Roach's Introductory Clinical Pharmacology 11th Edition - Dosage Calculation and Medication Administration Related

Review Roach's Introductory Clinical Pharmacology 11th Edition - Dosage Calculation and Medication Administration related questions and content

A nursing instructor is describing the importance of preventing errors in medication administration and doses. Which of the following would the instructor emphasize as the best method for detecting errors?

  • A. Checking calculations three times
  • B. Having each person involved in the process check the dosage
  • C. Reading drug labels very carefully
  • D. Checking the dosage in a reputable drug reference
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The best method of error detection is the manual redundancy system. This is a system in which each person in the process of medication prescription and delivery checks the drug dosage for accuracy. Nurses use this system when they perform the 5 rights and 3 checks to catch a potential error in drug administration. Double checking calculations and reading labels carefully are important, but they are not the best method for detecting errors. Checking the dosage in a reputable drug reference would help to ensure that the dosage is within the safe dosage range, but this would do nothing to ensure that the dosage is accurate.