Interpreting Drug Orders

Textbook Assignment:
Pickar, G. (2007). Dosage calculations: A ratioproportion approach. (2nd ed.)
Chapter 7
Revised KBurger 0808

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Nursing Responsibilities

Interpret order
Prepare exact dosage of prescribed drug
Identify the patient
Administer dosage by prescribed route at
prescribed time intervals
Record the administration of the prescribed
drug
Monitor the patients response for desired and
adverse effects
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Medical Abbreviations

Used frequently with drug orders

Must commit to memory
REVIEW JCAHO Do not use list
REVIEW ISMP List of Error-Prone
Abbreviations
Memorize edited list of Common
Medical Abbreviations in Chapter 7
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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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Caution

If any parts of the order are missing or

unclear, the order is incomplete and not
a legal drug order
If the nurse has difficulty interpreting a
drug order, he/she MUST seek
clarification from the prescriber.

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Drug Orders
Sequence

Name of drug
Dosage
Route
Frequency

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Examples
Digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily
Lasix 20 mg PO bid
Phenergan 12.5 mg IM Stat

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Six Rights
of Medication Administration

Right patient
Right drug
Right amount
Right route
Right time
Right documentation
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Six Rights
of Medication Administration
The right patient must receive the right
drug in the right amount by the right
route at the right time, followed by the
right documentation.

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Medication Administration Record

MAR

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Whats Wrong?

Heparin 5,000 U IV
Lasix 40mg p.o. qd
Depakene 250 mg p.o.
Demerol 50.0 mg IV prn for pain

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