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PHARMALAB (ROUTES)
Unit 1: Routes of Drugs
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Pharmacology | the scientific study of the effects of drugs and chemicals on living organisms |
OLD CARTS in History Taking (Assessment) | OLD CARTS (Onset, Location/radiation, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing and Severity). |
PARDED DERT | Patient, Assessment, Refuse, Drug, Education, Documentation Dose, Evaluation, Route, Time |
Right evaluation | Ensure the medication is working the way it should. Ensure medications are reviewed regularly. Ongoing observations if required. |
Right assessment | Check your patient actually needs the medication. Check for contraindications. Baseline observations if required. |
Right to refuse | Ensure you have the patient consent to administer medications. Be aware that patients do have a right to refuse medication if they have the capacity to do so. |
Right documentation | Ensure you have signed for the medication AFTER it has been administered. Ensure the medication is prescribed correctly with a start and end date if appropriate. |
Right patient education | Check if the patient understands what the medication is for. Make them aware they should contact a healthcare professional if they experience side-effects or reactions. |
Right time | Check the frequency of the prescribed medication. Double-check that you are giving the prescribed at the correct time. Confirm when the last dose was given. |
Right route | Again, check the order and appropriateness of the route prescribed. Confirm that the patient can take or receive the medication by the ordered route. |
Right dose | Check the prescription. Confirm the appropriateness of the dose using the BNF or local guidelines. If necessary, calculate the dose and have another nurse calculate the dose as well. |
Right medication | Check the name of the medication, brand names should be avoided. Check the expiry date. Check the prescription. Make sure medications, especially antibiotics, are reviewed regularly. |
Right patient | Check the name on the prescription and wristband. Ideally, use 2 or more identifiers and ask the patient to identify themselves. |
half-life of a drug | the time it takes for the amount of a drug's active substance in your body to reduce by half |
if 100mg of a drug with a half-life of 60 minutes | 60 minutes after administration, 50mg remains. 120 minutes after administration, 25mg remains. |
Infection | heat (calor), pain (dolor), redness (rubor), and swelling (tumor) |