Before administering any medication, the nurse must follow the 6 Rights of Medication Administration:
Right patient – confirm with name, DOB, and hospital number.
Right drug – ensure the prescription is for metronidazole.
Right dose – check what is prescribed.
Right route – e.g., oral.
Right time – ensure it is due at this time.
Right documentation – the prescription must be signed, and you must check when the last dose was given.
Additionally, checking allergies is crucial, especially for antimicrobial drugs.
Right patient – confirm with name, DOB, and hospital number.
Right drug – ensure the prescription is for metronidazole.
Right dose – check what is prescribed.
Right route – e.g., oral.
Right time – ensure it is due at this time.
Right documentation – the prescription must be signed, and you must check when the last dose was given.
Additionally, checking allergies is crucial, especially for antimicrobial drugs.
Takaloo Nursing Academy
The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS)
The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) is a tool used to identify patients who are at risk of clinical deterioration. It helps healthcare professionals recognize early signs of deterioration in a patient’s condition, allowing for timely intervention. The score is based on a series of physiological parameters and observations that are routinely measured, such as:
Respiratory Rate (RR)
Heart Rate (HR)
Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
Temperature
Level of Consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS)
Each parameter is scored, and the total score is calculated to determine the level of concern.Scoring Interpretation:
0-4 points: Low risk of deterioration.
5-6 points: Moderate risk of deterioration, needs closer monitoring.
7 or more points: High risk of deterioration, immediate intervention required.
Use in Practice:
MEWS is used as a clinical decision support tool in hospitals to guide healthcare professionals in identifying patients who might need further assessment, higher levels of care, or escalation of treatment. It is typically used in the acute care setting (e.g., emergency departments, intensive care units) and can help in making decisions about escalation of care, such as calling for urgent medical support, or transferring patients to higher levels of care.
Respiratory Rate (RR)
Heart Rate (HR)
Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)
Temperature
Level of Consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS)
Each parameter is scored, and the total score is calculated to determine the level of concern.Scoring Interpretation:
0-4 points: Low risk of deterioration.
5-6 points: Moderate risk of deterioration, needs closer monitoring.
7 or more points: High risk of deterioration, immediate intervention required.
Use in Practice:
MEWS is used as a clinical decision support tool in hospitals to guide healthcare professionals in identifying patients who might need further assessment, higher levels of care, or escalation of treatment. It is typically used in the acute care setting (e.g., emergency departments, intensive care units) and can help in making decisions about escalation of care, such as calling for urgent medical support, or transferring patients to higher levels of care.
🦠 Notifiable Infectious Diseases (examples in the UK) include:
Tuberculosis
Influenza (especially novel strains like H1N1)
Swine flu (H1N1 – was especially important during the 2009 pandemic)
Tuberculosis
Influenza (especially novel strains like H1N1)
Swine flu (H1N1 – was especially important during the 2009 pandemic)