Chapter 2 Pharm

right drug
right patient
right dose
right route
right time
right assessment
right documentation
right evaluation
right pt education
right of pt to refuse care (never force to take meds)

after administering the drug, other nursing interventions are required
nurses must be involved with participating in promoting beneficial effects to minimize harm to patients

What drugs are appropriate?
What drugs are contraindicated?
What are possible interactions?
when in doubt, call and find out

the last line of defense for the patient
ethically and legally unacceptable to give a drug that is harmful to the patient, even though it has been prescribed by a health care provider

the nurse must be invovled with applying pharmacology for patient care and patient education (always tell them what they are taking)

1. Pre adiministration assessment (vitals)
2. Dosage and administration (how much)
3. Evaluation therapeutic effect
4. Minimize adverse effects
5. Minimize adverse interactions
6. Make prn decisions
7. Manage toxicity (potential for med to become toxic and how to manage)

collect baseline data (bp, heart rate, etc. -> might be lower for what is considered bad by "standards"
identify high risk patients- drug, allergies, age groups, lab results, etc.

What is the route?
Drugs can have different uses
Read the order
Verify the patient
Dosage calculations?
Be sure you know what the drug is

one of the most important aspects of drug therapy
must know the rationale for treatment and the nature and time course of the intended repsonse
cannot effectively evaluate a drug with the multiple applications if the intended use is not known

the major adverse effect of the drug
early signs that an adverse reaction is developing
the times when these reactions are likely to occurs
interventions that can minimize discomfort

take a thorough drug history
avoid over-the-counter drugs that can interact
monitor for adverse interactions that are known to occur

pro re nata; "as needed"
nurse has discretion regarding how much drug to give and when to give it
know the reason for the drug's use
be able to assess the patient's medication needs

early identification makes early intervention possible
know the early signs of toxicity
know the procedure for toxicity management

how to take the drugs
explain in words they can understand
specifics about the drug
food interactions -> write things down

assessment: pre administration assessment, data collection
analysis: nursing diagnoses, is the drug appropriate
planning: identifying specific interventions, patient education
implementation: drug administration, therapeutic effect, adverse reactions, pt education