Put Strategies in Place to Prevent Errors With Neuromuscular Blockers

December 2016

New reports of errors will draw attention to orders for "neuromuscular blockers"...rocuronium, succinylcholine, vecuronium, etc.

These paralyzing meds prevent patients from breathing, moving, or speaking. Med-induced paralysis can be necessary for patients on ventilators...but in NON-ventilated patients, it can be deadly.

Recently, cisatracurium 10 mg/mL was mistakenly injected instead of cisatracurium 2 mg/mL. This 5-fold overdose led to the patient having extended paralysis...and an ICU stay until the med's effects wore off.

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Practice Work Closely With Nurses to Avoid Problems Due to Missing Doses
Med Safety Put Strategies in Place to Prevent Errors With Neuromuscular Blockers
Infection Control Look for Isolation Precaution Signs Before Entering Patient Rooms
Acute Pain Document All the Details of Opioid Regimens on Med Histories
Heart Failure Make Diuretics Available ASAP to Reduce Acute Heart Failure Symptoms
Blood Products Don't Automatically Substitute Different Brands of IVIG
Medication Errors Watch for Meds That Are Prone to 10-Fold Dosing Errors
Adverse Events Document Allergic Reactions to Excipients on Med Histories
Insulin Think of Basaglar as a New BRAND of Insulin Glargine...NOT a Generic for Lantus
Gout Expect More Corticosteroid Orders for Gout Attacks
Supplements Expect Patients to Try Turmeric Supplements for Arthritis

Put Strategies in Place to Prevent Errors With Neuromuscular Blockers

Get unlimited access through an Enterprise license

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