Why is it important for medical assistants to learn about pharmacology?

Why is it important for medical assistants to learn about pharmacology?

Because a number of prescriptions may be administered to a given patient, it is essential for medical assistants to have an understanding of potential interactions, proper dosage and how the medicine might affect the patient.

How can a medical assistant determine the category of a particular drug?

Drug Categories & Classifications The medical assistant should know that drugs are classified into different categories based on the reaction or use of the drug for medical purposes.

Why is it important to check medications carefully prior to administration?

Assessment comes before medication administration. All medications require an assessment (review of lab values, pain, respiratory or 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 should you check before administering medication?

Rights of Medication Administration

1. Right patient. Check the name on the order and the patient.
2. Right medication. Check the medication label.
3. Right dose. Check the order.
4. Right route. Again, check the order and appropriateness of the route ordered.
5. Right time. Check the frequency of the ordered medication.
6. Right documentation.
7. Right reason.
8. Right response.

What is the 3 checks of medication administration?

The label on the medication must be checked for name, dose, and route, and compared with the MAR at three different times: When the medication is taken out of the drawer.

What is the first thing you must do prior to administration of any medication?

Read the medication order carefully. Make sure that the medication name on the order matches the medication name on the label. Read the medication log carefully. Make sure that the medication name on the label, the medication order and medication log match before giving the medication.

What is the process of safe medication administration?

One of the recommendations to reduce medication errors and harm is to use the “five rights”: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time.

What are the responsibilities of a nurse during administration of drugs?

In order to avoid compromising patient safety, nurses should refer to and adhere to the principles of drug administration. Nurses are responsible for the administration of medicines. Therefore they must ensure that they are careful at all times and that patient safety is central to this process.

How can I improve my medication administration skills?

The Importance of Medication Administration: 5 Ways to Improve

1. Assess the work environment. Medication administration mistakes and other safety issues can increase when certain work environment conditions are present.
2. Implement medication safety technologies.
3. Educate patients and caregivers.
4. Implement strategies for “LASA” drugs.
5. Take extra precaution with “high alert” medications.

What can go wrong when administering medication?

Medication errors can occur in deciding which medicine and dosage regimen to use (prescribing faults—irrational, inappropriate, and ineffective prescribing, underprescribing, overprescribing); writing the prescription (prescription errors); manufacturing the formulation (wrong strength, contaminants or adulterants.

How can medication administration errors be prevented?

10 Strategies for Preventing Medication Errors

1. Ensure the five rights of medication administration.
2. Follow proper medication reconciliation procedures.
3. Double check—or even triple check—procedures.
4. Have the physician (or another nurse) read it back.
5. Consider using a name alert.
6. Place a zero in front of the decimal point.
7. Document everything.

What are the types and causes of dispensing errors?

The three most common dispensing errors are: dispensing an incorrect medication, dosage strength or dosage form; miscalculating a dose; and failing to identify drug interactions or contraindications. Errors caused by drug administration can be made by the health care provider or by the patient themselves.

How can misdiagnosis be prevented?

5 misdiagnosis prevention strategies for physicians

1. Allocate time to communicate effectively with patients.
2. Work closely with lab personnel and radiologists to interpret complex test results or a difficult diagnosis.
3. Clarify whose responsibility it is to follow up on abnormal test results.

How many doctors accidentally kill patients?

See “Family compensated for death after illegible prescription” on page 1456. An expert panel from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, found that medical errors kill from 44000 to 98000 Americans each year.

How many die each year from medical errors?

The new study also shows that the number of previously healthy people who die every year from hospital error is about 7,150. The remainder of preventable deaths occurred in patients with less than a three-month life expectancy.

How many deaths do doctors cause?

Recent studies of medical errors have estimated errors may account for as many as 251,000 deaths annually in the United States (U.S)., making medical errors the third leading cause of death.