Contents
Legal Requirements for a prescription
- Hospital number or address
- Name of patient
- Date
- Name of drug
- Dose – unless only one dose available for that particular drug
- Signature
- Date of birth only legally required if under 12 years old
- NHS prescriptions required to be on appropriate forms
- If GP, need practice stamp
NB: You are not legally required to inform patient how or when to take the drugs but it is SAFE practice!
Safe Prescriptions
- Date of birth
- Directions – how and when to take the medication
- Any allergies
- Other drugs the patient is on – to avoid adverse interactions
- Ensure patient knows why they are taking the medication
For Controlled Drugs (CDs)
Need to indicate how many unit doses to supply in numbers and in words!
Controlled drugs include;
- Opiates (morphine, diamorphine, methadone)
- Major stimulants (amphetamines, quinalbarbitone)
- Ketamine and benzodiazepines
General Advice
Make sure everything is legible!
Always make sure each drug:
- Is in the right section – e.g. regular dose, as required & variable dose, IV & Enteral tube
- Is clearly written
- Is written in its generic name, not branded
- Has a dose – also check that the dose is reasonable – i.e. 10g of something is probably wrong – but you would have to check BNF or ask pharmacist to clarify.
- Has a signature for who authorised it
- If it says how many times to take it, make sure that the times for these are also written
- Check if drug has been discontinued – there is a little box under the general patient details that tells you the codes for why a drug has been discontinued.
- Has a route of administration
Route Name | Latin | Explanation |
po | Per os | Orally |
bid | – | 2x day |
im | – | Intramuscular injection |
sc | – | Subcutaneous injection |
iv | – | Intravenously |
pr | Par rectum | Up the bottom! |
hs | Hora somni | At bedtime |
ac | Ante cibum | Before meals |
pc | Post cibum | After meals |
q | quaque | Every… e.g. q 8 means every 8 hours |
qd | Quaque die | Every day |
Tid | – | 3x day |
Qid | – | 4x day |
Qds | – | 4x day |
– | Modified release | |
On | – | At night |
Om | – | In the morning |
IP | – | Intraperitoneal |
IC | – | In the abodominal cavity – pretty much the same as IP! |
Qod | – | Every other day |
Prn | Pro re nata | As required |
Npo / nbm | – | Nothing by mouth |
Od* | Occulus dexter/Once Daily | Right eye |
Os | Occulus sinister | Left eye |
*NOTE – this generally means once a day, not right eye!
Also state that you should check in the BNF or ask a pharmacist if:
- The doses are right
- There are any drug interactions
