Question

Fill in the blanks: Th e health care provider orders labetalol (Trandate) 10 mg IV push as a STAT one-time order. Aft er preparing the medication using aseptic technique, the nurse enters Robert’s room and prepares to administer the medication. Upon entering the room the nurse fi rst pauses to check the “six rights” of medication administration. List these rights, which the nurse must check prior to medication administration. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6\.

Short answer

The Six Rights of Medication Administration that the nurse must check before giving medication are: 1. Right Patient 2. Right Medication 3. Right Dose 4. Right Route 5. Right Time 6. Right Documentation

Step-by-step solution

Identify the First Right

The first right is the Right Patient. This means the nurse has to verify the patient's identity, usually by checking the patient's wristband and asking the patient to state their name.

Identify the Second Right

The second right is Right Medication. The nurse has to check if the medication being administered is the one that was ordered by the doctor.

Identify the Third Right

The third right is the Right Dose. The nurse has to ensure that the dosage of the medication is correct as per what was ordered by the doctor.

Identify the Fourth Right

The fourth right is the Right Route. The nurse must ensure that the medication is given via the proper mode. For example, orally, intravenously, etc.

Identify the Fifth Right

The fifth right is the Right Time. The nurse has to check the schedule of medication administration and ensure the medication is administered at the correct time.

Identify the Sixth Right

The sixth right is the Right Documentation. After administering the medication, the nurse must accurately document the details of the medication administered in the patient's record.

Key concepts

Nursing Pharmacology

Nursing pharmacology encompasses the study of drugs and their therapeutic effects on the human body, particularly within the scope of patient care. As aspiring nurses or active professionals in the field of nursing, it is paramount to understand the intricacies of how medications alter physiological functions.

When administering any medication, such as labetalol, a critical component is ensuring the correct pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are considered. For the medication to be effective, the right patient must receive the right drug, at the right dose, through the right route, and at the right time.

Digging Deeper into Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics involves how the patient's body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes the medication. This knowledge allows nurses to anticipate the onset of action, peak effects, and duration of drug activity, which are essential when evaluating medication efficacy and timing.

In practice, this may dictate whether the labetalol is given as an IV push, reflecting the urgency and need for rapid onset, or could influence dose adjustments in special populations like the elderly or those with kidney impairment.

Medication Safety

Medication safety is an essential aspect of nursing practice, involving a rigorous process designed to prevent medication errors and potential harm to patients. Thorough knowledge of medication safety practices is critical, particularly when dealing with high-alert medications, such as labetalol, which is used to manage blood pressure emergencies.

Medication errors can involve administering the wrong drug, dose, route, or to the wrong patient, and can occur at any stage of the medication administration process. To prevent such errors, nurses follow systematic procedures, including the 'six rights' of medication administration, to cross-check against the medication order.

Medication Reconciliation: A Key Component

Medication reconciliation is a strategy used to compare the prescribed medications to the list of medications a patient is actually taking. This is important to avoid drug interactions, duplications, or omissions that could affect patient well-being during acute care situations like administering an IV push of a powerful drug.

Patient Care in Nursing

Patient care in nursing is a multifaceted domain that involves providing holistic and compassionate care while maintaining the dignity of those under a nurse's supervision. It extends beyond the administration of medications like labetalol to include monitoring the patient's response, educating patients about their treatment, and advocating for their needs.

Patient education, for instance, enables individuals to better understand their condition and the role their medication plays. It empowers patients to participate actively in their care and fosters adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen.

Building a Therapeutic Alliance

In developing the alliance with the patient, the nurse's role includes effective communication to establish rapport. This connection enables a nurse, like the one administering labetalol, to assess patient understanding of the treatment and check for any allergies or contraindications that might affect medication administration.

Medication Administration Procedures

The steps involved in medication administration procedures are designed to enhance the accuracy and safety of this essential nursing task. Following proper protocol, such as using aseptic technique when preparing medications, ensures that patient care is at its highest standard.

The procedure for administering medication intravenously, like the IV push of labetalol, includes verifying vein suitability, preparing the injection site, and monitoring the patient during and after the administration.

Prevention of Complications

The attention to detail does not end after the medication is given. It is the nurse's responsibility to observe for potential adverse reactions or complications, such as infiltration or anaphylaxis, and take immediate action as necessary. Documenting each step of the procedure rigorously, which is one of the 'six rights', contributes to maintaining a thorough medical record and facilitates continuity of care.