Question

Betty, an allied health professional in a physician's office, is asked by a co-worker to administer a physician-ordered dose of Decadron to Joseph, in Room 5, who has arthritis. Betty picks up a bottle that appears to be Decadron from the shelf. She draws the dose and administers it to the patient in Room 2 without asking the patient his name because she thinks she knows the patient. Actually, Betty has drawn an estrogen preparation and given it to Mac. The other allied health professional working in the area later realizes that Betty has given the wrong medication to the wrong patient.

1. What rules of medication administration has Betty failed to follow? Please explain your answer.

2. What information does Betty need to document?

3. Does she need to notify the physician? Why or why not?

Answer 1

1. Betty has failed to follow the 6R's of medication administration . 6R's of drug administration are :-

- Right patient

- Right drug

- Right dose

- Right route

- Right time

- Right documentation

Out of these 6Rs , Betty haven't checked the drug neither the patient .

2. The information Betty needs to document about the drug administration include the dose ,the route and the time when she gave the medication .

3. Yes ,she needs to notify the physician about the negligence she have done because it might cause or result in serious health complications to the patient . To avoid such disastrous situation she should inform the physician so that interventions can be made before any complications occurs .