Roll out the red carpet. Cut the ribbon, pop the cork, and put on your best outfit. It’s time for the premiere of the new book in our series, Stressed Out About Drug Interactions. In this informative and entertaining publication, author Sheri Lynn Jacobson, MS, APRN, takes readers on a journey through the complicated world of drug interactions and provides tips and tools to help nurses like you deliver safe patient care every time.

Hot off the presses, here’s an excerpt from the book that was published earlier this week:

It’s better to be safe than sorry–famous last words, but so true. The actors in a movie would not dare show up to the set unprepared. If they did, they would most likely lose their part to another actor. Each day that a nurse clocks into work, it is a new day, and preparation takes center stage. Every day is filled with possibility and challenge, a day filled with concentration and exhaustion. But even so, you, as a nurse, have the responsibility to the client to give an outstanding performance filled with safe, effective care based on knowledge and critical thought.

Clients’ lives are in the hands of the nurses and doctors caring for them. There are times when nurses do not put their best foot forward, when drugs are not properly researched, and attempts are made to cut corners in drug administration. When a client asks the nurse about his or her drugs and the nurse clearly doesn’t know the answer, the client loses faith in the nurse–not only in his or her ability to administer medications, but in all areas.

An Oscar-worthy acronym

You must practice safety through SAFE: Safe Administration of drugs through Foundation of knowledge and Evaluation:

S - Safety first! You must be safe in practice.
A – Administration of drugs is predominantly your responsibility. You must be prepared to administer drugs to clients.
F – Foundation of knowledge is required for practice in terms of the principles of drug administration, action, and awareness of adverse reactions.
E – Evaluation must be done on a continuous basis by the nurse incorporating life-long learning and ongoing research.

This acronym should serve as a reminder for vigilant practice.
 
Editor’s note: For more information on this book, please click http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-5051.html or on the book cover on the left side of this page.