient's primary diagnosis and secondary diagnosis?

The patient's primary diagnosis is pneumonia, and the secondary diagnosis is congestive heart failure.

How does the nurse ensure the patient's identity and medication safety before administration?

The nurse verifies the patient's name and date of birth with the medical administration record (MAR), checks for allergies, and performs necessary checks for medication expiration dates and dosages.

What vital signs and assessments are done before administering medication?

The nurse checks the patient's lung sounds, apical heart rate, and assesses for any edema in the patient's legs to ensure it is safe to administer medication, particularly Digoxin.

Why is the apical heart rate specifically checked before administering Digoxin?

The apical heart rate is checked before administering Digoxin to ensure it is above 60 beats per minute, as Digoxin should not be administered if the heart rate is too low.

What medications are prescribed to Shirley, and how are they administered?

Shirley is prescribed Refresh Plus lubricant eye drops (1 drop per eye, 3 times a day), Fentanyl transdermal patch (50 mcg per hour, twice a day), Augmentin (600 mg by mouth twice a day for 7 days), Ibuprofen (800 mg by mouth every 8 hours as needed), and Digoxin (250 mcg by mouth daily).

How does the nurse ensure the medications are administered correctly?

The nurse performs multiple checks to ensure medications are correctly dosed, have not expired, and are administered at the correct time. This includes confirming the right patient, right time, right medication, and right route.

What steps does the nurse take before administering the Fentanyl patch?

Before applying the new Fentanyl patch, the nurse removes the old patch, wipes the skin to remove oils, and applies the new patch to a different site, ensuring it is securely taped and dated.

What specific patient assessment is done regarding Shirley's pain before medication administration?

The nurse assesses Shirley's pain by asking her to rate it on a scale from 0 to 10, identifies the location and nature of the pain, and determines what alleviates it, such as heat and rest.

How does the nurse monitor and document Shirley's condition after medication administration?

The nurse monitors Shirley's condition by checking her vitals again, ensuring her comfort, and documenting all administered medications and assessments. The nurse also reassesses her pain after 30 minutes.