Fudamentals of Pharmacology - Assignment Example

Fudаmеntаls оf Phаrmасоlоgy Your name:   Course name:         Professors’ name: Date: Q1 Answer(s): Patients often are being administered opioids in wards to treat pain. In most cases, morphine drug is used, which is both safe and efficacious if administered to patients in an appropriate manner (Tuohy & Paparella, 2005). The first task that was performed incorrectly by nurse GK is that she did not write the order on the PRN register on the medication chart with the correct drug name, dosage, route and frequency of the administration. The order was not signed by the nurse GK or counter signed by Nurse AB. Nurse AB checked the 10 mg of morphine out of cupboard herself without nurse AB being present. Nurse AB did not check to see if there was written order for the morphine to be given before verifying the amount and signing the morphine register. Nurse AB did not check the vile of morphine to see if it was the right drug at the medication trolley instead she just walks away, and in turn Nurse GK did not get Nurse AB to check morphine. Nurse GK failed to ask MR MJ by the bedside what his allergies are, his full name and date of birth before administering morphine. Although nurse GK was able to discard the used needle in the sharps container, she decided to keep the remaining morphine by the bedside (Helen, 2010). The procedure of administering morphine drug should be carried out by a qualified nurse who has been trained in the administration of intravenous drugs. In addition, clinical competencies must be achieved before a task like this is undertaken (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2005). Q2 Answer(s): When I am put in Nurse GK’s situation, I believe my responsibilities as a Registered Nurse in administering morphine will be as follows. My first task will be to write the order as it is given on the national inpatient chart on the front were it states to write such orders that are once only, pre-medication, telephone orders and nurse initiated medicines. With the correct drug name, dose, route and frequency, and have a nurse verbally witness the order over the phone and have doctor repeat order, or in this case it was on the ward have nurse witness the order and counter sign order. It could be argued that the nurse could have collected the bed side chart asked the doctor to write a once only order. I would properly adhere to the checking procedures that are put in place when giving medications according to Nursing Code of Conduct (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2005). As a RN I would make sure the IV morphine has been prescribed by the doctor (Richard & Jones, 1999). Have two nurses check the prescribed order count the morphine, sign the register with correct amount of morphine left in the storage cupboard. Check the patient’s chart for any allergies recorded before drawing up the drug. The 10mg of Morphine drug should be made up to 10mls, with 0.9 per cent sodium chloride (NaCl); aseptic non-touch technique will be used (Schuyler, 2000), then discard 5ml of the morphine in the syringe in the “sharp” container with the other nurse witnessing the event leaving 5mls left to be administered to the patient. The nurse’s together go to the bedside practice the 6 rights of administering medication they are as follows right dose, right patient, right route, right time, right drug and right a to refuse (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2005). One nurse checks the patient arm band and asks patient to verify his or her full name, date of birth, allergies and the other nurse checks the patients label on the medication chart to check if it is right patient (Schuyler, 2000). Both nurses should remain by the bedside until the morphine had been administered in to the patients IV line because Morphine drug and other opiods/opiates are antigens which can cause allergy reaction to a patient (Richard & Jones, 1999). Morphine drug is a CNS and respiratory depressant. Therefore, as a Registered Nurse it is my responsibility to take extreme caution when administering the drug in order not to compromise on the patient health and pain (Richard & Jones, 1999). Morphine drug reacts with other drugs, most notable other depressants. Therefore as a RN, I am supposed to check the patient’s chart before administering morphine (Schuyler, 2000). Q3 Answer(s): Morphine belongs to a drug group called opiods. Opiods are addictive and can easily become habit forming. In Australia the drug morphine is only legal for an individual to possess it if it has been approved by the doctor (Calignano, Moncada & DiRosa, 2000). Morphine is a restricted drug and the drug is supposed to be stored in a locked cupboard to prevent unauthorized person from accessing it (Calignano, Moncada & DiRosa, 2000). A delegated nurse or a nurse in charge of a shift is supposed to carry the key to a cupboard where the morphine is stored at all times. In addition, nurse administer should restrict the use of morphine as directed by a medication order chart, which must be signed by a doctor (Calignano, Moncada & DiRosa, 2000). Q4 Answer(s): In Australia, drugs and poisons categorized into Schedules that have similar regulation controls over the availability and access required to protect public health and safety (Calignano, Moncada & Di Rosa, 2000). The regulation body that is in-charge of this whole process is the National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee (NDPSC). The Schedule to which a particular drug belongs will depend on the drug regulation of a particular territory, state or country. Morphine drug is found in Schedule 8 (Controlled Drug). Drugs that have been grouped in this schedule are those that are available for use but there is restriction on the possession, manufacture, distribution, supply, and use (Calignano, Moncada & Di Rosa, 2000). The reasons that such a drug should be controlled in-order to reduce misuse, abuse and psychological or physical dependence (Calignano, Moncada & Di Rosa, 2000). Drugs found in Schedule 8 have the following characteristics: have legitimate therapeutic uses, but also has abuse or addictive potential (Calignano, Moncada & Di Rosa, 2000). Apart from Morphine, other drugs found in this Schedule include: Amphetamine, Codeine, pethidine, Buprenorphine, Cocaine, Methadone, Ketamine, and so forth (Calignano, Moncada & Di Rosa, 2000). Q5 Answer(s): A code of ethics will guide a group or individual to follow when making decisions about ethical issues (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2005). In other words, ethics are the principles that guide nurses in conduct (Haddad, 2006). Although nurses sometimes are allowed to make independent decisions regarding patients under their care, they are still required to follow their code of conduct in those decisions they make (Cooper, Frank, Hansen et al, 2004) (code of ethics for nurses ANMC) has the potential to benefit or harm patients. The Australian nursing and midwifery council has developed a code of ethics for nurses in Australia that nurse must adhere to (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2005). In this case nurse GK and nurse AB failed to comply by the code of ethics on many occasions. In value statement one –Nurses value quality nursing care for all people. Under the heading Colleagues: I found Nurse GK and nurse AB did not follow proper procedures to ensure the safety of their colleagues by providing a high quality of nursing care. They did not follow the correct reporting procedures that adhere to unsafe, incompetent, unethical or illegal practice to the suitable authority. The nurses did not value quality nursing care because they did not recognize that they did not have the skills, experience and knowledge to carry out a task in safe and competent manner (Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2005). Value statement 6: Nurses value a culture of safety in nursing and health care. Under the heading colleagues Nurse GK and Nurse AB need to develop a culture that regard safety as a high priority in the work place. This can be done by the nurses developing a health care system that will stop human error from occurring when nurses are dealing with checking process of Scheduled 8 drugs. ANMC code of ethics page 8 and 9. References Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council (2005). ANMC National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse; p.8 Calignano A, Moncada S, Di Rosa M (2000). 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