Chapter 2: Application of Pharmacology in Nursing Practice

Learning Objectives 1. List the Five Rights of Drug Administration and the patient’s rights regarding medications administered by healthcare providers. ● The Five Rights of Drug Administration are: the right drug, the right patient, the right dose, the right route, and the right time. The patient's rights regarding medications administered by healthcare providers include the right to assessment, documentation, evaluation, patient education, and the right of refusal. 2. Summarize the analysis of the data and development of nursing diagnoses to (1) judge the appropriateness of the prescribed regimen, (2) identify health problems the drug might cause, and (3) determine the patient’s capacity for self-care. ● The preadministration assessment is important because it helps nurses gather information about the patient, analyze the data, develop nursing diagnoses, and make judgments about the appropriateness of the prescribed drug regimen, potential health problems caused by the drug, and the patient's ability for self-care. Chapter 2 Reading Chapter 2 discusses the application of pharmacology in nursing practice and emphasizes the importance of understanding drugs beyond just their administration. The nurse's responsibility extends to anticipating and responding to possible reactions and interactions between the drug and the patient. The chapter also emphasizes the need for nurses to acquire a broad knowledge of pharmacology to effectively contribute to patient care. Bullet points Evolution of Nursing Responsibilities Regarding Drugs ● Past focus on the Five Rights of Drug Administration The Rights Application of Pharmacology in Patient Care ● Guarantee that a drug will be administered as prescribed Preadministration Assessment ● Important for correct administration Dosage and Administration ● Correct administration alone cannot ensure maximum benefit and minimum harm Promoting Therapeutic Effects ● Additional interventions may be necessary for optimal treatment outcome Minimizing Adverse Effects ● Limitations of the Rights in ensuring patient safety Minimizing Adverse Interactions ● Proactive measures to prevent drug interactions Making PRN Decisions ● Deciding on as-needed medication administration Evaluating Responses to Medication ● Assessing the patient's response to the medication Managing Toxicity ● Identifying and managing toxic effects of medications Application of Pharmacology in Patient Education ● Importance of educating patients about medications Modified Nursing Process Format ● Adapting the nursing process to pharmacological interventions Summarizing Nursing Implications ● Understanding nursing implications of drug therapy Principal goal: Answering why nursing students should learn pharmacology ● Motivating students to study pharmacology Importance of Understanding Drugs for Nursing Practice ● Drug knowledge is essential for nursing practice Expanding Knowledge for Patient Care ● ● Understanding the patient, the disorder, and appropriate medications Checking for contraindications The Broad Responsibility of Nurses ● ● Responsibility extends beyond the Five Rights Requires a broad base of pharmacological knowledge Importance of Rights in Medication Administration ● ● ● Ensure the right drug is given to the right patient, in the right dose, by the right route, and at the right time Additional rights include assessment, documentation, evaluation, patient education, and the right of refusal Nurses play a crucial role in the system of checks and balances for medication administration Identifying High-Risk Patients ● ● ● Several factors can predispose individuals to adverse drug reactions, such as liver and kidney impairment, genetic factors, allergies, and life span considerations Nurses need to be vigilant in detecting and preventing medication errors High-risk patients can be identified through patient history, physical examination, and laboratory data Dosage and Administration ● ● ● Understanding the rights of medication administration is important Implementing these rights without a detailed knowledge of pharmacology is possible Pharmacology knowledge is essential for safe and effective dosage and administration Application of Pharmacology in Patient Care and Education ● ● ● Pharmacology is applied in patient care to anticipate and respond to drug responses Knowledge of pharmacology helps in identifying high-risk patients and reducing risks Pharmacology knowledge also aids in patient education and preventing medication errors Patient Care and Medication Errors ● ● Understanding pharmacology can help reduce medication errors in patient care Examples of medication errors due to lack of pharmacological knowledge ● ● Importance of knowing indications and different dosages for drugs Multiple routes of administration may have different dosages Preadministration Assessment ● ● ● All drug therapy begins with assessment of the patient Goals of assessment: collect baseline data, identify high-risk patients, assess patient's capacity for self-care Understanding pharmacology is necessary to achieve these goals Collecting Baseline Data ● ● Baseline data are essential to evaluate therapeutic and adverse drug responses Examples of the importance of baseline data Guidelines for Correct Administration ● ● ● ● ● ● Read medication orders carefully, verify unclear orders with the prescriber Verify patient's identity Read medication labels carefully Verify dosage calculations Implement any special handling required for the drug Do not administer a drug if you do not understand its use Minimizing Adverse Interactions ● ● ● Drugs may interact with one another, reducing therapeutic effects or intensifying adverse effects Examples of drug interactions Nurses can help reduce adverse interactions through understanding pharmacology