1. Interpreting Drug Orders
Chapter 7
Interpreting Drug Orders

2. Nursing Responsibilities
Interpret order
Prepare exact dosage of prescribed drug
Identify the patient
Administer dosage by prescribed route at prescribed time intervals
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3. Nursing Responsibilities
Record the administration of the prescribed drug
Monitor the patient’s response for desired and adverse effects
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4. Medical Abbreviations
Used frequently with drug orders
Must commit to memory
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5. Common Medical Abbreviations
Abbreviation and route
IM = intramuscular
IV = intravenous
IV PB = intravenous piggyback
Subcut = subcutaneous
SL = sublingual, under the tongue
ID = intradermal
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6. Common Medical Abbreviations
GT = gastrostomy tube
NG = nasogastric tube
NJ = nasojejunal tube
p.o. = by mouth, orally
p.r. = per rectum, rectally
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7. Common Medical Abbreviations
Frequency
a.c. = before meals
p.c. = after meals
ad. lib. = as desired, freely
p.r.n. = when necessary
stat = immediately, at once
asap = as soon as possible
b.i.d. = twice a day
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8. Common Medical Abbreviations
t.i.d. = three times a day
q.i.d. = four times a day
min = minute
h = hour
q.h = every hour
q.2h = every two hours
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9. Common Medical Abbreviations
q.3h = every three hours
q.4h = every four hours
q.6h = every six hours
q.8h = every eight hours
q.12h = every twelve hours
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10. Common Medical Abbreviations
General
a = before
p = after
c = with
s = without
q = every
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11. Common Medical Abbreviations
qs = quantity sufficient
aq = water
NPO = nothing by mouth
gtt = drop
tab = tablet
cap = capsule
et = and
noct = night
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12. Seven Parts of a Drug Order
Patient name
Name of drug
Dosage
Route of administration
Frequency, time, and special instructions
Date and time of order
Signature and licensure of person writing the order
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13. Caution
If any parts of the order are missing or unclear, the order is incomplete, and is therefore not a legal drug order
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14. Examples Cortisporin otic suspension
Two drops, each ear, three times a day and at bedtime
Digoxin mg by mouth daily
Lasix 20 mg by mouth twice daily
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15. Examining Drug Orders Drug order must be clearly written
If any parts are missing, it is incomplete
If ever in doubt, ask the writer to clarify
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16. Six Rights of Medication Administration
Right patient
Right drug
Right amount
Right route
Right time
Right documentation
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17. Drug Orders Sequence Name of drug Dosage Route Frequency
If unsure of order, clarify
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18. Medication Administration Record (MAR)
May be a paper form or electronic
Used to record drug orders
Health care professional must verify and initial each order
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19. Medication Administration Record
Three checks to ensure safe medication administration
Drug order
Correct dosage
Record drug administration
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20. Preventing Medication Errors
Clarify incomplete orders
Identify scheduling of doses
Read entire MAR at beginning of each shift
Verify times scheduled with ordered frequency
Review all medications to identify any potential drug interactions or inconsistencies
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21. Critical Thinking
What is the role of the nurse in medication administration?
What are the legal implications related to medication administration?
What are some potential outcomes of unsafe medication administration?
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