ATI Safe Medication Administration
Nurse responsibilities: Ans- Preparing, administering medications, Evaluating client
responses, Maintaining up-to-date knowledge base
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- adverse effects
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- toxic responses
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- side effects
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- safe dosage range
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- purpose
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- route of administration
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- mechanism of action
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- precautions and contraindications
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- Maintaining skills
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- Proper ways to prepare meds,
proper administration skills, etc.
Practice may change over time due to Ans- new information learned from nursing
research
The scope of RN practice how? Ans- varies from state to state since each state board
regulates these
It is your responsibility as an RN to determine what 2 things? Ans- medication accuracy
and report any errors that occur with medications
You are also responsible to make sure that all medications are ________________
properly when you leave them unattended Ans- stored and safeguarded
Right client Ans- Need two identifiers acceptable identifier include: client's name,
an assigned identification number,
a telephone number,
a birth date,
,or another person-specific identifier s/a a photo; some facilities also use barcodes to
scan client identifiers into the system
True/False: In long term care facilities, two identifiers are only required for the first dose
of a new medication administered; after that, just one identifier s/a facial recognition is
sufficient for administering a medication Ans- TRUE
Check prescription! Does this med make sense for patient? The nurse knows that this is
associated with which Right of Medication Administration? Ans- Right medication
Verify medication w/ what is ordered in the _________________. Ans- medication
administration record (MAR)
Prescription s/b compared w/ the MAR three times: Ans- 1) before you take the
medication from its drawer or shelf,
2) as you remove it from the container and
3) at the bedside right before you administer it
It is also important to look at the _______________ on the package before
administering the medication. Ans- expiration date
If unfamiliar w/ the medication, what 2 things can a nurse do? Ans- check in a
medication guide or talk with a pharmacist to learn more about it
True/False; it's safe to always assume a prescription is correct; but if you are in doubt or
it doesn't make sense, check w/ the prescriber Ans- FALSE; NEVER assume it is
correct
True/False: It is acceptable to administer a medication that another nurse prepared if
there is an emergency that calls the primary nurse away. Ans- FALSE: NEVER
acceptable to administer a medication that another nurse has prepared.
Many meds can be administered via more than one route; therefore the nurse knows
that this is part of which Right of Administration? Ans- Right route
Be sure to compare the label w/ the prescription and verify the route; then compare it w/
the label on ______________. Ans- the medication container
If prescription doesn't include a route that is appropriate for the pt or if it doesn't specific
a route at all, what should the nurse do? Ans- clarify w/ the provider
Be especially careful w/what kinds of meds? Ans- liquid
What route involves enteral? Ans- oral or via enteral tubes
What route involves parenteral? Ans- injection or infusion
, Follow facility guideline for medication administration timing refers to which Right of
Administration? Ans- Right time
If interruption occurs and are unable to administer med right at specified time, how soon
should you aim to administer the dose? Ans- try to administer dose w/in 30 minutes of
scheduled time
STAT Ans- right away
PC Ans- w/in 30 minutes after a meal
PRN Ans- use your nursing judgment
The nurse compares the dose he prepares with the dose that prescriber provided. He is
practicing which Right of Administration? Ans- Right dose
Verify that dose is __________________. Ans- appropriate for the client
What kinds of client specifics may influence the correct dose for that client, and may
even cause the nurse to question the dose with the provider? Ans- The client has a
renal or hepatic disorder, or the dose is outside of the appropriate range for that
medication
When performing conversions and calculations as needed to prepare meds, what can
you do if you are not sure or if you have any doubts? Ans- have a second nurse verify
your calculations
The nurse knows that documentation timing for medication should occur immediately
after administration and never before and never later on. She is acknowledging which
Right of Administration? Ans- Right documentation
If medications are not documented promptly after administration, what can happen to
adversely affect the patient? Ans- another nurse may assume the medication has not
been given and administer another dose to the patient
What are some reasons that a medication may not be given at the right time? What is
important to do in these instances? Ans- pt at radiology; will administer med upon
return.
Also important to follow facility protocol for documentation whenever a medication is not
given at the scheduled time be sure to note the reason for the time difference
Types of Prescriptions Ans-
In effect until provider changes or discontinues it; or until pt is discharged Ans- Routine
Nurse responsibilities: Ans- Preparing, administering medications, Evaluating client
responses, Maintaining up-to-date knowledge base
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- adverse effects
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- toxic responses
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- side effects
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- safe dosage range
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- purpose
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- route of administration
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- mechanism of action
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- precautions and contraindications
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- Maintaining skills
What nurses need to know about a medication. Ans- Proper ways to prepare meds,
proper administration skills, etc.
Practice may change over time due to Ans- new information learned from nursing
research
The scope of RN practice how? Ans- varies from state to state since each state board
regulates these
It is your responsibility as an RN to determine what 2 things? Ans- medication accuracy
and report any errors that occur with medications
You are also responsible to make sure that all medications are ________________
properly when you leave them unattended Ans- stored and safeguarded
Right client Ans- Need two identifiers acceptable identifier include: client's name,
an assigned identification number,
a telephone number,
a birth date,
,or another person-specific identifier s/a a photo; some facilities also use barcodes to
scan client identifiers into the system
True/False: In long term care facilities, two identifiers are only required for the first dose
of a new medication administered; after that, just one identifier s/a facial recognition is
sufficient for administering a medication Ans- TRUE
Check prescription! Does this med make sense for patient? The nurse knows that this is
associated with which Right of Medication Administration? Ans- Right medication
Verify medication w/ what is ordered in the _________________. Ans- medication
administration record (MAR)
Prescription s/b compared w/ the MAR three times: Ans- 1) before you take the
medication from its drawer or shelf,
2) as you remove it from the container and
3) at the bedside right before you administer it
It is also important to look at the _______________ on the package before
administering the medication. Ans- expiration date
If unfamiliar w/ the medication, what 2 things can a nurse do? Ans- check in a
medication guide or talk with a pharmacist to learn more about it
True/False; it's safe to always assume a prescription is correct; but if you are in doubt or
it doesn't make sense, check w/ the prescriber Ans- FALSE; NEVER assume it is
correct
True/False: It is acceptable to administer a medication that another nurse prepared if
there is an emergency that calls the primary nurse away. Ans- FALSE: NEVER
acceptable to administer a medication that another nurse has prepared.
Many meds can be administered via more than one route; therefore the nurse knows
that this is part of which Right of Administration? Ans- Right route
Be sure to compare the label w/ the prescription and verify the route; then compare it w/
the label on ______________. Ans- the medication container
If prescription doesn't include a route that is appropriate for the pt or if it doesn't specific
a route at all, what should the nurse do? Ans- clarify w/ the provider
Be especially careful w/what kinds of meds? Ans- liquid
What route involves enteral? Ans- oral or via enteral tubes
What route involves parenteral? Ans- injection or infusion
, Follow facility guideline for medication administration timing refers to which Right of
Administration? Ans- Right time
If interruption occurs and are unable to administer med right at specified time, how soon
should you aim to administer the dose? Ans- try to administer dose w/in 30 minutes of
scheduled time
STAT Ans- right away
PC Ans- w/in 30 minutes after a meal
PRN Ans- use your nursing judgment
The nurse compares the dose he prepares with the dose that prescriber provided. He is
practicing which Right of Administration? Ans- Right dose
Verify that dose is __________________. Ans- appropriate for the client
What kinds of client specifics may influence the correct dose for that client, and may
even cause the nurse to question the dose with the provider? Ans- The client has a
renal or hepatic disorder, or the dose is outside of the appropriate range for that
medication
When performing conversions and calculations as needed to prepare meds, what can
you do if you are not sure or if you have any doubts? Ans- have a second nurse verify
your calculations
The nurse knows that documentation timing for medication should occur immediately
after administration and never before and never later on. She is acknowledging which
Right of Administration? Ans- Right documentation
If medications are not documented promptly after administration, what can happen to
adversely affect the patient? Ans- another nurse may assume the medication has not
been given and administer another dose to the patient
What are some reasons that a medication may not be given at the right time? What is
important to do in these instances? Ans- pt at radiology; will administer med upon
return.
Also important to follow facility protocol for documentation whenever a medication is not
given at the scheduled time be sure to note the reason for the time difference
Types of Prescriptions Ans-
In effect until provider changes or discontinues it; or until pt is discharged Ans- Routine
