Pharmacology and Medication Safety Flashcards

What is Medsafe and what role does it play in NZ medication management?

Answer: The NZ Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority that approves medicines for use and monitors safety

Medsafe is the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, a business unit of the Ministry of Health. It evaluates and approves medicines for use in NZ, monitors their safety, and manages recalls and safety alerts.

What is the NZ nurse's responsibility regarding medication storage?

Answer: Ensure medications are stored according to manufacturer specifications, controlled drugs are locked, and expired medications are removed

NZ nurses must ensure medications are stored according to manufacturer specifications (temperature, light protection), controlled drugs are stored in a locked cabinet with restricted access, and expired or recalled medications are removed from clinical areas.

In NZ, what is the nurse prescriber role and what are its limitations?

Answer: Registered nurse prescribers who have completed an approved prescribing programme can prescribe from a defined formulary within their area of practice

In NZ, registered nurses who complete an approved prescribing programme (registered nurse prescriber — community or designated) can prescribe from a defined subset of medicines within their area of practice and competence.

What does the NZ medication safety programme 'Open for better care' focus on?

Answer: Reducing preventable harm including medication errors through evidence-based interventions and system improvements

The Health Quality & Safety Commission's 'Open for better care' programme focuses on reducing preventable harm in NZ healthcare, including medication safety. It promotes evidence-based interventions such as medication reconciliation, high-risk medicine management, and open disclosure.

What is the NZ nurse's responsibility when a verbal medication order is given?

Answer: Read back the order to the prescriber to confirm accuracy, document it, and ensure it is signed by the prescriber within 24 hours

When a verbal order is received, the NZ nurse must use the 'read back' technique — repeat the order to the prescriber to confirm accuracy, document the order clearly, and ensure the prescriber co-signs the order within a specified timeframe (usually 24 hours).

What is the NZ requirement for nurses regarding high-risk or high-alert medications?

Answer: Additional safety checks, independent double-checking, and heightened monitoring are required for medications with a higher risk of causing significant harm

High-risk medications (such as insulin, anticoagulants, opioids, and potassium chloride concentrate) require additional safety measures in NZ including independent double-checking, specific storage arrangements, and heightened patient monitoring.