What does the nurse need to determine prior to administering medication to a client?
This standard applies to LPNs, NPs, RNs, and RPNs.Practice Standards set out requirements related to specific aspects of nurses’ practice. They link with other standards, policies and bylaws of the BC College of Nurses and Midwives and all legislation relevant to nursing practice. Show
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Medication practice standard outlines nurses'1 accountabilities for providing safe nursing care to clients when performing activities involving medication. “Medication” refers to Schedule I, IA, II, III, and unscheduled drugs as defined in the provincial Drug Schedules Regulation under the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA). Nurses have the authority to administer, dispense, and compound certain medications under the Nurses (Licensed Practical) Regulation, the Nurses (Registered) and Nurse Practitioners Regulation, and the Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Regulation. Nurses may administer, dispense, or compound medications to or for a client2 by:
Nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses also have the authority
to prescribe certain
medications within their autonomous scope of practice under the Nurses (Registered) and Nurse Practitioners Regulation, and the Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Regulation. For specific scope of practice standards, limits and conditions related to administering, dispensing, compounding and/or prescribing medications, refer to BCCNM’s:
Employers provide the organizational supports and systems necessary for nurses to meet the Standards of Practice. PrinciplesAll Medication Related Activities
Medication Administration
Dispensing Medications
Preventing Medication Errors
Medication Inventory Management
Applying the principles to practice
Footnotes
back to top What should the nurse assess prior to administering this medication to the patient?All medications require an assessment (review of lab values, pain, respiratory assessment, cardiac assessment, etc.) prior to medication administration to ensure the patient is receiving the correct medication for the correct reason. Be diligent in all medication calculations.
What must be checked before administering any medication?Check the name of the medication, brand names should be avoided. Check the expiry date. Check the prescription.. 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.. What are your nursing responsibilities prior to giving drugs?Prior to the administration of medications, the nurse must check and validate the medication order, and also apply their critical thinking skills to the ordered medication and the status and condition of the client in respect to the contraindications, pertinent lab results, pertinent data like vital signs, client ...
What are the 7 factors to consider when administering medication?To ensure safe medication preparation and administration, nurses are trained to practice the “7 rights” of medication administration: right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right reason and right documentation [12, 13].
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