2 4
S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4
Hydroxyzine is used to control blood pressure, whereas
hydralazine has antiemetic, anti-anxiety properties.
a.
true
b.
false
Answer:
b
The opposite is true. The names are easy to confuse, and caution is warranted
.
Many medication errors are the result of sound-alike drugs. There are several
ways to help keep such drugs straight. One is to use "TALLman" lettering — the
practice of writing the often-confused part of a drug's name in upper case letters
— when labeling drugs or compartments. Also make sure look-alike, sound-alike
drugs aren't stored next to each other, and place warnings on the storage bins to
alert staff that the drugs are commonly confused. Repeating orders out loud to the
prescriber is another standard precaution. Finally, the Institute for Safe Medication
Practices (ISMP) regularly publishes a "List of Confused Drug Names"
(
tinyurl.com/aydrq
). Keep the list at hand and highlight any drugs that are part of
your facility's formulary.
In addition to the drug name, what 4 pieces
of information must be noted on all syringe labels?
_________ _________ _________ __________
Answer:
drug strength; date it was drawn; time it was drawn; initials of preparer
Remember, too, that syringes should not be labeled until after they're drawn.
Syringes that are pre-labeled for later fill are a dangerous opportunity for medica-
tion error. Buying pre-filled syringes from drug manufacturers is another way to
safeguard medication delivery. The syringes come filled with the right medication
and dose, and with pre-printed labels containing the standard labeling require-
ments, plus the drugs' lot numbers and expiration dates.
M E D I C A T I O N S A F E T Y
