ABSTRACT
Chapter overview 148 Medicine administration 149 Legal requirements and responsibilities for 149
practitioners working with children Medicine names and labelling 150 Professional requirements and responsibilities 151
in administering medicine Communication, assessment and decision-making 151
in giving medicines to children Gaining consent for medicines administration 152 Preparing and giving medicines to children 154 Route of administration 156 Administration 157
Calculation of medicine doses within 160 children’s nursing
Legal classification of medicines and 162 controlled drugs
Discharging children and young people with 164 continuing medication needs
Management of adverse events 164 Patient group directions and nurse prescribing 164 Nurse prescribing 164 Conclusion 165 References 165 Further reading 166 Useful websites 166
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to accomplish the following: 1 Define ‘medicine administration’ within a
wider context of ‘medicines management’ for children
2 Identify legal requirements and responsibilities of nurses in the administration of medicines to children and young people, including administration of controlled drugs
3 Discuss the importance of communication and decision-making in ensuring safe and effective medicines use by children
4 Identify steps in preparing to give a medicine, including identification of routes for administration
5 Describe critical points relating to giving and recording medicines safely
6 Describe some processes for safe calculation of medicines
7 Identify organizational and management elements of medicine administration including administration and management of controlled medicines and consideration of administering medicines under patient group directions
Administering medicines to children is a part of everyday nursing practice that is complex and multifaceted. It is a part of clinical practice with some clear theoretical components and thus needs to be considered both practically and theoretically to deliver care which is both safe and effective. This chapter is pragmatic and practical, leading the reader through specific elements of the role of the nurse in the practice of administering medicines to children and the knowledge required. The chapter defines medicines administration, and the associated legal definitions and responsibilities which impact on nursing. Processes for calculation of medicines and procedural practices for administering medicines are also explained. Specific consideration of nursing skills and communication is essential for medicines administration with children and young people, and
Medicines management Medicines administration Calculation Patient safety
this is achieved using decision-making exercises to illustrate problem-solving skills needed. While problem-solving and decision-making are critical for delivery of effective nursing care by children’s nurses who are regularly giving medicines to children, it can be secondary in consideration to more technical and legal considerations. This is unfortunate, because the capacity to make effective decisions can mean the difference between quality care and the occurence of errors and unsafe practice. In this chapter, problem-solving and decision-making are emphasised.
