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4
health and home care settings, and by
students and the armed services. Per-
tinent information can be found in a
few seconds. Take advantage of its
availability and quickly review every in-
travenous medication before adminis-
tration.
The nurse is frequently placed in a vari-
ety of difficult situations. While the
physician verbally requests or writes
an order, the nurse must evaluate it for
appropriateness, prepare it, administer
it, and observe the effects. Intravenous
drugs are instantly absorbed into the
bloodstream, hopefully leading to a
prompt therapeutic action, but the risk
of an inappropriate reaction is a con-
stant threat that can easily become a
frightening reality. It will be the nurse
who must initiate emergency mea-
sures should adverse effects occur.
This is an awesome responsibility.
If, after reviewing the information in
In-
travenous Medications
, you have any
questions about any order you are
given, clarify it with the physician, con-
Preface
sult with the pharmacist, or consult
your supervisor. The circumstances
will determine whom you approach
first. If the physician thinks it is impera-
tive to carry out an order even though
you have unanswered questions or
concerns, never hesitate to request
that the physician administer the drug,
drug combination, or dose himself or
herself. In this era of constant change,
the physician should be very willing to
supply you, your supervisor, and/or
the pharmacist with current studies
documenting the validity and appropri-
ateness of orders.
All information presented in this prod-
uct is pertinent only to the intravenous
use of the drug and not necessarily to
intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral, or
other means of administration.
Betsy L. Gahart
Adrienne R. Nazareno