Medicines Management Topic e-learning available
Epidural medicines, wrong route including Vinca alkaloids (NPSA,
DH never event)
Injectable medicines, correct preparation or route of administration (NPSA, DH never event); general advice on safe practice when administering medicines IM/SC/IV; syringe drivers, safe use (NPSA); IV compatibility.
Nil by mouth, managing patients in this situation
Oral medicines, including wrong route (DH never event); administration and measurement of liquid oral medicines (NPSA); and crushing tablets/ opening capsules/ the need for liquid medicines
Patients taking their own medicines in hospital (DH)
Medicines Management Topic
Controlled drugs (NPC, CQC, Medicines Act). If poss include community as well as hospitals
Discharge planning and medicines
Dispensing and supply of medicines (RPS, Medicines Act)
Handling medicines safely and securely, including temperature stability and fridge storage (CQC, Duthie)
Patient group directions – a generic introduction e-learning available
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Medicines Management Topic e-learning available
Adverse events reporting, including side effects via yellow card scheme (MHRA, CQC)
Allergy recording
Calculation of drug doses (common source of error)
Compliance (NICE, RPS)
Doses omitted or delayed (NPSA)
Falls, assessing medica tion’s role in causing (NICE)
Loading doses, preventing fatalities (NPSA)
Patient information about medicines and counselling (Picker reports, CQC)
Medicines Management Topic
Critical evaluation skills (NPC)
Information sources recommended for clinical staff (CQC)
Prescribing safely (CQC)
Prescribing controlled drugs
Transfer of care
Engaging clinicians
Problem-solving in clinical practice
Reconciliation and drug history taking (NICE)
Medicines Management Topic
Clinical trials involving medicines
Unlicensed and off-label medicines (MHRA)
Note RPS work on this
Julia Wright’s SCSHA pack
MiCAL
Denise Farmer doing this e-learning available e-learning available
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Medicines Management Topic
Antibiotics, safe and appropriate prescribing
Anticoagulants, making therapy safer
Bowel cleansing solutions, reducing risks (NPSA)
Chemotherapy, oral, wrong dose (NPSA)
Chemotherapy, wrong route (NPSA, DH never event)
Fluid management in children (inc risks of hyponatraemia with IV infusions )
Gentamicin, safe use in neonates (NPSA)
Heparin IV flush solutions, safe use (NPSA)
Insulin, safe administration (NPSA, DH never event) and surgery in patients with diabetes
Lithium, safe use (NPSA)
Low molecular weight heparins, reducing dose errors (NPSA)
Medical gases and prescribing of oxygen
Methotrexate, weekly administration (NPSA, DH never event)
Midazolam, iatrogenic overdose (NPSA, DH never event)
Nutrition, safe prescribing and monitoring of TPN (NICE)
Opioids, iatrogenic overdoses (NPSA, DH never event)
Potassium IV, maladministration (NPSA, DH never event)
Smoking cessation strategies (DH, NICE)
Venous thromboembolism, assessing and reducing the risk
(NICE) e-learning available http://www.kingsthrombosiscentre.org.uk/cgibin/kingsthrombosis/elearningdetail.pl?_default_siteObject_siteObjectID=246806 http://e-lfh.org.uk/projects/vte/launch/
Simon Wills & Mark Pepperrell
Pharmacy, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust
May 2011
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