Medication Administration Basics⎮Dosing/Drawing⎮

PrepMedic
21 Mar 202117:28
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this informative video, the host Sam covers the fundamentals of medication administration, focusing on the routes of administration commonly used by paramedics and EMTs. He discusses the critical 'eight patient rights' to ensure medication safety and accuracy, and provides a detailed explanation of how to calculate and draw up medication from a vial. The video also touches on the importance of verifying medication doses and the potential risks of medication errors, emphasizing the need for careful and repeated checks throughout the process.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Introduction to medication administration basics for paramedics and EMTs.
  • 💊 Understanding various routes of medication administration crucial for pre-hospital care.
  • 🧾 Importance of adhering to the six or eight patient rights to prevent medication errors.
  • 🤒 Differentiating between right patient, right route, right dose, right drug, right time, and other rights.
  • 📈 Dosage calculations require conversions and understanding drug concentrations.
  • 🍼 Oral, buccal, sublingual, intramuscular, intranasal, intravenous, and intraosseous are common routes.
  • 🧬 Patient rights vary in application depending on the healthcare environment.
  • 💉 Proper syringe selection and safe needle practices are emphasized for medication administration.
  • 📊 The formula for calculating medication dosages is explained with examples.
  • 🩸 Steps for drawing up medication from a vial and the importance of checking for accuracy.
  • 🚨 Final reminder that the information is for educational purposes and not a substitute for formal training.
Q & A
  • What is the main focus of the video?

    -The main focus of the video is to discuss the basics of medication administration, including routes of administration, patient rights, dosage calculations, and the procedure for drawing up medication from a vial.

  • What are some common routes of medication administration mentioned in the video?

    -The video mentions oral, buccal, sublingual, intramuscular (IM), intranasal (IN), intravenous (IV), and intraosseous (IO) as common routes of medication administration used by paramedics and EMTs in the pre-hospital environment.

  • What are the 'eight patient rights' in medication administration?

    -The eight patient rights are right patient, right route, right dose, right drug, right time, right documentation, right reason, and right response. These rights are crucial to ensure patient safety and prevent medication errors.

  • Why is confirming the right patient so important?

    -Confirming the right patient is important to ensure that the medication is given to the intended recipient, preventing potential harm or complications that could arise from administering medication to the wrong individual.

  • How does the video demonstrate the process of drawing medication from a vial?

    -The video demonstrates the process by first selecting the correct syringe, preparing the vial, confirming patient rights, drawing the desired dose, and checking for air bubbles before administering the medication.

  • What is the conversion formula used to calculate the dosage from the vial?

    -The formula used is (desired dose * total volume) / dose on hand. This calculation helps determine the number of milliliters to draw from the vial to achieve the required dosage.

  • Why is it important to use the correct syringe size when drawing up medication?

    -Using the correct syringe size ensures accuracy in dosage and minimizes the risk of medication errors. It also helps in avoiding waste and ensures that the medication can be administered safely and effectively.

  • What precautions should be taken when drawing up medication from a vial?

    -Precautions include using blunt tips to avoid injury, swabbing the vial cap with alcohol for sterilization, and creating a vacuum by injecting air before withdrawing the plunger to ensure easy withdrawal of the medication.

  • How does the video address the issue of medication errors?

    -The video emphasizes the importance of the six patient rights, especially the right drug, right dose, and right patient, to prevent medication errors. It also highlights the need for double-checking calculations and consulting with others when in doubt.

  • What additional topics does the video mention will be covered in future videos?

    -The video mentions that future videos will cover calculating drips, IV push medications, IM injections, IO injections, and provide an instructional video on using the Sam IO device.

  • What disclaimer does the video provide regarding its content?

    -The video includes a disclaimer that its content is for general information purposes only and should not be considered official training or authorization. Viewers are advised to refer to their local protocols and procedures for accurate and authorized information.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Introduction to Medication Administration

This paragraph introduces the topic of medication administration, highlighting the speaker's initial apprehension about the subject during their paramedic training. It outlines the video's purpose, which is to discuss the fundamentals of administering medication, including dosage calculation, vial drawing techniques, and understanding pharmacology. The speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing the various routes of administration commonly used by paramedics and EMTs in pre-hospital settings, such as oral, buccal, sublingual, intramuscular, intranasal, intravenous, and interosseous. The paragraph sets the stage for a comprehensive discussion on patient rights in medication administration and the necessary calculations for drawing up medication from a vial.

05:02
🏥 Understanding Patient Rights in Medication Administration

This paragraph delves into the concept of patient rights in medication administration, acknowledging the existence of varying interpretations of these rights, ranging from five to ten. The speaker focuses on the eight most common rights, which include the right patient, right route, right dose, right drug, right time, right documentation, right reason, and right response. While some of these rights are more applicable to hospital or nursing home settings, the speaker aims to clarify their relevance in the pre-hospital environment. The paragraph underscores the critical nature of adhering to these rights to prevent medication errors, which are a significant cause of deaths in the U.S. healthcare system.

10:03
📊 Dosage Calculations and Conversions

In this paragraph, the speaker discusses the importance of understanding various dosage units such as micrograms, milligrams, and grams, as well as their conversions. The speaker explains how to calculate the correct dosage from a vial, using diphenhydramine (benadryl) as an example. The paragraph covers the formula for dosage calculation, which involves multiplying the desired dose by the total volume and dividing by the dose on hand. It also touches on the need to confirm dosages through lookups and consultations, especially in the pre-hospital environment, to ensure patient safety.

15:05
💉 Procedure for Drawing Up Medication

This paragraph details the step-by-step process of drawing up medication from a vial. The speaker explains the selection of the appropriate syringe, the importance of maintaining sterility, and the use of blunt-tip needles for safety. The paragraph covers the procedure of confirming patient rights, swabbing the vial cap with alcohol, and the technique for drawing the medication into the syringe. The speaker also discusses the practice of keeping the needle in the vial if the medication is not to be used immediately and the importance of checking for air bubbles. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's personal practice of taping the vial to the syringe for easy verification of the medication and dosage.

🚑 Final Thoughts and Future Topics

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker reiterates the complexity of the topic of medication administration and acknowledges that the video only covers a small portion of it. The speaker expresses their intention to cover more advanced topics in future videos, such as calculating drips, intravenous injections, and interosseous injections. The speaker also clarifies that the information provided is for general informational purposes and should not be considered official training. They encourage viewers to refer to their local protocols and procedures and invite questions and comments from the audience.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Medication Administration
Medication administration refers to the process of giving a patient the correct type, dose, and amount of medication. In the video, the speaker discusses the basics of this process, emphasizing the importance of understanding different routes of administration, calculating doses, and adhering to patient rights to ensure safety and effectiveness. This is a fundamental skill for healthcare professionals, particularly for paramedics and EMTs in pre-hospital settings.
💡Paramedic
A paramedic is an advanced level of emergency medical technician (EMT) who provides pre-hospital acute medical care to patients. In the context of the video, the speaker shares their personal experience as a paramedic and the challenges they faced when learning about medication administration. Paramedics play a critical role in the healthcare system, often being the first to provide medical intervention at the scene of an accident or emergency.
💡Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of science concerned with the effects of drugs on living organisms and their actions within the body. In the video, the speaker highlights the importance of understanding pharmacology for paramedics and EMTs, as it is crucial for knowing how different medications will interact with a patient's body and the appropriate dosages to administer. A strong grasp of pharmacology is essential for safe and effective pre-hospital care.
💡Patient Rights
Patient rights refer to the set of rights that patients have when receiving healthcare, ensuring they receive appropriate and safe care. In the video, the speaker discusses the 'six patient rights' or 'eight patient rights' depending on the context, which include the right patient, right route, right dose, right drug, right time, and right documentation, among others. These rights are critical in preventing medication errors and ensuring patient safety.
💡Dose Calculation
Dose calculation is the process of determining the correct amount of medication to administer to a patient based on factors like weight, age, and the medication's concentration. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of accurate dose calculation to avoid medication errors, which can lead to serious health consequences. They provide an example of calculating a dose from a vial, illustrating the mathematical process involved.
💡Intramuscular (IM)
Intramuscular (IM) refers to a route of medication administration where the medication is injected into a muscle. In the video, IM is mentioned as one of the common routes used by paramedics and EMTs, particularly for administering medications like epinephrine. The correct selection of the injection site and the use of appropriate needle size are crucial for effective IM administration.
💡Vial
A vial is a type of container used for storing medications, typically small glass or plastic bottles with a narrow neck. In the video, the speaker explains the process of drawing medication from a vial, which involves calculating the dose, selecting the appropriate syringe, and using the correct technique to withdraw the medication. Understanding how to properly handle and use vials is essential for accurate medication administration.
💡Syringe
A syringe is a device used to inject or withdraw fluids. In the context of the video, syringes are critical tools for paramedics and EMTs when administering medications. The speaker discusses selecting the appropriate syringe for the volume of medication being drawn and emphasizes the importance of using the correct syringe to ensure accurate dosing and patient safety.
💡Pre-hospital Environment
The pre-hospital environment refers to the care provided to patients outside of a hospital setting, typically by first responders such as paramedics and EMTs. In the video, the speaker focuses on the specific challenges and considerations of medication administration in this environment, including the need for rapid response and the limited resources available compared to hospital settings.
💡Medication Safety
Medication safety involves practices and procedures designed to prevent medication errors and adverse drug events. In the video, the speaker stresses the importance of medication safety by discussing the consequences of errors, such as patient deaths, and the necessity of triple-checking medications before administration. Adherence to medication safety principles is critical in all healthcare settings, including pre-hospital care.
💡Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals are individuals who provide medical care, treatment, and services to patients. This includes a wide range of individuals, from doctors and nurses to paramedics and EMTs. In the video, the speaker addresses healthcare professionals, particularly those in pre-hospital care, emphasizing the need for proper training and understanding in medication administration to ensure effective and safe patient care.
Highlights

Introduction to the basics of medication administration, including routes of administration and patient rights.

Discussion on the fear associated with medication administration, especially calculating doses and understanding pharmacology.

Explanation of different routes of administration most utilized by paramedics and EMTs in the pre-hospital environment.

Elucidation of the six or eight patient rights crucial for safe medication administration.

Importance of right patient, right route, right dose, right drug, right time, right documentation, right reason, and right response.

The significance of checking medications and avoiding medication errors to prevent healthcare-related deaths.

Detailed process of drawing medication from a vial, including calculations and precautions.

Explanation of medication dosing conversions, such as micrograms to milligrams and milliliters to liters.

Procedure for drawing up medication, including selecting the correct syringe and needle, and ensuring safety.

Demonstration of the correct method for aspirating and injecting air to create a vacuum for medication withdrawal.

The step-by-step process of withdrawing the correct dosage of medication from a vial.

Practice of keeping the needle in the vial if not using the rest of the medication to maintain sterility.

Emphasis on the responsibility of the healthcare provider in administering medications and avoiding reliance on others' preparations.

Instructions on taping the vial to the syringe for confirmation of the medication and dosage before administration.

Discussion on the potential topics for future videos, such as calculating drips and intravenous injections.

Disclaimer that the video is for general information and not official training, advising viewers to refer to local protocols.

Transcripts
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