Regulation of Medication
Federal regulations, State regulations, Facility policies
Federal Regulations
Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)- set national standards for drug quality -> Food
and Drug Administration (FDA)
Testing to make sure the drug is safe
State Regulation
Medication Regulations and Nursing Practice (Nurse Practice Act)- ability to
give or not give meds depending on the state
Facility Policies
Unit-based regulations, depends on the hospital or infrastructure
Medication Orders Forms
-Prescription/Order are essentially the same, prescriber can be Physician, NP, or
PA
Orders can be
-Written(hand or electronic)
-Verbal (orders MUST be read back to prescriber and documented as such),
caution when taking verbal orders- use in EMERGENCIES only
-Telephone (make sure to repeat order back and ask who is putting it in the
computer)-orders must be read back to provider and documented as such
Physicians usually need to sign the order to confirm,
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, Foundations Quiz 3 Medication Foundations Quiz 3 Medication 2026-03-04
Parts of Medication Orders
-Patient's name with second identifier (DOB, medical record number)
- Name of drug (trade/generic or brand)
- Dosage (metric or household)
- Route (oral, topical, etc.)
- Time/frequency of administration
-Time & Date of order
- Signature of provider
Medication orders
Commonly written using approved medical abbreviations.
Ex.
diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 25 mg PO q6h prn itching
Types of Medication Orders
-Standing Order/Routine order: ex. patient takes order until cancelled by
physician
- PRN order: as needed by the patient, clinical parameters, timing necessary
between doses
- Single/One time Order: given one time for a specific reason ex. before surgery
- STAT Order: given immediately in an emergency ex. give med ASAP
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