Legal, Regulatory & Ethical Aspects Drug Administration
Assignment 2
1. What does PRN mean?
Drugs to be given as needed based on nursing judgement of safety and patient need.
2. What is a Black Box Warning?
It’s a special designation from the FDA that the drug has a higher-than-normal risk for causing
serious and even life-threatening problems in addition to its positive benefits for some people.
3. Define controlled substances:
Drugs that are highly regulated because they are commonly abused. They are also known as
“scheduled drugs”.
4. What is an emergency or “stat” drug order?
A one-time drug order to be given immediately.
5. What does legal responsibility mean?
The nurse’s authority as defined by the state Nurse Practice Act. It involves the nurse’s
judgement and actions while performing professional duties. All nurses must know what is legal
regarding drugs in the state they practice in.
6. What are over the counter (OTC) drugs?
Category of drugs identified by federal legislation as having low risk to patients and may be
purchased without prescription; have low risk for abuse and are safe when directions are
followed.
7. Define prescription drugs:
Category of drugs regulated by federal legislation because they are dangerous and their use
must be controlled. May be purchased only when prescribed.
Ex. Antibiotics and Birth Control Pills.
8. What is meant by prescriptive authority?
The authority designated by an individual state that determines who is legally permitted to write
an order or prescription for drugs.
9. Define professional responsibility:
The obligation of nurses to act appropriately, ethically, and to the best of their ability as a
healthcare provider.
K Rowe LVN Page 1 of 12 Rev: Nov. 2018
, Legal, Regulatory & Ethical Aspects Drug Administration
Assignment 2
10. Psychologic dependence means:
Feeling of anxiety, stress, or tension when a patient does not have a medication.
11. Single drug order means:
A one-time order to be given at a specified time.
12. What is a standing drug order?
A drug order thar indicates that the drug is to be given until discontinued or for a certain number
of doses.
13. What do you need to do if you are going to mix drugs/medications in food or drinks before you
can give them?
Inform the patient’s care provider, the patient, and/or the family that you will be giving the drugs
in this manner.
Must be documented in the patient’s care plan and on the drug administration chart to address
legal aspects of this practice.
Check the drug handbook before mixing drugs with food or drinks to make sure if drug can be
taken with that precise food option.
14. Why would you not crush an enteric coated medication/drug?
Because crushing the drug affects the speed of which a drug is absorbed and increases the
chance of patient developing a stomach ulcer.
15. Why would you not want to crush pills or open capsules that are time released (slow the
release of the drug)?
Because by doing that it releases all the drug at once, instead of slowly overtime and can result
in accidental overdose.
16. What is drug diversion?
The illegal transfer of regulated drugs (like narcotics) from the patient for whom it was
prescribed to another person such as the nurse for their own or others use.
17. Define what an impaired nurse means:
One who cannot meet the professional Code of Ethics because of excessive use of alcohol or
drugs.
K Rowe LVN Page 2 of 12 Rev: Nov. 2018
Assignment 2
1. What does PRN mean?
Drugs to be given as needed based on nursing judgement of safety and patient need.
2. What is a Black Box Warning?
It’s a special designation from the FDA that the drug has a higher-than-normal risk for causing
serious and even life-threatening problems in addition to its positive benefits for some people.
3. Define controlled substances:
Drugs that are highly regulated because they are commonly abused. They are also known as
“scheduled drugs”.
4. What is an emergency or “stat” drug order?
A one-time drug order to be given immediately.
5. What does legal responsibility mean?
The nurse’s authority as defined by the state Nurse Practice Act. It involves the nurse’s
judgement and actions while performing professional duties. All nurses must know what is legal
regarding drugs in the state they practice in.
6. What are over the counter (OTC) drugs?
Category of drugs identified by federal legislation as having low risk to patients and may be
purchased without prescription; have low risk for abuse and are safe when directions are
followed.
7. Define prescription drugs:
Category of drugs regulated by federal legislation because they are dangerous and their use
must be controlled. May be purchased only when prescribed.
Ex. Antibiotics and Birth Control Pills.
8. What is meant by prescriptive authority?
The authority designated by an individual state that determines who is legally permitted to write
an order or prescription for drugs.
9. Define professional responsibility:
The obligation of nurses to act appropriately, ethically, and to the best of their ability as a
healthcare provider.
K Rowe LVN Page 1 of 12 Rev: Nov. 2018
, Legal, Regulatory & Ethical Aspects Drug Administration
Assignment 2
10. Psychologic dependence means:
Feeling of anxiety, stress, or tension when a patient does not have a medication.
11. Single drug order means:
A one-time order to be given at a specified time.
12. What is a standing drug order?
A drug order thar indicates that the drug is to be given until discontinued or for a certain number
of doses.
13. What do you need to do if you are going to mix drugs/medications in food or drinks before you
can give them?
Inform the patient’s care provider, the patient, and/or the family that you will be giving the drugs
in this manner.
Must be documented in the patient’s care plan and on the drug administration chart to address
legal aspects of this practice.
Check the drug handbook before mixing drugs with food or drinks to make sure if drug can be
taken with that precise food option.
14. Why would you not crush an enteric coated medication/drug?
Because crushing the drug affects the speed of which a drug is absorbed and increases the
chance of patient developing a stomach ulcer.
15. Why would you not want to crush pills or open capsules that are time released (slow the
release of the drug)?
Because by doing that it releases all the drug at once, instead of slowly overtime and can result
in accidental overdose.
16. What is drug diversion?
The illegal transfer of regulated drugs (like narcotics) from the patient for whom it was
prescribed to another person such as the nurse for their own or others use.
17. Define what an impaired nurse means:
One who cannot meet the professional Code of Ethics because of excessive use of alcohol or
drugs.
K Rowe LVN Page 2 of 12 Rev: Nov. 2018
