controlled drug checking

[j123456]

I have an interview next week. There is a maths test and I have been practicing the trusts online practice papers. One of the questions reads - prior to the administration of a controlled drug, e.g diamorphine, name 3 of the main checking procedures before administering. Does anyone know what the answer would be? Would it be things like checking how much of the drug there is and how much is left etc?

[madeleine]

The clue is in the word 'administering'. Sure, the counting is important, but mainly you must check Right patient, Right drug, Right dose.

Might I ask if you are still a student?

[j123456]

yes I am still a student so not much experience in checking controlled drugs as I am training to be a children's nurse and you can only be a third checker. The 5 rights is another question on the same test so I assume they would not be looking for me to repeat them? just cant think of three main things you would do other than the 5 rights?

[skylark, BSN, RN]

Its not very clear.

Apart from the 5 rights, I guess there are other things like patient allergies, interactions, time of previous dose etc.

Resp and pulse rate depending on the drug involved.

Also trust protocols, some say only staff RNs, others permit agency nurses to check, etc.

I think I would just write down everything I can think of and let them select the three they like most.

Can you ask the trust Clinical Training dept for the correct answers for their online test?

Often they dont realise they are unclear until someone points it out.

For example, we had a protocol for sickle cell analgesia for ages that was unclear. Making up a PCA, it stated the dose of morphine and cyclizine, but in two differnet places it said (a) add 10 mls NaCl and the (b) make up to a total of 10ml with NaCl.

It took LONG time for them to understand the confusion : )

[minimind]

Did you find the answer to it as I am confused over what they are after for this question and have my test coming up soon?