In the healthcare industry, one of the top priorities of doctors, nurses, medication administrators and all the other health professionals is to ensure patient safety and well-being.
As a medical administrator, it is a responsibility to administer medications in accordance to the protocols and regulations set by the state. However, there is a lot more medication administering process details that you will get to learn today!
In this article, we will discuss what are the 7 steps of medication administration. So, before wasting any time, let’s dive into this informative guide!
Medication administration process steps:
The 7 medication administration guidelines include:
Step 1: Verify the Prescription:
Verifying prescription is one of the most important tasks in the 7-step procedure of medication administration as it ensures that the prescribed medicines are accurate and in accordance with patient’s health history which is a highly risky task as has absolutely no margin of error.
Step 2: Wash Hands and Prepare:
Maintaining a hygienic environment is a very important part of the process in order to eradicate any chances of bacteria or other contaminated particles getting transferred to the dosage as it involves health risk.
Step 3: Identify the Patient:
Identifying the patient is important in order to ensure that the medications are administered and handed over to the right person as inaccurate intake of medications can lead to health risks.
Step 4: Explain to the Patient:
As a medical administrator, it is your duty to explain the patient all the relevant details about the medicines written in the prescription, their timings to intake, side effects as well as purpose.
Step 5: Administer the Medication:
As the name suggest, medication administrators have the main responsibility to administer the medications. This includes accurate dosage calculation, right interpretation of medications, adhering to safety protocols etc.
Step 6: Document the Administration:
Documenting the administration means that the medication administrators are responsible to record details such as patient information, the prescribed dosage, purpose of dosage, day and time of prescriptions, patient assessment details etc.
Step 7: Monitor the Patient:
Monitoring patient means checking for any possible side effects or reactions in patient’s health due to the prescribed dosage, looking for any vital signs and immediately responding to any issues if arising.
Common Challenges in Medication Administration:
- Inaccurate dosage calculation
- Omission of medicines in prescription
- Not confirming patient’s identity
- Ineffective Communication
- Misinterpretation of Dosage
- Technology errors and glitches
- Limited time
- Insufficient Staff
Medication Administration Tips
Some of the medication administration tips include the following:
- Staying up to date with the latest and most effective medications
- Implementing modern administration techniques such as through technology
- Adhere to set protocols and regulatory compliances
- Engage with patients
- Use a patient centric administration approach
- Maintain open communication environment
- Immediately communicate alarming signs with health professionals
- Set patient care as utmost priority
- Seek patient feedback
- Conduct a proper drug dispensing procedure
Conclusion:
In conclusion, medication management consists of 7 crucial steps in order to ensure patient safety and well-being. These include, verification of prescription, taking hygiene protocols, identifying patient, communicating the prescribed dosage to the patient, administrating medication, assessing as well as monitoring the patient.
By following these medication administration instructions, healthcare professionals are able to enhance the efficient and effective patient treatment.
I hope this article answered your question, “what are the 7 steps of medication administration?”
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the consequences of not following the 7 steps of medication administration?
Harm to patient’s health, legal action, eroding patient trust
Are there any specific age-related considerations for pediatric and geriatric patients?
Pediatric patients have considerations such as weight and age appropriate dose while geriatric patients have considerations like polypharmacy concerns
How can healthcare providers ensure patient compliance with prescribed medications?
By thoroughly conducting patient assessment, calling for follow ups and seeking feedback of prescribed medicines.
What should be done if a patient refuses to take their medication?
Calm tone and effective communication is the key. You have to explain the patient the purpose and benefits of the dose.
What are some common medication errors, and how can they be prevented?
Miscalculation and omission of dosage are the most common errors that can be prevented by strict protocols and double checking before handing over the prescription.
