LTM English Language

Name : Deri Wilasa

NPM : 1306489110
Class : A ekstensi

Medication
A drug is a chemical substance intended for use in the diagnosis,
treatment, cure, or prevention of a disease. Medications are substances prescribed
by the clients health care practitioner to help in the treatment, relief, or cure of the
cause of the clients health alteration or in the prevention of an alteration.
Medication management requires the collaborative efforts of many health care
providers. Nurses are responsible for administering medications.
Individual client characteristics such as genetic factors, age, height and
weight, and physical and mental conditions can influence the action of drugs on
the body. Sometimes mistaken for drug allergies, genetic factors can interfere with
drug metabolism and produce an abnormal sensitivity to certain drugs.
Medication administration requires specialized knowledge, judgment, and
nursing skill based on the principles of pharmacology. The nursing process is used
to direct nursing decisions relative to safe drug administration and to ensure
compliance with standards of practice.
The health care practitioner determines the therapeutic drug plan and
conveys the plan to others by initiating orders or a prescription. In health care
settings (longterm care facilities and hospitals), medication orders are written on a
health care practitioners order form.
Parts of the Drug Order
All orders should be written clearly and legibly, and the drug order should contain
seven parts:
1. The name of the client
2. The date and time when the order is written
3. The name of the drug to be administered
4. The dosage

5. The route by which it is to be administered and special directives about its

administration
6. The time of administration and frequency
7. The signature of the person writing the order, such as the physician or
advanced practice registered nurse
Drug prescriptions written in settings other than acute care facilities may also
specify whether the generic or trade name of the drug is to be dispensed, the
quantity to be dispensed, and how many times the prescription can be refilled.
Nurses must administer numerous drugs daily in a safe and efficient
manner. The nurse should administer drugs in accord with nursing standards of
practice and agency policy. The safe storage and maintenance of anadequate
supply of drugs are other responsibilities of the nurse. The nurse documents the
actual administration of medications on the medication administration record.
Professional standards, such as the American Nurses Association's Nursing:
Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice (2004), Potter Perry (2009), can be applied to
the activities of drug administration. To prevent medication errors, follow the "six right"
on drug delivery consistently every time the nurse gave the medication. "Six right" on
drug delivery include :
1. Right drug
2. Right Dose
3. Right Client
4. Right Route
5. Right Time
6. Correct Documentation

A critical element of drug administration is documentation. The standard is

if it was not documented it was not done. Many drug errors can be avoided with
appropriate documentation. Usually there is a space available for a full signature
on the record. The nurse should document that a drug has been given after the
client has taken the drug.

Guidelines for Safe Administration of Medications

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Never administer medications that are prepared by another nurse. You are
responsible for a medication error if you administer a medication that was
inaccurately prepared by another nurse.

Nurses should listen carefully to the client who questions the addition or
deletion of a medication. Most clients are aware of their prescribed
medications. If a client questions the drug or dose you are preparing to
administer, recheck the order.

If a medication is withheld, indicate the exact reason why in the clients

record. Legally nurse are accountable for giving ordered medications to
the client; however, circumstances may prevent nurse from giving a
medication as ordered.

Do not leave medications at the clients bedside for any reason. The client
may forget to take the medication, medications can accumulate, and the
client could take two or more of the same medication, causing an
overdose, or another client who is confused could take the medicine.

Advise clients not to take medications belonging to others and not to offer
their medications to others. Medications are ordered for each client on the
basis of the history, physical examination, and effectiveness of the
medication.

References
Potter & Perry. (2009).Fundamental keperawatan (7 th ed.).(vols 2.). dr Adrina &
marina, penerjemah). Jakarta : Salemba Medika.
DeLaune Sue C & Ladner Patricia K. 2002. Fundamental Of Nursing : Standards
& Practice, 2nd Ed. Delmar-Thomson Learning