Pharmacology
Medication safety, high-alert drugs, monitoring, and reconciliation.
10 articles
Medication Reconciliation That Actually Works at Admission and Discharge
A bedside guide to medication reconciliation that holds up under real workflow: build a best possible medication history from multiple sources, reconcile high-risk drugs first, and hand off a clean, teach-backed list at discharge.
Unfractionated Heparin Monitoring for Nurses in 2026
A practical, bedside-first guide to monitoring unfractionated heparin: baseline labs, aPTT versus anti-Xa targets, nomogram-driven titration timing, and watching for bleeding and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
High-Alert Medication Safety in Acute Care
High-alert medications cause outsized harm when errors slip through. This guide covers the nursing safeguards that catch them: knowing your facility's list, independent double checks, barcode scanning, smart-pump libraries, class-specific monitoring, and documentation.
Insulin Safety and Hypoglycemia Prevention on the Unit
Insulin is a high-alert medication, and most inpatient hypoglycemia is preventable at the bedside. This guide covers safe administration, dose-to-food timing, early recognition, treatment, and escalation.
Safe Injection Practices During Medication Preparation and Administration
A bedside guide to the core safe injection practices: one syringe per patient, correct single-dose and multi-dose vial handling, aseptic technique, and a clean preparation space, grounded in CDC guidance.
The Nurse's Role in Antibiotic Stewardship
Antibiotic stewardship runs through the bedside. This guide covers the concrete nurse-driven actions that support appropriate antibiotic use, from culture timing and allergy histories to monitoring, escalation, and patient education.
Anticoagulation Handoff Essentials at Discharge
Anticoagulants are high-alert medications, and the days after discharge are when monitoring slips and interactions creep in. This guide walks nurses through reconciling the regimen, confirming follow-up, teaching the core safety topics with teach-back, and handing off a complete plan.
Naloxone Education for Patients Receiving Opioids
A bedside guide to teaching patients and families about naloxone: who to offer it to, how to recognize an opioid overdose, step-by-step administration, what to expect after reversal, and how to document the teaching.
Polypharmacy Risk Reduction in Older Adults
Polypharmacy puts older adults at high risk for falls, delirium, and adverse drug events. This guide covers the nursing role in medication reconciliation, monitoring high-risk drugs, supporting safe deprescribing, and educating patients.
Transitions-of-Care Medication Safety Checklist for Nurses
A bedside checklist for keeping medications safe across admission, transfer, and discharge. Covers building an accurate history, reconciling at every transition, closing the handoff gap, and teaching patients before they leave.