CHAPTER
18
Assisting with
Medications
UNIT
1
Prescription and
Nonprescription
Medications
18 - 2
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How to Use the PDR

The Physicians’ Desk Reference is
divided into sections:

Section 1 (white pages)

18 - 3
Manufacturers index includes an alphabetical
listing of all manufacturers and a listing of their
products
(continued)
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How to Use the PDR

Section 2 (pink pages)


Section 3 (blue pages)


Product category index
Section 4 (gray pages)


Brand and generic name index
Product identification section
Section 5 (white pages)

Product information section
18 - 4
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Section 5: Categories






Brand name
Generic name
Description
Clinical
pharmacology
Indications and
usage
Contraindications





Warnings
Precautions
Adverse
reactions
Dosage and
administration
How supplied
18 - 5
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How to Use the PDR

Section 6 (green pages)

Diagnostic product information includes
guidelines for common diagnostic agents
and:







Key to Controlled Substance Categories
Key to FDA Use-in-Pregnancy Ratings
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Phone Directory
Poison Control Centers
Listing of Discontinued Products
Adverse Event Report Form (MedWatch)
18 - 6
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Drug Classifications

Drugs that prevent disease


Drugs that have a particular action


Example: analgesics
Drugs that have a target effect

18 - 7
Immunizations and vaccinations
Example: cardiac drugs
(continued)
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Drug Classifications

How drugs are prepared


Example: tablet, liquid, capsules, etc.
Refer to Table 18-1
18 - 8
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Drug Actions

Drugs can act in three ways in the body:
1.
2.
3.
Directly affect one or more body tissues
Affect microorganisms
Replace a body chemical
18 - 9
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Classifications of Drug Actions

Local


Remote

18 - 10
Action occurs where administered
Action occurs away from where it was
administered
(continued)
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Classifications of Drug Actions

Systemic


Action takes place throughout the body
Synergistic

One drug may work with or counteract
another drug
18 - 11
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Parts of a Prescription
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Physician’s information
Patient’s information
Superscription
Inscription
Subscription
Signature
Physician’s signature
Repetatur 0 1 2 3 PRN
Label
18 - 12
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Phoning In Prescriptions


When phoning in prescriptions, the
medical assistant must include all the
information listed in the written
prescription.
To ensure accuracy, the medical
assistant should always ask the
pharmacist to repeat the information
given.
18 - 13
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Federal Regulations

18 - 14
Any physician that prescribes,
dispenses, or administers medications
must register with the U.S. Department
of Justice, Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) under the
Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
(continued)
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Federal Regulations



Physicians must complete the necessary
form that provides their state license
number and signature every 3 years.
Physicians must pay a fee.
The physician must report any change of
address to the nearest DEA office.
18 - 15
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Schedule of Controlled Substances
Schedule I
No recognized medicinal use in the U.S.
Schedule II
Must have written or typed prescription
with physician’s signature; may not be
refilled
Schedule III
Prescriptions may be written or phoned
in; up to 5 refills in 6 months.
Schedule IV
Up to 5 refills in 6 months
Schedule V
Subject to state and local regulations;
prescription may not be required.
18 - 16
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Commonly Used Abbreviations


Refer to Table 18-3
Refer to Appendix E for abbreviations on
the Joint Commission’s Do Not Use List,
and the Institute for Safe Medication
Practice’s Error-Prone Abbreviation List.
18 - 17
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Recording Medication in
the Patient’s Chart

Charting must include the following:




Who ordered the medication
What medication was ordered: include how
much is to be given by listing the strength
and dose of the medication
What date is the medication to be
administered
How is the medication to be taken

Record oral, sublingual, topical, or parenteral
18 - 18
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Medical, Legal, and Ethical Concerns



18 - 19
Know federal and state laws that
manage controlled substances.
Keep a thorough record and inventory of
all drugs and samples.
Keep all drugs in a secure location.
(continued)
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Medical, Legal, and Ethical Concerns



Remind the physician of DEA registration
and renewal dates.
Keep track of all prescription pads.
Properly dispose of expired drugs and
keep a record of their disposal.
18 - 20
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Unit Summary



What is included in the white pages of
the PDR?
What are drug classifications?
Why would you begin in the pink section
of the PDR?
18 - 21
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UNIT
2
Methods of
Administering
Medications
18 - 22
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The Importance of Checking Medications

Make sure you have the right:






Patient
Medication
Dose and amount
Route and method
Technique
Time and schedule
18 - 23
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Methods of Drug Administration








Oral
Sublingual
Buccal
Inhalers
Topical
Sprays
Transdermal
Suppositories
18 - 24
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Considerations regarding
Drug Actions








Patient’s age
Patient’s weight
Body surface area
Method of administration
Tolerance
Patient allergies
Time
Drug interactions
18 - 25
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Precautions in Applying
a Transdermal Patch



Be careful to avoid getting medication on
your hands while applying the patch.
If medication gets on your hands, wash
them immediately.
Wear gloves, if possible.
18 - 26
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Unit Summary


What is the importance of checking
medications?
Can you identify the eight methods of
drug administration?
18 - 27
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UNIT
3
Injections and
Immunizations
18 - 28
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Parts of the Needle and Syringe
18 - 29
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Tissue Layers

Intradermal


Subcutaneous


Middle layer filled with
nerves and blood
vessels
Intramuscular


Immediately under the
skin
Into the muscle
Intravenous

Into the veins
18 - 30
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Injection Sites
18 - 31
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Benefits and Risks of Immunizations

Benefits


Immunizations protect against illnesses that
can prove to be very serious.
Risks

The patient could have a reaction to the
immunization.
18 - 32
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The Theory of IV Therapy






Direct administration of fluid into the
patient’s system
Used in unconscious patients
Used in emergencies
Direct absorption of medication into the
patient’s system
Provides an alternate route for drugs
Used when patient has gastrointestinal
difficulties
18 - 33
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Unit Summary



What location would be used for an
intradermal injection?
Where would you give an intramuscular
injection?
What are the benefits of immunizations?
18 - 34
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Keys to Career Success

The successful medical assistant makes
it a point to keep up with all the latest
trends and issues as they pertain to
assisting with medications, giving
injections, and keeping up with the
everchanging immunization schedule
requirements to protect the practice and
provide quality care to the patient.
18 - 35
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Hot Links to Career Success

www.cdc.gov

Department of Health and Human Services,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
links to the National Immunization Program
web site
18 - 36
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