General guidelines to follow

Dropped medication are treated the same as a medication error.

• Medication error report must be completed.
• The nurse must be notified.

If a client misses a medication for ANY reason, it is a medication error.

• The nurs must be notified each time a medication is missed, regardless of the reason.

You have 1 hour before and 1 hour after the prescribed dosing schedule to administer medications.

• If it outside the 2 hour window, notify the nurse.  The nurse may be able to authorize the administration of medication before or after the prescribed dosing time and prevent a medication error.

A client has the right to refuse to take his/her medication.

• Notify the nurse.
• Make sure you initial the MAR, circle your initials, and doument on the back of the MAR indicating client’s refusal.
• Complete a mediation error report.