1807NRS Safe Administration of Medications Assessment

AIM: The purpose of this assessment is to enable you to demonstrate your understanding of:

1. How medications are regulated in Australia

2. The principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics;

3. The roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals involved in the medication cycle;

4. The contributing factors to medication errors (and near-miss incidents), associated with prescribing, dispensing, administering monitoring medications and preventative strategies to reduce errors.

Question 1: Describe TWO (2) ways that Therapeutic Goods Administration contributes to the safe use of medications.

Question 2: Briefly, define the terms pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Question 3: In relation to oral medications, explain the phenomenon known as the 'hepatic first pass effect'.

Question 4: Briefly describe why Glyceryl Trinitrate 600 mircogram tablets must only be administered sublingually (8 marks). List FOUR (4) areas of patient education in relation to Glyceryl Trinitrate.

Question 5: Outline the different roles and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse, Doctor and Pharmacist involved in the safe use of medications.

Question 6: You become aware of a medication error:

a) Describe FIVE (5) different types of medication error and a possible cause for each;

b) Identify and explain TWO (2) nursing actions that you should implement as soon as you become aware of the error

Question 7: a) Explain the differences between the person-centred approach and the system approach to human error (10 marks).

b) Describe James Reason's Swiss cheese model

c) In relation to medication errors identify:

THREE (3) possible Latent conditions and

THREE (3) possible Active failures.