Assessment needs vary and depend on route and medication.

Read product label for strength, dilution, and administration route.

• Assess Pt and record VS before and after giving drugs that may adversely affect RR, HR, BP, LOC, and blood glucose, and monitor labs as indicated.
• Assess for ADRs to drugs not previously taken by Pt.
• Document drug, dose, route, time given, discontinue (d/c) time if applicable, Pt’s response, and any ADR.
• If taking a verbal order, ask prescriber to spell out drug name and dosage to avoid sound-alike confusion—Read back order to prescriber after you have written it in chart.
• Never use zeros after a decimal point.
• Always use a zero before a decimal point.
• Always use commas for dosing units at or above 1,000.
• Always place adequate space between drug name, dose, and unit of measure.