RATIONAL USE OF SUPPLIES

Rational Medicine Use: This involves implementing strategies to prevent medication misuse. The aim is to boost treatment effectiveness, ensure resource efficiency, cut down on waste, and lower risks to patients. It also means giving the appropriate drug, to the right person, for the correct medical reason, in the proper amount and method, for the required length of time, and at the most affordable price for both the patient and society.

Key Criteria for Rational Medicine Use:

1. Correct Medicines: Guaranteeing that the prescribed drugs are suitable for the patient’s condition and represent the most effective treatment choices.

2. Appropriate Indication: Prescribing drugs based on solid medical judgment and following recognized treatment guidelines for the specific health problem being addressed.

3. Medicine Suitability: Choosing drugs that are right for each patient, considering factors like age, sex, medical history, allergies, and other medications they might be taking.

4. Dosage, Administration, and Duration: Making sure the prescribed drug amount is correct for the patient’s condition and age, that it’s given properly, and that the treatment length is long enough to achieve the desired health outcome.

5. Patient Safety: Considering any reasons not to use a drug or possible negative reactions, and ensuring that the benefits of the prescribed medicine are greater than the risks for the individual patient.

6. Dispensing Accuracy: Making certain that medicines are given out correctly and that patients get clear directions on how to take them, including how much to take, how often, and any special things to keep in mind.

7. Patient Adherence: Supporting patients to stick to their prescribed medication plan, including addressing any difficulties or worries they might have about taking their medicines as instructed.

Irrational Use of Medicine

Irrational medicine use can stem from incorrect prescribing habits by healthcare providers. Additionally, patients themselves may contribute to misuse:

• Incorrect Patient Practices: Patients may not take medicines as directed, such as lowering doses to extend treatment duration or increasing doses hoping for faster recovery.

• Timing and Dosage Errors: Medicines might be taken at wrong times or doses are missed entirely.

• Premature Treatment Cessation: Patients on long-term treatments often stop taking medication too early.

• Misunderstanding of Drug Action: Some patients lack understanding of how medicines work in the body, leading to ineffective treatment and wasted medication.

• Unnecessary Medicine Use: Using medicines when they aren’t needed, for example, antibiotics for mild viral infections or diarrhea.

• Wrong Medicine Selection: Using inappropriate medicines, like tetracycline for a sore throat instead of penicillin for bacterial infections.

• Use of Unsafe Medicines: Employing medications known to be unsafe, for example, Dipyrone (Novalgine) in settings where safer alternatives exist.

• Underuse of Effective Medicines: Not using effective medicines enough, such as insufficient use of ORS for severe diarrhea.

• Incorrect Medicine Administration: Improper medicine use, for instance, providing only a very short course of antibiotics instead of the complete treatment.

• Wrong Administration Route: Using the incorrect method to give medicine, like applying antibiotics directly to wounds instead of oral or intravenous routes when indicated.

• Polypharmacy: Prescribing multiple medications simultaneously without a clear and valid medical reason.

10 R’s for Proper Drug Administration

1. Right Patient: Confirming the medication is for the intended individual by verifying their identity using two patient identifiers, like name and date of birth or medical record number.

2. Right Time: Giving medication at the correct intervals as prescribed, following the schedule to maintain drug effectiveness and avoid negative effects.

3. Right Dose: Providing the precise amount of medication ordered, considering patient factors like age, weight, and other relevant conditions.

4. Right Route: Administering the medication through the correct method, such as orally, intravenously, into a muscle, under the skin, or topically, as specified in the medication order.

5. Right Drug/Medication: Ensuring the medication given is the exact drug ordered by the healthcare provider, matching the prescription and the patient’s medical need.

6. Right Formulation: Giving the medicine in the correct form, such as tablets, capsules, liquid, or injection, as written in the prescription.

7. Right Disposal: Getting rid of expired or unused medications properly, according to rules and guidelines to prevent harm to the environment and misuse by others.

8. Right Storage: Keeping medications stored correctly under appropriate conditions like temperature, humidity, and light to maintain their quality and effectiveness, following manufacturer instructions and regulations.

9. Right Equipment: Using the correct tools and devices for giving medication, like syringes, pumps, or inhalers, and making sure they are clean, calibrated, and working well.

10. Right Site: Administering medications to the correct body location as prescribed, especially important for injections, IVs, or creams, to prevent complications or adverse reactions.

Common Problems in Handling Medical Supplies:

• Theft: Stealing of medical supplies.

  • Detection Challenges: Difficulty identifying those responsible or even detecting theft due to inadequate records.

  • Security Lapses: Stores accessible to many at any time make theft detection and accountability difficult.

  • Inventory Management Issues: Absent or outdated stock records and lack of proper requisition processes hinder tracking.

  • Reporting Reluctance: Staff fear reporting theft due to potential conflicts.

  • Internal Collusion: Theft can occur due to secret agreements between staff members.

• Misuse: Improper or wasteful use of medical supplies.

  • Lack of Ownership: Staff may not feel responsible for controlling and saving supplies as they don’t perceive it as their personal loss.

  • Inappropriate Usage: Irrational use by staff, such as using gloves as tourniquets or IV hangers, wastes supplies.

  • Skill Deficiencies: Insufficient skills in procedures, like cannulation in children, can lead to wastage of supplies.

  • Expired Stock Use: Using expired or nearly expired supplies due to poor stock rotation practices.

• Lack of Record Keeping: Inadequate or absent record keeping for supplies.

  • Staff Attitudes: “Don’t care” attitude leading to neglect of record keeping.

  • Knowledge Gaps: Staff lacking knowledge about proper record keeping procedures.

  • Missing Tools: Absence of necessary data collection forms and systems.

  • Technology Challenges: Difficulty adapting to new technology for record management due to lack of skills.

  • Insufficient Training: Inadequate training on inventory management resulting in poor documentation and monitoring.

• Other Common Problems:

  1. Expired Supplies: Build-up of expired items due to poor inventory control, leading to waste and potential harm if used unknowingly.

  2. Stockouts: Running out of essential supplies due to bad inventory management, causing treatment delays and higher costs for emergency purchases.

  3. Poor Quality Control: Getting substandard or fake supplies due to lack of quality checks, risking patient safety and treatment success.

  4. Inefficient Ordering: Slow or inaccurate ordering causing under or overstocking, impacting care and efficiency.

  5. Inadequate Storage: Poor storage conditions compromising supply quality and lifespan, leading to waste and reduced effectiveness.

  6. Poor Distribution: Inefficient distribution causing supply mismatches and affecting patient care and workflow.

  7. Inaccurate Documentation: Poor record-keeping leading to bad decisions, legal issues, and financial losses.

  8. Inadequate Training: Lack of staff training leading to improper handling and increased risks.

  9. Lack of Standardization: Inconsistent supply management across facilities causing inefficiencies and unequal care.

  10. Budget Constraints: Limited funds restricting access to supplies, affecting care quality and emergency preparedness.

ROLES OF A NURSES IN EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES MANAGEMENT

1. Inventory Management: Nurses are responsible for overseeing and managing the levels of medical supplies, both disposable (like gloves, syringes) and reusable (like equipment). This involves regular checks, tracking usage, and restocking to prevent shortages or excess stock.

2. Ordering and Procurement: Nurses are key in the purchasing process by assessing what supplies are needed, creating order requests, and working with relevant departments or suppliers to get supplies on time. They also may help in checking product quality and cost-effectiveness.

3. Storage and Handling: Nurses ensure medical supplies are stored correctly to maintain their quality, safety, and effectiveness. This includes organizing storage areas, monitoring conditions like temperature and humidity, and using proper handling methods to prevent damage, contamination, or expiration.

4. Distribution and Allocation: Nurses help distribute medical supplies to different departments, units, or patient areas within a healthcare facility based on need, priority, and usage patterns. They make sure supplies are distributed fairly while making the best use of resources.

5. Quality Control: Nurses are involved in ensuring the quality and safety of medical supplies through checking, verifying, and following standards. They identify and report any problems with product quality, packaging, labeling, or expiration dates to the right people.

6. Education and Training: Nurses educate healthcare staff on the correct ways to handle, store, and use medical supplies to improve patient safety, infection control, and resource saving. They may conduct training sessions, orientation programs, or ongoing education to reinforce best practices.

7. Documentation and Reporting: Nurses keep accurate records and documentation of supply management activities, including stock records, usage logs, expiration dates, and incident reports. They create reports and analyses to track trends, find areas for improvement, and support decision-making.

8. Collaboration: Nurses work with different teams, including purchasing staff, doctors, administrators, and support staff, to coordinate supply activities, solve problems, and put in place effective solutions. They communicate clearly to ensure smooth workflow and improve patient care outcomes.

9. Continuous Improvement: Nurses actively participate in efforts to improve supply chain efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize resource use. They offer ideas and feedback for process improvement and new approaches in supply management practices.