DOSAGE CALCULATION IN CRITICAL CARE UNITS

Course overview

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION IN THE CRITICAL CARE UNIT IS A NURSING SKILL THAT MUST BE PRACTICED ACCURATELY. MOST PATIENTS IN A CRITICAL CARE SETTING HAVE NUMEROUS MEDICATIONS AND SOME ALSO HAVE CONTINUOUS IV DRIPS. ORDERS MAY BE WRITTEN AS A DOSE PER BODY WEIGHT OR BODY SURFACE AREA (BSA) AND MUST BE CALCULATED WITH EXTREME ACCURACY. ENTERAL FEEDINGS ARE AT TIMES GIVEN TO SUPPORT THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE PATIENT. CALCULATIONS OF ENTERAL FEEDS MUST BE COMPLETED TO MIX THE APPROPRIATE STRENGTH. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CALCULATE AND ADMINISTER THE CORRECT DOSE TO THE PATIENT. (60 MINUTES)THE JOINT COMMISSION AND THE INSTITUTE OF SAFE MEDICATION PRACTICES HAVE IDENTIFIED MANY TYPES MEDICATION ORDERS THAT ARE PRONE TO MISINTERPRETATION AND ERROR AND ARE NOW LISTED ON A 'PROHIBITED ABBREVIATIONS' LIST. THESE MAY CHANGE OVER TIME, SO PLEASE ACCESS THIS LINK TO VIEW THE MOST CURRENT LIST OF THESE 'PROHIBITED' AND 'DO NOT USE' ABBREVIATIONS. HTTP://WWW.JOINTCOMMISSION.ORG/