What is the purpose of automated medication dispensing systems?
To reduce manual errors in preparing and administering medications.
How does bar code scanning improve medication safety?
It helps ensure adherence to the rights of medication administration.
What is the role of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)?
To educate providers and consumers about safe medication practices and collect voluntary error reports.
What are examples of ISMP safety tools?
Drug name suffixes, Tall Man letters, high-alert medication lists, LASA lists, and error-prone abbreviation lists.
What is medication reconciliation?
Comparing a client’s current medications with new medications to prevent errors.
When is medication reconciliation required?
At every transition of care (admission, transfer, discharge).
What is the first step of medication reconciliation?
Documenting a complete list of home medications, including OTCs and supplements.
What should be done after comparing home meds with new prescriptions?
Reconcile discrepancies and update the list.
Who should receive the reconciled medication list at discharge?
The next care provider and the client/caregiver.
Why should error-prone abbreviations be avoided?
They can be misinterpreted and lead to medication errors.
Why is “QD” unsafe to use?
It can be mistaken for “QID.”
Why is “HS” unsafe to use?
It may mean “bedtime” or “half-strength.”
What should a nurse do if an abbreviation is unclear?
Clarify the prescription with the provider.
What is a LASA medication?
A drug whose name looks or sounds similar to another medication.
Give an example of a look-alike medication pair.
Oracea vs. Orencia.
Give an example of a sound-alike medication pair.
Naloxone vs. Lanoxin.
What are high-alert medications?
Drugs that can cause serious harm if given in error.
What are examples of high-alert medications?
Anticoagulants, chemotherapeutics, opioids, hypoglycemics.
What is Tall Man lettering?
Using mixed upper- and lower-case letters to highlight differences in look-alike drug names.
Why is Tall Man lettering used?
To reduce confusion between similar medication names.
Give an example of Tall Man lettering.
buPROPion vs. busPIRone.
What is the rule for leading zeros?
Always use a leading zero before a decimal (e.g., 0.5 mL).
What is the rule for trailing zeros?
Never use a trailing zero after a decimal (e.g., write 3 mL, not 3.0 mL).
Why are zero-placement rules important?
Incorrect zeros can increase doses tenfold.
