High Alert-Meds
Name one high-alert med used in the ED
Insulin
Which of these medications must be given as an IVPB due to risk of "Red Man Syndrome": Vancomycin or Zofran?
Vancomycin
What should you check on the patient’s ID band to confirm the right patient?
Full name and date of birth
A patient is actively seizing. What’s the first thing you should do?
Protect their airway
You draw up Morphine in a syringe but don’t give it right away. What must you do before setting it down?
Label the syringe with the drug name and dose
What must you do before giving insulin?
Check blood glucose
After giving Morphine IV push, what is the standard flush volume with saline?
10 mL
You’re giving pain meds ordered every 4 hours. How do you confirm it’s the right time?
Check the last time it was given in the MAR
Your patient has a BP of 80/40. What’s your first nursing action?
Notify the provider immediately
Why must you label a flush syringe when it contains anything other than normal saline?
To prevent med administration errors
Why do two nurses check Heparin before giving it?
To prevent dosing errors
Why must Lasix (Furosemide) be pushed slowly through an IV?
To prevent hearing loss
You gave Zofran but forgot to chart it. Which “right” did you miss?
Right documentation
A patient’s IV comes out during a medication drip. What should you do first?
Stop the infusion
You find an open, unlabeled vial of medication at the bedside. What should you do?
Discard it immediately
What happens if potassium chloride is pushed too fast?
It can cause cardiac arrest
What can happen if Digoxin is pushed too fast IV?
Bradycardia
What barcode tool confirms the right drug before scanning?
Medication scanner
You're told to give a STAT IV medication. What must you verify before giving it?
The provider's order and dosage
You hang two IV drips on one patient. How do you safely label the tubing?
Label each line with the med name and start time
How is epinephrine given in anaphylaxis?
IM (intramuscular)
Which drug class must be diluted and pushed slowly due to risk of severe hypotension?
Calcium Channel Blockers
What are the 5 rights of medication administration?
Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time
A code blue is called. What is your first responsibility as the nurse arriving with the crash cart?
Begin CPR or assist as directed
Before giving a med with a similar name or packaging to another, what’s one safety step you should always take?
Read the label carefully and verify with the MAR