Pharmacology - Alberta College of Paramedics

Right routeA drug administered by the incorrect route may cause complications and be fatalto the patient or not be absorbed at the proper rate. For example a drug given SQwill be slower acting than a drug administered IM and could make a difference inpatient outcome. Follow your medication protocols and know the routes for propermedication administration.Right documentationProper documentation includes drug, time, route, concentration, dose, person whoadministered the drug and how the patient responded to it. Any medication errorsmust also be documented and reported to the receiving facility immediately.Remember if it wasn’t documented it wasn’t done.Color, Clarity, Concentration & Expiry Date(Three C’s & E)As discussed above, a drug should be examined at least three times prior toadministration. Initially when removing the drug from the sealed package, thenbefore preparation and lastly prior to administration. While examining the drugalso check for color, clarity, concentration, absence of precipitate, and expirationdate.At the end of this module, there is a formulary for the drugs that will be in theEMT scope of practice. Refer to the formulary for specific indications,pharmacology, and doses. For the procedure/skill to administer a medication referto the skills assessment section.AN OVERVIEW ON MEDICATION ADMINISTRATIONPrior to any drug administration, a patient assessment must be completed with theEMT taking all appropriate personal protection precautions. After the assessmentis complete and a baseline set of vitals is obtained the practitioner must weigh therisk versus benefit factor and make the decision whether to administer themedication. Drug administration carries a great deal of responsibility and athorough understanding of all drugs in scope is necessary so they can be safelyadministered.When to administer a drug is a question that will offer the practitioner manychallenges. No two patients are alike as no two situations are alike. With theintroduction of symptom relief medication the EMT must exercise critical thinkingat all times. For the patient to benefit from symptom relief medications it isimportant for the responding personnel to work as a team so the appropriatepatient assessment, history and vitals can be completed in a timely manner.EMT Pharmacology 26