Notes
- Always have colleague independently verify dosage calculations and infusion pump programming.
- Always observe medication rights.
- Always triple check all medications given.
- Always confirm expiration date, strength, and route.
- Always write out order; avoid using abbreviations or symbols.
- Always use commas for dosing units at or higher than 1,000.
- Always use adequate space among drug name, dose, and unit of measure.
- Always double check dosage range with pharmacist.
- Always have second nurse witness when mixing insulin and double check dose and type of insulin you plan to administer.
- Always confirm MAR up to date, and question unclear or abbreviated orders.
- Always label all syringes and discard syringe immediately after use.
- If taking verbal order, ask prescriber to spell out drug name and dosage to avoid sound-alike confusion (e.g., hearing Cerebyx for Celebrex, or 50 for 15), and read back order to prescriber after you have written it in chart.
- Always confirm compatibility if Pt is taking multiple medications.
- Always use filter needle to withdraw medication from glass ampule. Replace filter needle with regular injection needle before injection.
- Always use straw for liquid PO iron to prevent staining of Pt’s teeth.
- Always document immediately after administering any medication.
- Never borrow medications from other Pts.
- Never administer medication drawn up by another person.
- Never document medication until after it has been administered.
- Never begin new medications before order has been received in pharmacy because this circumvents built-in checks that can detect potential error.
- Never crush sustained-release or enteric-coated capsules or pills.