a. The abbreviation "Ref" is used for an item requiring refrigeration. It is
indicated on the patient profile under the date column. In many cases, a multi-dose
refrigerated item will be sent to the ward. An item such as insulin may be sent in a
quantity great enough to last for several days. The day the vial of insulin is sent to the
ward is marked 1; the days until the next vial will be sent are noted "Ref." Note the
insulin entry in figure 2-5. A tag is placed in the patient's tray noting the name, strength,
and amount of medication required.
b. Now, STAT, and prn (as needed) medication will be annotated on the
Nonscheduled/nonrecurring section of the patient profile and will be either put in the
patient drawer or taken up to the ward prior to cart delivery in accordance with local
SOP.
c. Controlled drugs are ordered as discussed in lesson 1, Section IV and are
annotated on the Controlled medication part of the patient profile.
d. Sterile products orders will be annotated on the sterile products section of the
patient profile, but will be dispensed in accordance with the sterile product SOP.
NOTE:
Floorstock/wardstock medication, sterile products and controlled medications
should be annotated on the patient profile as shown in figure 2-5.
2-18. PATIENT IDENTIFICATION DATA
After the drawer has been filled, it should be tagged with patient identification
data. This facilitates the identification of the patient's medications once the cassette is
delivered to the ward.
2-19. CHECKING DRAWERS
After the cassette(s) for a nursing unit is (are) filled, the drawers should be
checked by a registered pharmacist whenever possible. The pharmacist will check
each medication drawer, compare it with the patient profile, and ensure that each
medication listed on the patient profile has the corresponding medication and/or a tag in
the drawer. The correct medication, strength, and number of doses must be present.
The pharmacist may also make one more check for overdoses, allergies, drug
interactions, contraindications, and incompatibilities. This check becomes one more
step in the quality assurance program to insure patient safety. After the drawers are
filled and checked, the cassette is ready for delivery to the ward.
MD0811
2-14