Are you familiar with the medication the physician has ordered? If not, look it up! You can double-check the order and ensure that the order is appropriate for your patient. A drug guide or handbook is also invaluable in assisting the nurse in administering the medication correctly. You might find that you need to give the medication in a certain way or at a particular time for it to be most effective.

Source: Stressed Out: About Drug Math, HCPro, Inc., 2006. For more information on our series of Stressed Out books, visit www.stressedoutnurses.com