Medication Errors
Did you know that according to CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - aka the Feds) it is a deficiency if,
When administering inhalers:
If more that one puff is required, whether it is from the same or different medications, there is a 1 minute wait between puffs except for Albuterol and other short-acting agents where 15-30 seconds is acceptable
Surveyors are citing facilities for the failure to have the resident rinse their mouth after steroid inhalers
Surveyors have been citing facilities regarding the ORDER that MDIs are given:
Bronchodilators first ie... Albuterol or another fast acting bronchodilator
Did you know that:
You cannot crush all a residents meds and administer at one time they must be crushed individually and administered one at a time UNLESS, there is an order to cocktail or directions that approve crushing the meds together and administering.
Did you know that it is a med error if:
Failure to shake medications as required by the label... suspensions must be shaken before administered
Crushing medications on the no crush list.... think of extended release or long acting medications
Incorrect amount or type of fluids given... think of levodopa cannot be given with protein so milk would be an error, or alendronate which must be taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water and sit upright for at least 30 min afterward.
Giving meds before meals instead of with meals or after meals... think of potassium
Giving meds with meals instead of before... think of omeprazole
Failing to wait 3-5 minutes between eye drops.... think of eye lubricant and an glaucoma eye drop
