2 Chapter 8 Medication Administration

3 Objectives There are no 1985 objectives for this chapter.

4 Medication Administration Understanding a medication’s effects on the body prior to its administration is essential. Basic math skills are needed to calculate dosages. Dosages and rate calculations are an area of common confusion, but are skills that must be performed quickly and accurately.

5 Mathematical Principles Used in Pharmacology Metric system –Based on multiples of 10 –Used to measure length, volume, and weight –Represented as: meter (m), liter (L) and gram (g) –Commonly used prefixes: micro, milli, centi, and kilo

6 Weight and Volume Conversion Weight conversion –Multiply or divide by 1,000 or move the decimal point 3 places to the right or left –Convert 2 g to mg Volume conversion –Two measurements of volume in the prehospital setting: milliliters and liters –Same as converting weights

7 Converting Pounds to Kilograms Necessary to know the patient’s weight in kg for administration of some drugs. Formula for converting pounds to kilograms: –Divide the patient’s weight in pounds by 2.2 –Divide the patient’s weight in pounds by 2 and subtract 10%

8 The Apothecary System Formerly used by physicians and pharmacists. Based on 480 gr to 1 oz and 16 oz to 1 lb. Grain is basic unit of weight = drop of water. Additional units of volume: pint, quart, and gallon. Fractions are used in this system.

9 Fahrenheit and Celsius Scales Commonly used to measure temperature. Celsius scale –Water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° Fahrenheit scale –Water freezes at 32° and boils at 212° Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius –°C = (°F – 32) x 5 ÷ 9

10 Medical Direction Medication administration is governed by: –Local protocols and/or online medical direction –Local policies and procedures –Medical control may allow medication administration when the patient meets criteria Patient with a cardiac hx experiencing chest pain, and has a systolic BP of at least 90 mm Hg. EMT-I may administer NTG up to 3 times as long as BP remains adequate.