medications Archives

medications

A medication dosage simulation strategy to improve patient safety

September 10, 2019

Simulation boosts skills and encourages active learning. Takeaways: Traditional medication administration dosage testing can be time-consuming, costly, and lack elements of active learning. Simulation in nurse education provides…

Advocating for patients in an era of drug-delivery problems

July 11, 2013

Learn what steps you can take to help patients avoid drug contamination and cope with drug shortages.

Drug shortages unprecedented says ISMP

July 11, 2010

The July 29 issue of the Institute for Safe Medication Practice’s ISMP Medication Safety Alert! states that the number of drug shortages in the past few months is…

Drugs Today – July 2008

July 11, 2008

An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.

Drugs Today – November 2008

November 11, 2008

Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.

Eliminating copayments improves medication adherence

November 11, 2010

When Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina eliminated generic medication copayments and reduced copayments for brand-name medications, adherence to medications for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and heart failure…

Emergency cardiac drugs: Essential facts for med-surg nurses

July 11, 2010

In the hospital setting, emergencies typically occur in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). But many also take place in progressive care units or general nursing…

FDA announces plans to evaluate use of opioids for treating cough in children

August 29, 2017

On Aug. 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that an upcoming meeting of the pediatric advisory committee will focus on the use of prescription opioid…

High-alert drugs: Strategies for safe I.V. infusions

November 11, 2006

About 80% of all deaths from medication errors are caused by some 20 drugs. This article gives you evidence-based strategies for preventing errors with these deadly drugs.

IOM releases report on accelerating new drug and diagnostics development

August 11, 2012

On Aug. 22, the Institute of Medicine released “Accelerating the development of new drugs and diagnostics: Maximizing the impact of the Cures Acceleration Network—Workshop Summary.” The report is…

ISMP issues guidelines for standard order sets

June 11, 2010

Access guidelines, developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, for standard order sets here.

Medication adherence pays prompts lower healthcare costs

December 11, 2010

A study in Health Affairs found that the increased pharmacy costs associated by medication adherence was offset by a substantial savings in healthcare costs because of reductions in…

Medication adherence report gives U.S. C+

July 11, 2013

“2013 Medication Adherence in America: A National Report 2013” gives people in the U.S. with chronic medical conditions a C+ grade. The report, from the National Community Pharmacists…

New capsule has potential to replace some injections

October 2, 2014

Researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a drug capsule coated with tiny needles that can inject drugs directly into the lining of the stomach after…

New vial labeling standards released

August 11, 2010

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention has announced new standardized labeling requirements for injectable medication vials. Manufacturers can only put cautionary statements for preventing “imminent life-threatening situations” on the top…

NIH plans new center for promoting drug development

December 11, 2010

A National Institute of Health (NIH) advisory board has approved the creation of National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a move intended to accelerate drug development. Read more…

No drugs down the drain

February 11, 2013

You can use the questions and answers below when teaching patients about proper medication disposal. Question: Why should I clean out my medicine cabinet? Answer: It’s good to…

Protect patients from I.V. infiltration

February 11, 2010

An expert explains best practices for preventing, detecting, and managing this dangerous complication of I.V. therapy.

Six hot drugs for today and beyond

March 11, 2007

What you need to know about six high-impact drugs.

Six more hot drugs for today and beyond

May 11, 2007

These six drug profiles, along with the six in the March issue of American Nurse Today, bring you up to date on significant advances in drug therapy.

Strategies for time-sensitive medications

August 11, 2020

Timely administration of time-sensitive medications (within 30 minutes before or after the scheduled dose) can help prevent complications and prolonged hospitalizations. Some nurses feel that the 30-minute rule…

Study shows geographic variation in prescribing patterns

November 11, 2010

A New England Journal of Medicine study of Medicare patients found that prescribing patterns varied by hospital-referral region. For example, 44% of patients in Alexandria, LA received high-risk…

Take Note – October 2006

October 11, 2006

CDC recommends annual flu shots for children ages 2 to 4 For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is endorsing yearly flu shots…

USP compounding standards: Prepare with care

February 13, 2019

Know the current standards. IF YOU PREPARE medications to meet unique patient needs, stop and ensure you are up to speed on United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards to…

When medication regulations collide with common sense

February 11, 2011

The original five rights of medication administration are a time-honored lesson all nurses learn—the right patient, right medication, right dose, right time, and right route. But have all…

A medication dosage simulation strategy to improve patient safety

Advocating for patients in an era of drug-delivery problems

Learn what steps you can take to help patients avoid drug contamination and cope with drug shortages.

Drug shortages unprecedented says ISMP

The July 29 issue of the Institute for Safe Medication Practice’s ISMP Medication Safety Alert! states that the number of drug shortages in the…

Drugs Today – July 2008

An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals.

Drugs Today – November 2008

Web Exclusive! An update of drug news, including alerts, approvals, and removals at www.AmericanNurseToday.com/journal.

Eliminating copayments improves medication adherence

When Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina eliminated generic medication copayments and reduced copayments for brand-name medications, adherence to medications for diabetes, hypertension,…

Emergency cardiac drugs: Essential facts for med-surg nurses

In the hospital setting, emergencies typically occur in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). But many also take place in progressive care…

FDA announces plans to evaluate use of opioids for treating cough in children

On Aug. 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that an upcoming meeting of the pediatric advisory committee will focus on the…

High-alert drugs: Strategies for safe I.V. infusions

About 80% of all deaths from medication errors are caused by some 20 drugs. This article gives you evidence-based strategies for preventing errors with…

IOM releases report on accelerating new drug and diagnostics development

On Aug. 22, the Institute of Medicine released “Accelerating the development of new drugs and diagnostics: Maximizing the impact of the Cures Acceleration Network—Workshop…

ISMP issues guidelines for standard order sets

Access guidelines, developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, for standard order sets here.

Medication adherence pays prompts lower healthcare costs

A study in Health Affairs found that the increased pharmacy costs associated by medication adherence was offset by a substantial savings in healthcare costs…

Medication adherence report gives U.S. C+

“2013 Medication Adherence in America: A National Report 2013” gives people in the U.S. with chronic medical conditions a C+ grade. The report, from…

New capsule has potential to replace some injections

Researchers at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a drug capsule coated with tiny needles that can inject drugs directly into the lining…

New vial labeling standards released

NIH plans new center for promoting drug development

A National Institute of Health (NIH) advisory board has approved the creation of National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a move intended to accelerate…

No drugs down the drain

You can use the questions and answers below when teaching patients about proper medication disposal. Question: Why should I clean out my medicine cabinet?…

Protect patients from I.V. infiltration

An expert explains best practices for preventing, detecting, and managing this dangerous complication of I.V. therapy.

Six hot drugs for today and beyond

What you need to know about six high-impact drugs.

Six more hot drugs for today and beyond

These six drug profiles, along with the six in the March issue of American Nurse Today, bring you up to date on significant advances…

Strategies for time-sensitive medications

Timely administration of time-sensitive medications (within 30 minutes before or after the scheduled dose) can help prevent complications and prolonged hospitalizations. Some nurses feel…

Study shows geographic variation in prescribing patterns

A New England Journal of Medicine study of Medicare patients found that prescribing patterns varied by hospital-referral region. For example, 44% of patients in…

Take Note – October 2006

CDC recommends annual flu shots for children ages 2 to 4 For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is…

USP compounding standards: Prepare with care

Know the current standards. IF YOU PREPARE medications to meet unique patient needs, stop and ensure you are up to speed on United States…

When medication regulations collide with common sense

The original five rights of medication administration are a time-honored lesson all nurses learn—the right patient, right medication, right dose, right time, and right…