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Chapter 8 Medication Administration. Objectives. There are no 1985 objectives for this chapter. Medication Administration. Understanding a medication’s effects on the body prior to its administration is essential. Basic math skills are needed to calculate dosages.
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Objectives • There are no 1985 objectives for this chapter.
Medication Administration • Understanding a medication’s effects on the body prior to its administration is essential. • Basic math skills are needed to calculate dosages. • Dosages and rate calculations are an area of common confusion, but are skills that must be performed quickly and accurately.
Mathematical Principles Used in Pharmacology • Metric system • Based on multiples of 10 • Used to measure length, volume, and weight • Represented as: meter (m), liter (L) and gram (g) • Commonly used prefixes: micro, milli, centi, and kilo
Weight and Volume Conversion • Weight conversion • Multiply or divide by 1,000 or move the decimal point 3 places to the right or left • Convert 2 g to mg • Volume conversion • Two measurements of volume in the prehospital setting: milliliters and liters • Same as converting weights
Converting Pounds to Kilograms • Necessary to know the patient’s weight in kg for administration of some drugs. • Formula for converting pounds to kilograms: • Divide the patient’s weight in pounds by 2.2 • Divide the patient’s weight in pounds by 2 and subtract 10%
The Apothecary System • Formerly used by physicians and pharmacists. • Based on 480 gr to 1 oz and 16 oz to 1 lb. • Grain is basic unit of weight = drop of water. • Additional units of volume: pint, quart, and gallon. • Fractions are used in this system.
Fahrenheit and Celsius Scales • Commonly used to measure temperature. • Celsius scale • Water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° • Fahrenheit scale • Water freezes at 32° and boils at 212° • Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius • °C = (°F – 32) x 5 ÷ 9
Medical Direction • Medication administration is governed by: • Local protocols and/or online medical direction • Local policies and procedures • Medical control may allow medication administration when the patient meets criteria • Patient with a cardiac hx experiencing chest pain, and has a systolic BP of at least 90 mm Hg. • EMT-I may administer NTG up to 3 times as long as BP remains adequate.