Administration of Medications at XXXXX

Medications given within 30 minutes of scheduled time will be documented as given at scheduled time.
M.D. notified anytime medication cannot be given.
Drug routes, form of drug, dosages & frequency will be changed only on order of M.D.
Medications may not be added to IV bags or TPN solutions prepared by pharmacy.
A single bag of IV fluid may not hang > 24 hours.
Medication bags & tubing for PCA devices must be changed q72 hours.
If a patient experiences an adverse reaction, the M.D. is notified. The pharmacist is notified via MIS pathway: Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting. An investigation proceeds by pharmacy.
All medication keys must be in possession of licensed personnel at all times on the unit.
At the beginning of each shift, narcotics are counted by two (2) nurses. Minimum of two (2) counts in 24 hours. The nurse receiving the narcotic keys and the nurse relinquishing the keys. Both licensed nurses must sign the 24 Hour Record of Controlled Substances
If it necessary to waste a portion of a narcotic, the wasted drug must be witnessed by another medication nurse, M.D., or pharmacist. Partial doses must not be saved for future use.