Question

Medication Administration and Dosage Calculations 1. During the implementation phase there are rights that are your guides. What are the five rights (plus one)? 2. Give an example of how you safeguard the patient for each "right" of medication administration. 3. What is the nurse's role in the evaluation phase of the nursing process as it applies to medication administration? Dosage Calculations: Show your work 1. The patient is receiving 15 g of a medication every day. The medication comes in 1000 mg per tablet. How many tablets would the nurse administrate?

Answer 1

1. The six rights of medication administration

1. Right patient - before administering the medications ,make sure that it is administered to the same patient ordered by the physician.
2. Right medication -identify the medication properly before administration
3. Right dosage - identify the correct dosage before hand of administering them
4. Right route - be clear with the correct route of administration of the medication
5. Right time - administer the medications at the ordered time
6. Right documentation - document the procedure on time

There are four more rights in regards with medication administration.They are

• Right client education - educate the client regarding the type of medication,indication, side effects,route of administration,dosage and frequency before hand
• Right to refuse - accept the patient has right to refuse any treatment including medications
• Right assessment - asses the patient before and after medication administration
• Right evaluation - evaluate the patient condition before and after medication administration

2. example for how to safeguard the patient for each rights of medication administration

1.Right patient: To identify the correct patient for medication administration,check the order sheet for name of the patient and ask the patient to state his/her name verbally if possible. In case ,if the patient is unable to speak or give proper identification data , check identification band or use bar code system.

2.Right medication : check and verify the medication order sheet and the medication label for the name and form of drug. Be aware regarding look -alike sound- alike medications.

3.Right dosage - check the order sheet for dose of administration. Calculate the dose if needed and allow another registered nurse to recheck the amount to be given.

4.Right route - check the order sheet and confirm the route of administration. make sure that patient can receive the medication by the ordered route.

5.Right time - confirm the time and frequency of medication administration and the last time when the dosage was given to make sure that the correct medication is administered at correct time. ( check in the medication administration chart)

6.Right documentation - proper documentation of the name of medication, time given, dosage given, route of administration and the patient response in the patient medical record is essential for further reference.

3.Nurses role in evaluation phase of medication administration

The primary responsibility of a nurse in the evaluation phase of drug administration is continuous monitoring of the patient for therapeutic and adverse effect of drug therapy and determine the success of treatment.

• observe the patient for signs and symptoms of adverse reaction
• notify the physician if any side effect develop after medication administration for further management
• evaluate whether the desired outcome has been met by the medication administration
• make a conclusion which aids with modifying the treatment regimen if the expected out come is not met

4.Dosage calculation

Available dose of medication = 1000 mg per one tablet

dose to be administered per day =1.5 gm or 1500 mg

the formula is,

Number of tablets to be given = Medication strength ordered by the doctor ÷ dosage strength of one tablet

thus,1500 ÷ 1000 = 1.5

so one and a half tablet to be administered to get the desired amount of dosage per day.