Combination Medications
- A medication that includes two or more active ingredients combined in a single dosage form
- The medication will list the trade name, followed by the generic names of each drug
- The medication will list the dosage of each drug in order of generic names
Types of Medication Response
• Therapeutic effect: Expected or predicted physiological response
Adverse effect: Unintended, undesirable outcome
- Side effect: A predictable secondary, typically undesirable, effect
- Toxic effect: Accumulation of medication in the bloodstream causing undesirable outcome
PHARMACOKINETICS AS THE BASIS OF MEDICATION ACTIONS
• Distribution
-Circulation
• Metabolism
- Medications are metabolized into a less-potent or an inactive form.
- Biotransformation occurs under the influence of enzymes that detoxify, break
down, and remove active chemicals.
• Excretion
Types Of Medication Action
- Allergic Reaction- unexpected reaction to medication
- Medication Reaction- one medication modifies the action of another
- Medication Tolerance- More medication is needed to reach therapeutic affect
- Medication Dependence- physical and phycological
Polypharmacy
-Takes 2 or more medications to treat the same illness
-Takes 2 or more medications of the same chemical class
-Uses two or more medications with the same or
similar actions to treat several disorders
simultaneously
-Mixes nutritional supplements or herbal products with
medications.
Types of Orders- Standing or Routine
Administered until the dosage is
changed or another medication
is prescribed
Types of Orders- PRN
Given when the patient
requires it
Types of Orders- STAT
Given immediately in an
emergency
Types of Orders- Prescription
Medication to be taken
outside of the hospital
Types of Orders- Single (One Time)
Given one time only for a
specific reason
Types of Orders- Now
When a medication is needed
right away, but not STAT
Roles and Responsibilities (Medications) - Nurses
- Determines if medication orders are correct
- Closely monitors effects
- Provides patient teaching
- Administers medication
- Determines medication timing
Roles and Responsibilities- Pharmacist
Prepares and Distributes Medication
Medication Frequency-
Twice a day
Three times a day
Four times a day
Two times= BID or Q12h
Three times= Q8h
Four times= Q6h
What to do when medication error occurs?
- First assess the patient’s condition, then notify the health care provider
- When patient is stable, report the incident
- Prepare and file an occurrence or incident report
- Report near misses and incidents that cause no harm
- Even though the patient is stable/okay, be responsible for actions
10 Types of Medication Errors
- Extra Dose
- Wrong Time
- Wrong Time
- Improper Dose
- Unauthorized Drugs
- Mislabeling
- Wrong Form
- Presciption Error
- Omission
- MISC
7 Rights of Medication Administration
- Right medication
- Right dose/amount
- Right patient
- Right route
- Right time
- Right documentation
- Right indication/reason
T.R.A.M.P.E.D
Time, Route, Amount, Medication, Patient, Expiration, Documentation
THE PATIENTS’ RIGHTS OF MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION
To be informed about a medication
• To refuse a medication
• To have a medication history
• To be properly advised about experimental nature of
medication
• To receive labeled medications safely
• To receive appropriate supportive therapy
• To not receive unnecessary medications
• To be informed if medications are part of a research study
Community Medications
- Community medications are common over the counter medications found in nursing homes. (Shared by the floor you are working.
- (TRAMPED) For “P” when looking at the bottle, you will state “this is a community drug”
What medications do you never crush?
Extended Release (ER) Sustained Release (SR) Delayed Release (DR) Enteric Coated (EC) Timed release (TR) Controlled Release (CR)
