Module 2 - Measurements, Dosage, Administration PDF

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Summary

Information covered about medication Measurements, Dosages and Administration. Very important for anyone in health care!...

Description

Measurement and Dosage This section deals with systems of measurement and terminology which is important to know for sage administration of drugs. Students should note that the method of measuring and administering of medications varies from agency to agency. While many agencies have gone the route of "blister pack" to minimize error, some remain using poured medications. Child and Youth Care providers are not allowed to make calculations to determine the dosage of prescribed drugs; however, should the CYC have any reason to question the dosage of a medication, they must always check this with a registered nurse, doctor, or pharmacist before administering the medication and document the conversation, including name of the person consulted. Systems of Measurement A very old system of measurement of called the "Apothecary System". Using this system, dry weighted items were weighed in grain (gr), dram (dr), ounce (oz), pound (lb) and ton (t). Volume, or liquid items were weighed in minim (m), fluid ounce (oz), pint (pt), quart (qt) or gallon (gal). The Metric system is a decimal system that is more commonly and widely used in medicine today. It is a simple, logical system of measurement based on units of 10. The basic units of metric measurements are the meter, litre, and gram. The meter (m) is the unit of length; the litre (L), of volume/liquid, and the gram (g), of weight. Prefixes added to the words, meter, gram, and litre indicate smaller or larger units in the system. For example: Deca= multiplied by 10 Deci= divided by 10 Hect= multiplied by 100 Centi= divided by 100 Kilo= multiplied by 1000 Milli= divided by 1000 All units are a result of either multiplying or dividing by 10, 100, or 1000. The centimeter (cm), for example, is 1/100th of a meter. A millimeter (mm), is 1/1000th of a meter. A kilometer (km), is 1000 meters. In addition to the metric system, the household system is also a system of measurement that is familiar to most because we have grown up using its basic units- drops, teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. All household measurements are written in Arabic numerals, different than Roman numerals which are more commonly seen in the apothecary system. For example, Arabic numerals are expressed in fractions, not decimals. Therefore, one quarter grain is written 1/4 gr, not 0.25 gr. Arabic numerals are usually written before the unit of measurement, though some people prefer to write them after the uni to avoid confusing grams in the metric system.

Here is a chart to help you recognize the household system of measurement; Weight (Dry)

Volume (Liquid)

Equivalents

Ounce (oz)

Drop/ Drops (gtt)

15 Ounces = 1 Pound

Pound (lb)

Teaspoon (t, tsp)

Ton (t)

Tablespoon (T, tbsp)

3 Teaspoon = 1 Tablespoon = 8 Fluid Ounces 2 Cups = 1 Pint

Teacup (6 oz)

4 Quarts = 1 Gallon

Cup (c) or Glass (8oz) Pint (pt) Quart (qt) Gallon (gal) Temperature Scales It is imperative that CYC's understand the importance of measuring the body temperature of the people we are caring for. A patient's body temperature represents the average temperature of the core of the body tissues and can alert healthcare providers to a variety of illnesses. You may be required to convert a patients temperature between Fahrenheit (F), and Celsius (C) scales, although most hospitals and clinical facilities use electronic digital thermometers. Quite simply, when converting a Fahrenheit temperature to the Celsius scale, subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature and then divide that number by 1.8. When converting a Celsius temperature to the Fahrenheit scale, multiply the Celsius temperature by 1.8 and add 32. The average normal range for a person's body is between 36-38 Celsius, or between 96.8-100.4 Fahrenheit. Medical Abbreviations a) p.r.n. - As Needed b) b.i.d. - Twice a Day c) p - After d) ped - Pediatric e) t.i.d - Three Times a Day f) q.i.d. - Four Times a Day g) R - Right h) Pt. - Patient

i) q - Every j) noc - At Night l) NPO - Nothing by Mouth

Administering Medications Seven “Rights” (Rules) Right Person Right Medication Right Dose Right Time Right Route Right Technique Right Documentation In addition to the Five “Rights”, You must also keep accurate records Follow agency policy and don’t step outside of your competence level Do not sign off for another staff and if you make an error, draw a straight line through the error and initial. If giving meds for a pass, the records must reflect that they were sent for this purpose. Do not sign that you administered them during that period. Record Keeping Ensure that you sign for any med errors you make. Wrong med Wrong dose Wrong client Wrong time Wrong route Wrong technique(dropping or spilling a med) Wrong documentation (date) If a med error has been made (aside from spilling a med or recording on the wrong date), a supervisor should be contacted. The supervisor will then make the call to determine if the client needs to see a Doctor right away. If you miss a dose, record it as a med error but don’t double up on the next dose. Also, check your agency policy – an Incident Report may also need to be completed. The med may call for an empty stomach, a full stomach, take with food, take with milk, take with water, etc. Need to be aware & follow instructions exactly. Check the clients’ mouth after the med has been given to ensure they aren’t tucking it in their cheek or spitting it out. Be aware of the possible side effects of the drug dispensed. Be alert for any symptoms of side effects, toxicity or overdose and report them to your supervisor and/or the attending physician.

Preparing to Pour Medication

- Ensure that you can give your full attention to the task at hand. - Meds should not be stored in anything but a locked cupboard or room. - Wash your hands. - Check the med book to determine what needs to be given (or if it has already been given) - Set up one med at a time. - Pour and give meds one at a time. - Read the med card or book - Read the med label & check against the med card or book - Before opening the container, check the med against the card/binder again. - If pills or tabs, pour into lid of medicine bottle first. - If liquid, set the calibrated med cup on the counter and squat down so your eyes are even with the cup. Pouring & Administering

- Check the med against the med card or binder as you are returning the med to the shelf. - - If on a tray, keep card and med together otherwise errors may easily happen! - Perform checks to determine proper client (ask client name, look at picture in file, ask another staff to identify)

- Now record Don’t sign off that the med has been given until it has been ingested, injected or applied....