Prescriptions and scheduling of endovenous medications in pediatrics

descriptive study

Abstract

Objectives: to analyze the prescriptions and scheduling of intravenous medications for hospitalized
children and adolescents, following the recommendations of the Safety Protocol in the Prescription,
Use, and Administration of Medicines. Methods: descriptive, documentary study, with analysis
of 352 prescriptions for intravenous medications in pediatric inpatient units. The age range of the
children was 29 days up to 16 years old. Data collection took place from August to November 2017.
A checklist-type instrument was used. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, in
compliance with ethical precepts. Results: we found that the performance was satisfactory concerning
the prescriptions and followed the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of Brazil. The essential
items in medication prescriptions had the following incidences: date (98%), generic name (95.2%),
concentration (98.6%), dose (99.7%), route of administration (95.7% ), dosage (98.9%), guidelines
(87.5%), physician's signature (99.1%), medical stamp (97.7%), nurse's signature (93.2%) and nurse's
stamp (84.7%). In the 352 prescriptions, 1,069 medications were analyzed, of which 1,059 (99.06%)
presented satisfactory data regarding the verification of intravenous medications. Conclusions: most
of the prescription items were satisfactory; however, some items were considered unsatisfactory, with
actions not performed correctly.