ASSIGNMENT HELP | Discuss the elements of a prescription and the ways an APRN can protect his or her DEA number. Identify some of the most common prescription-writing errors and offer suggestions on how to prevent them.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) should meet the required educational and clinical practice to be certified to provide services in a community-based | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | DEA numbers that allow them to write prescriptions for controlled substances. When writing prescriptions, APRNs must consider the various elements to minimize errors and should also protect their DEA numbers.  

A prescription must contain certain information that helps minimize patient-related mistakes and ensure | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | have; the issuance date, the patient’s data, the prescriber’s information, including the signature and DEA number, the drug name, the route of administration, the dosage form, the quantity of drug to be dispensed, the directions of use, and the number of | PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW AT writtask.com | protect his/her DEA number by; locking up prescription pads because they contain the DEA number, using pads that are hard to replicate when writing prescriptions, and making regular checks on the credit report to ascertain any unusual behavior.

When writing prescriptions, some errors might be made in the process. One common error in dispensation is omissions and inaccuracies, which can be prevented by using reliable methods in patient identity verification when writing a prescription. Some errors result when prescribing sound-alike drugs. Such can be prevented by placing reminders on bottles or computers that regularly remind the staff about the commonly confused medications (Tariq et al., 2020). Another error occurs when nurses use zeros and abbreviations because they may result in misinterpretation when they are misplaced. This error can be prevented by using computer alerts or by ensuring that the medication stocked is of single strength.

The various elements of prescription that an APRN need to consider are; the issuance date, the patient’s information, the prescriber’s information including the signature and DEA number, the drug name, the route of administration, the dosage form, the quantity of drug to be dispensed, the directions of use, and the number of refills. In protecting DEA numbers, APRNs can either lock up prescription pads or use those that are hard to replicate. They should also check regularly check their credit report to ascertain if there is any unusual behavior. The most common prescription errors are; omissions and inaccuracies, confusion on sound-alike drugs, and the inappropriate use of zeros and abbreviations. Omissions and inaccuracies should be prevented by using reliable methods in patient identity verification when writing prescriptions. In contrast, the other two errors can be controlled by the use of computer alerts.

Referencing

Kaae, S., Nørgaard, L. S., Sporrong, S. K., Almarsdottir, A. B., Kofoed, M., Daysh, R. F., & Jowkar, N. (2019). Patients’, Pharmacy Staff Members’, and Pharmacy Researchers’ Perceptions of Central Elements in Prescription Encounters at the Pharmacy Counter. Pharmacy, 7(3), 84. https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/7/3/84

Tariq, R. A., Vashisht, R., & Scherbak, Y. (2020). Medication errors. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/NBK519065/