THREE ETHICAL THEORIES .au
Role of the Nurse is Psychopharmacology
Nurses play an important role in psychopharmacology, not only with administration of psychotropic medication but as nurses become more advanced in their practice prescribing medciation is increasing becoming part of a nurses scope of practice with the emergence of the nurse practitioner.
Nurses role
- Knowledge Base
- administration
- monitoring
- side effect management
- Education
Knowledge Base
Nurses need to have a a sound knowledte base of the medications that they are administering. They need to know;
- The indication for the use of the medication
- the desired effects of the medication
- the absorption, distribution and adimistration of the medication
- the side effects of the medication
- the drug interactions
Administration
1. Have a look at a medication chart
Does it comply with all the legal requirements?
If not, what is your responsibility?
To assist in interpretation, here are some common abbreviations that every nurse must know as they are frequently written on the drug charts.
Like other medical terminology most term will be derived from Greek or Latin roots.
b.d. bis in die twice each day
caps capsule capsule
NG naso gastric into the stomach via the nose
1/24 hourly
mane morning in the morning
mg milligram one thousandth of a gram
O by mouth
p.r.n. pro re nata according to necessity as necessary
q.q.h. quaque quattro hora every 4 hours
q.i.d quarter in die four times a day
Stat statim at once
SL sub lingual under the tongue
SC subcutaneous
t.d.s. ter in die three times a day
Top topically applied to the skin
Unfortunately drug administration errors still occasionally occur, despite the protocols put into place.
Immediately after an incident has occurred, you need to advise the person in charge and fill in an incident form, so that records can be kept and policies changed in an attempt to prevent that particular incident from reoccurring.
Errors may occur when:
• the wrong drug is administered
• the wrong dose is given, for example, misreading dosage or units
• the drug is given through the wrong route, for example, an oral drug given intravenously
• the drug is given to the wrong patient
• the drug is given at the wrong time or frequency, including omission or double dosing
• an infusion is given at the wrong rate
Any administration error may or may not have an adverse effect, but the seriousness of the outcome, that is, the adverse effect or lack thereof, does not absolve the nurse from the mistake that was made. It is important that the nurse clearly documents what the error was and the outcome of the incident.
It is important for nurses to practice within their own limitations (scope of practice) and within the policies and protocols of the institution. If this is not done and an error, especially a serious one, occurs the nurse may find that the institution and its insurers may abrogate any responsibility, as the nurse did not follow its policies.
All nurses responsible for the administration of medications are aware of the rights of drug administration. These are not rights, as in privileges, but things that must be correct.
The rights are
• Right drug
• Right dose
• Right patient
• Right route
• Right time
• Right reason
• Right documentation
Right Drug Right Medication
This requires your accurate interpretation of the doctor’s orders checked against a clearly labelled drug container. The expiry date of the drug is also checked at this time.
Then the drug name is checked. Sometimes nurses may be unfamiliar with a recently released brand name, although they may be familiar with the generic name and what the drug is commonly used for.
The dose, route, frequency, time due, and when the drug was last given, must be legibly written on the drug sheet before you proceed.
Right Dose
The unit dose system (metric) has been designed to minimise errors and standard measurement devices are used, for example, graduated cups and droppers. We use metric measurement in Australia.
If the medication is a liquid, the contents are mixed thoroughly. When you shake a bottle, hold the lid with one finger just in case it is loose. Any discolouration, precipitate or foreign bodies are noted. If noted, do not use the drug. Then you, and another nurse if required, calculate and measure the drug dose. You then perform accurate measurement and careful, accurate drug calculation. It is at this stage that you will mentally check to see if the drug dosage is appropriate for the size, age and condition of the client. Any concerns must be clarified with the prescribing doctor.
Right Patient
Then you check that all the patient details are correct, and you have the right person receiving the right drug. To ensure the medication is being given to the right person, check the drug order against the patient’s identification bracelet (if they are wearing one. What is the process if they’re not?), and hospital number.
If necessary, ask the patient to state his or her full name. If still unsure check with another staff member who can make an accurate identification.
Right Dose
You will have already checked the doctor’s orders to ensure that the route of administration is clearly written on the drug chart. The drug itself may also be labelled with the preferred route of administration.
Right Time
Time plays a critical role in the therapeutic effect of drugs, for example, short acting and long acting, with meals or before meals. The prescribing physician will specify the times each drug should be given, depending on its formulation and its pharmacokinetic properties. This will be written on the drug chart.
If for some reason, for example, you are unable to give the drug at the prescribed time, document the exact time it is given. If the patient misses a drug dose, it is important not to double it up at the next designated administration time. Toxicity may occur.
Right Reason
It is important to be aware of why a medication is being prescribed. One choice may be made over another because of efficacy, efficiency, cost, formulation or side effects.
Right Documentation
Complete the medication chart after medication has been administered and ensure you document in the clinical file any PRN medication.
Sequence of events and checking procedures for safe drug administration
• Be well prepared.
• Make sure you have the requisite keys, trolley, and the medication.
• Don’t forget medication cups, spoons, pill crushers, tissues and anything else you may need.
• Think!
The proper administration of a medication depends on the nurse’s ability to make accurate calculations and measure doses correctly. Putting a decimal point in the wrong place or adding a zero to an amount may contribute to a fatal error.
You are always responsible for checking the dose before giving medication.
Monitoring
The nurse will monitor for
1. the desired effects
- What is the intended effect of that medication?
- Evaluate the presence of or strength of symptoms and behaviours regularly and consistently to ensure that medication is therapeutic.
2. signs of side effects
- Before administration the client should be informed of any possible side effects of the medication.
- The nurse will monitor and evaluate the presence of or level of side effects that the person may be experiencing
- If present the nurse will manage the side effects
Management of side effects
Like all medications psychotropic medications have side effects. For some people they are mild but in some cases side effects become quite severe and interfere with the person’s ability to live normal life and can be life threatening.
1. Teach the client about side effects, allowing the person to monitor
2. Know the management of side effects of the various psychotropic medications
3. Discuss with prescriber regarding whether appropriateness of the medication if side effects are a problem for the client (advocate)
4. administer medication to assist in the management side effects as need and/or utilise other methods as needed
Use of PRN (as needed) medication
As needed medication is often used in Psychopharmacolgy as a therapeutic tool to manage symptoms, typically they are used in the management of aggression, agitation, distress, sleep, pain and side effects of psychotropic medication.
Points to note about PRN medication administration;
- identify the target symptoms that you wish to use the medication for
- Is this medication indicated for these target symptoms?
- Are their any interactions that may occur between the PRN medication being administered and the person’s regular treatment?
- The amount of medication that the person has had in a 24hr period, can you still give this medication.
- Monitor the effect of the PRN medication including side effects
- Ensure that the PRN is documented and communicated to the treating team that it has been utilised.
Ethics in psychopharmacology
Ethics denotes the theory of right action and the greater good, while morals indicate their practice. Personal ethics signifies a moral code applicable to individuals, while social ethics means moral theory applied to groups.
Professional ethical codes
- Code of ethics for nursing
- Ethical conciderations in research
Altruism
Individuals have a moral obligation to help, serve, or benefit others, if necessary at the sacrifice of self interest.
Beneficence
That all interventions should be for the good of the client. Positive action.
Nonmaleficence
‘Do no harm’ approach and implies a duty of care to avoind harm.
Justice
Societal expecations of what is right or wrong
Autonomy
The person should have the right to make their own decisions, provided these decisions do not violate other peoples autonomy. Free of control of others.
THREE ETHICAL THEORIES
Moral absolutism
Moral absolutism ascribes to the ideal that there is at least one principle that ought never to be violated. Moral absolutism is most simply described as the view that moral judgements are either always wrong or always obligatory – whatever the circumstances. It is sometimes referred to as “the Ten Commandments approach” to ethical decision-making because moral rules, under this view cannot be overridden regardless of the situation. Moral absolutism is a theoretical category and primarily includes rule-based ethical theories. If using a moral absolutist approach to ethical decision-making, one would take seriously notions of duties, obligations, rights, promises and laws.
Moral relativism
Moral relativism espouses the view that judgements about issues, actions, ideas or events are essentially dependent upon a particular moral code specific to a time, place and culture. There are no absolute criteria with which moral actions may be appraised. A relativist decision-maker may cite geographical, historical, anthropological, social or cultural data in support of his or her case. In short, moral relativism accepts what all human beings do as appropriate in their contexts. Some consequentialists are comfortable using a relativist approach to decision-making.
Ethic of care (relationship-based theory)
An ethic of care approach to ethical decision-making turns attention away from moral judgements to focus on the importance of moral impulse or moral attitude. This approach to ethics concentrates on the “being” of ethics rather than on the “doing”, much like a virtue ethics position. An ethic of care decision-maker rejects absolute moral principles and rule-governed behaviour and instead promotes situational sensitivity and respect for experience as its foundation. The central focus of an ethic of care is on empathy and sensitivity. The use of character virtues such as patience, compassion and wisdom are prominent here.
Ethical Issues in regards to Psychopharmacology
As nurses the ethics that we normally abide by come into question. For example; a nurse may feel strongly that respect and self determination are important part of a client ethical rights but also strongly believe that medication is necessary in order for that person’s condition to improve. If that person was to refuse medication then an ethical dilemma occurs.
Common ethical issues;
- The coercion/involuntary notion of treatment
- The issue of informed consent
- The side effects of medication and quality of life
- EPSE
- Blood monitoring
- Sexual dysfunction
- The use of dishonest methods to administer medication i.e. putting medication in food
- The use of restraint to administer IM medication
Patient’s rights
- access to effect treatment
- access to information concerning the prescribed medication
- the freedom to accept or refuse
- the right for adequate review of medication if side effects are present
As you can see many of these rights are contradicted when someone is an involuntary patient.
The nurse’s role
- advocacy
- self reflection
- use ethics is decision making
- Maintain dignity
General considerations
1. Interventions have been attempted prior the decision to give medication involuntarily
2. That full explanation is given to the client as to why the medication is needed
3. That all parties are aware of treatment being given involuntarily
4. This is clearly documented
5. That all possible side effects have been considered prior to administration
6. Always allow for privacy when administering IM medication
Lewin, MR & Becker, EA. Feb 2007. Covert medication hits balance of ethics, safety. American Medical News. 50(5): 5 page 20
O’brien, Kennedy and Ballard (2008). Psychiatric mental health nursing; an introduction theory and practice. Jones and Bartlett: USA
Elder, Evans and Nizette (2005) Psychiatric and mental health nursing. Mosby; Sydney
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