ABSTRACT
The rapidly developing area of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) creates many opportunities for the hospital pharmacist to participate as a member of the "TPN team". The hospital pharmacist is an expert in aseptic manufacturing techniques and knowledgeable about various TPN solutions, making him or her important member of the nutritional support team. The pharmacist must assume responsibility for carefully screening all orders and interpreting for potential problems, such as incompatibilities, inaccurate calculations, incomplete directions, and inappropriate doses. The pharmacist bears the ultimate responsibility for inspecting the finished solution. He/she must check and confirm that the final product has been compounded in accordance with the Master Formula and all necessary records completed. The pharmacist may also have a responsible clinical role to perform in some centers. Where feasible the pharmacist should make rounds as a member of the TPN team and participate in overall patient care.
