Question

The nurse needs a legal prescription from the healthcare provider before delivery of medication to a client; however nurses are responsible for their actions even when there is prescription. Nurses need to be aware of incorrect prescriptions i.e. dosages interactions and contraindications. The nurse MUST question any inappropriate prescriptions and get clarification before administration.

Can you list the 7 points that should be included in a prescription?

Answer 1

Prescription consists of seven parts:

1. Prescriber’s information - found at the top of the prescription, consists of the prescribing clinician’s name, office address, and contact information
2. Patient’s information - patient’s full name, age, patient’s home address and the date the prescription
3. The recipe (the medication, or treatment) - dose, and its dosage form
4. Patient instructions - instructions on how to take the medication
5. Dispensing instructions (how much medication to be dispensed to the patient ),
6. Number of refills
7. Prescriber’s signature