Name:

Lab Partner:
Date:
Grade:
5
Lab 5
Medication Orders
Objective
To identify the definition of a medication order
To identify the components of a medication order
To identify standard abbreviations used in medication orders
To interpret a medication order

Materials
Lab Book Medication Order set
Pencil

Key Terms
Medication order

Interval

Administration route

invalid

HCTZ

1
 STAT

DC

Introduction
A medication order is a specific way of conveying the same information found on a prescription given to
a patient, except a medication order is used in inpatient settings. Simply put, a medication order is a
special type of prescription used in institutional settings. When a doctor wants his/her patient to take a
particular medication, he/she does not write a prescription and hand it to their patient. If their patient is
in the hospital, nursing home, or other institutional setting, they are not able to take a prescription to the
pharmacy. Prescriptions written for patients in these settings are referred to as medication orders.
Medication orders and prescriptions have several similarities, but there are also distinct differences.
Review the chart below.

Differences
Similarities Prescription Medication Order
Patient Name Pt. info: address, DOB, Pt. info: id/medical record
allergies, phone number number, room and/or bed number
Date Time stamp not needed Time must be recorded
Name, quantity, strength of Route (recommended, but not Route of administration
medications to be ordered mandatory) mandatory
Dosage to be taken Name/initials of nurse
Prescriber’s name & transcribing or calling in order
signature

Abbreviations commonly used in hospitals are found in the chart below.

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Medication orders may also require that certain information be written in a specific ink color, like
allergies are to be written in red ink.

Below you will see some sample medication orders.

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 A) Patient name, hospital number, birth date, patient care unit, and date. This demographic
information is usually transmitted to the medication order by using the patient's addressograph
plate.

B) Allergies. Patient's medication allergies should be specified in this space. Since there are no
known allergies, the box next to No Known Allergies (NKA) has been checked.

C) Date. As each medication order is written, the date should precede the order. Prescribers should
include the time when writing medication orders.

D) Medication Column. Medications are usually ordered by the generic name, not by the brand or
trade name. Hospitals may permit the use of drug name abbreviations in medication orders
only if the abbreviation has been specifically approved by the hospital and it appears on a
published list. "Coined" abbreviations such as HCTZ, AZT, PCN, SMZ-TMP are not acceptable
abbreviations because they are often misinterpreted, and may cause drug errors. Depending on the
institution’s policy, medication orders that contain non-approved drug name abbreviations are
invalid thus pharmacists may be authorized to withhold dispensing and nurses are authorized to
withhold administration of medications ordered via non-approved abbreviations.

If it is necessary to modify or discontinue a medication order, it is important that this be done on

the next open line. Altering an existing order, which Pharmacy and Nursing have accepted onto
their profiles, can make it very difficult to track a patient’s medication history. For example, if the
existing order is for digoxin 0.25 mg PO daily, and the prescriber wants to change it to digoxin
0.125 mg PO daily, on the next open line the following should be written: " Discontinue (DC)
digoxin 0.25 mg. Begin digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily."
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 E) Dose Column. Dosages should be prescribed in the metric system. The number of units of
medications (e.g., 2 capsules) is only acceptable for combination products that are commercially
available in only one strength. If a single ingredient medication is available in only one strength, it
is still important to write that strength on the order. The terms "one tablet," or "one ampule," or
only the volume amount for oral liquids, should never be used because the strength or
concentration of the dosage unit periodically changes. A zero should always be placed before a
decimal expression less than one to prevent misinterpretation of drug orders. For example, .5 mg
may be mistaken for 5 mg, especially on carbon copies or when the decimal point is written on the
line of the order form. The correct way to express this value is 0.5 mg. The leading zero alerts the
pharmacist and the nurse if the decimal point is not visible. Never place a decimal point and zero
after a whole number as the decimal point may not been seen. Write 5 mg, not 5.0 mg, as this
may be mistakenly interpreted as 50 mg.

F) Route Column. The route of administration is indicated in this column, e.g., PO or IM.

G) Interval and Remarks Column. Indicate the schedule on which the medication is to be
administered. This section should also be used when prescribing a specific number of doses or
days of therapy. The "PRN" designation should include the medication's purpose (e.g., PRN sleep,
PRN pain).

H) Signature. Inpatient medication orders must be signed by authorized prescribers. Orders

written by medical students must be reviewed and co-signed by a licensed physician or dentist.
Designated physician assistants (PA) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) may
sign orders for medications and treatments as specified by the institution’s policies. The
designation "PA" or "ARNP" must follow the signature of the prescribing physician assistant or
advanced registered nurse practitioner on all inpatient medication orders. Physician assistants may
not write orders for Schedule II controlled substances which are listed as stimulants or depressants.

(obtained from http://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/pharmacy/PTNews/2003/completingorderform.html)

Procedure
Part A
For each medication order, identify the information requested in the chart. Transcribe all routes and
intervals. If the patient has no known allergies, write NKA in the allergy field. Draw a large “X” through
any unused field (see example B).

Example A:

Medication 1:
NS is the med
ordered (NS=
normal saline -
all NS is 0.9%)

CBC, chem.-7, Allergies

blood culture
are all tests, not Route = IV
meds.
Interval
5
 Medication 2

Route
Medication 3

Medication 4 Interval
Interval
Route

Medication Date: 1-31-04 thru 2-1-04 Doctor Dr. P Johnson

Order
Patient Name John Smith DOB 12-6-1950 Allergies Penicillin (NKA if pt. has none)
Number
Order 1 Order 2
Medication Normal Saline Tylenol
Dose 0.9% 650mg
Example
A Route intravenous By mouth
Every 4 to 6 hours as needed for
Interval 125ml every hour temperature greater than 38C
Order 3 Order 4
Medication Clarithromycin multivitamin
Dose 500mg n/a
Route By mouth By mouth
Interval Every 12 hours Every day

Example B:

Empty box means

KNA

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Medication Date: 6-5-05 Doctor Doc
Order
Patient Name John Smith DOB/Age 35 Allergies NKA
Number
Order 1 Order 2
Medication Lopressor Hydrochlorothiazide
Dose 50 mg 25 mg
Example
B Route By mouth By mouth
Interval Every day Every day
Order 3 Order 4
Medication Sonata
Dose 5 mg
Route By mouth
Interval At bedtime as needed

Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

1
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

7
Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

2
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

3
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

8
Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

4
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

5
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

9
Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

6
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

7
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

10
Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

8
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

9
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

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Medication
Order Date: Doctor
Number

Patient Name DOB/Age Allergies

Order 1 Order 2

Medication

Dose

10
Route

Interval
Order 3 Order 4

Medication

Dose

Route

Interval

Questions
1. How are prescriptions and medication orders similar? Name at least 3. (3 points)

2. How are prescriptions and medication orders different? Name at least 3. (3 points)

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3. Why should a zero always be placed before a decimal expression less than one? (1 point)

4. Give the abbreviations or meanings for the following: (24 points)

After meals Four times daily

Three times daily Twice daily

Intramuscular Once daily

Intravenous push At bedtime

Intravenous piggyback Before

NOC LOS

NPO EC

s.o.s. IN

S&S Every morning

ON After

Immediately Every 5 hours

As needed for Every evening

MEDICATION ORDER #1

HEIGHTS HIGH HOSPITAL

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 PATIENT: NIMBLE,JACK B.
DOB/AGE: 10/30/1968
SEX: M PHYSICIAN’S ORDERS
CHART #: 1423
ROOM #/BED # 231/B

ALLERGIES: DIAGNOSIS:

Sulfa
COMPLETED OR
DISCONTINUED
DATE TIME ORDERS SIGNATURE NAME DATE TIME

Meds:
5/30/07 1245 1. tagamet 300mg po q6h
2. Blocadren 10 mg po bid2.
3. Dialose cap I po tid

Dr Sara Bellum

MEDICATION ORDER #2

HEIGHTS HIGH HOSPITAL

PATIENT: QUICK,JACK B. PHYSICIAN’S ORDERS
DOB/AGE: 10/30/1968

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SEX: M
CHART #: 1752
ROOM #/BED # 231/A

ALLERGIES: DIAGNOSIS:

Penicillin
COMPLETED OR
DISCONTINUED
DATE TIME ORDERS SIGNATURE NAME DATE TIME

Meds:
5/3/07 0225 1. Bactrim DS po bid
2. Morphine SO4 10mg q12h iv
3. Humulin N 5u tid w/ meals SC

Dr. Mana War

Note:

Bactrim DS =
800mg/160mg

SO4= Sulfate

MEDICATION ORDER #3
HEIGHTS HIGH HOSPITAL
PATIENT: CONDA, HANNA PHYSICIAN’S ORDERS
DOB/AGE: 11/24/1970
SEX: F
CHART #: 1355
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 ROOM #/BED # 546/A

ALLERGIES: DIAGNOSIS:

Erythromycin
COMPLETED OR
DISCONTINUED
DATE TIME ORDERS SIGNATURE NAME DATE TIME

Meds:
5/3/07 0225 1. Digoxin 0.25 mcg qd iv
2. Prednisone 10mg po q8h x d 5
3. Ibuprofen 400mg po q4h prn

Dr. Ben D. Bones

MEDICATION ORDER #4

PATIENT: ANA CONDA

HEIGHTS HIGH HOSPITAL
DOB/AGE: 06/15/1975 PHYSICIAN’S ORDERS
SEX: F

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CHART #: 4739
ROOM #/BED # 846/B

ALLERGIES: DIAGNOSIS:

Cephalospo
rin COMPLETED OR
DISCONTINUED
DATE TIME ORDERS SIGNATURE NAME DATE TIME

Meds:
5/3/07 1225 1. Toradol 60mg/ml
1ml prn im
2. Diphenhydramine
35mg q4h prn iv
3. Humulin 70/30
13u tid w/ meals
subq
Dr. Colin Gen

MEDICATION ORDER #5

HEIGHTS HIGH HOSPITAL

PATIENT: ANNE GINA PHYSICIAN’S ORDERS
DOB/AGE: 01/29/1974

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 SEX: F
CHART #: 4399
ROOM #/BED # 695/A

ALLERGIES: DIAGNOSIS:

Codein
e
COMPLETED OR
DISCONTINUED
DATE TIME Orders Initials

Meds:
8/13/08 0225 1. Ceftin 250mg/5ml 375mg po
bid
2. Demerol 50mg q12h iv
3. Humulin Lente 15u w/ meals
subq

4. HCTZ 50mg q24h iv

MEDICATION ORDER #6

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PATIENT: ANNA PHALAXIS
DOB/AGE: 04/05/1980 HEIGHTS HIGH HOSPITAL
SEX: F PHYSICIAN’S ORDERS
CHART #: 67865
ROOM #/BED # 454/A

ALLERGIES: DIAGNOSIS:

Shellfish
COMPLETED OR
DISCONTINUED
DATE TIME Orders Initials

Meds:
1/1/08 0025 1. Lorazepam 2 mg tid prn
anxiety ML
2. Anusol 25mg supp 25mg pr q4-6h
ML
3. Ranitidine 150mg po bid ML

Dr.Millie Liter

MEDICATION ORDER #7

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 PATIENT: TOSIS,HAL O.
DOB/AGE: 09/30/1965 HEIGHTS HIGH HOSPITAL
SEX: M PHYSICIAN’S ORDERS
CHART #: 7454
ROOM #/BED # 674/A

ALLERGIES: DIAGNOSIS:

Morphine
COMPLETED OR
DISCONTINUED
DATE TIME Orders Initials

Meds:
5/3/07 0225 1. Lasix 40mg po qd
2. Potassium Chloride 10mEq bid iv
3. Enalapril 2.5mg po qd
4. ASA 5gr I tab po qd

Dr. Angie O. Plasty

MEDICATION ORDER #8

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 Patient Identification

PATIENT: TRIPPIN, IVY

DOCTOR'S ORDERS DOB/AGE: 10/30/1968
SEX: F
CHART #: 8751
ROOM #/BED # 875 PRIVATE
DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 1 INITIALS

5/3/07 1225 1. Docusate Sodium 100mg po bid

Dr. Ben Dover

DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 2 INITIALS

5/3/07 1225 2. Coumadin 2mg po qd

Dr. Ben Dover

DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 3 INITIALS

5/4/07 1225 3. Captopril 25mg po bid

Dr. Ben Dover

MEDICATION ORDER #9

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 Patient Identification

PATIENT: MONEY, INEED

DOCTOR'S ORDERS DOB/AGE: 10/30/1978
SEX: M
CHART #: 7351
ROOM #/BED # 735/A
DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 1 INITIALS

5/3/07 1225 1. Compazine 12.5mg

Supp i pr qd hs
Dr. Ube Trippin

DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 2 INITIALS

5/3/07 1225 2. heparin 5000u qd subq

Dr. Ube Trippin
DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 3 INITIALS

MEDICATION ORDER #10

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 Patient Identification

PATIENT: ADONA,BELLE
DOCTOR'S ORDERS DOB/AGE: 10/30/1968
SEX: F
CHART #: 89553
ROOM #/BED # 545/A
DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 1 INITIALS
All: ASA
5/3/07 1225 1. Quinine 100mg po bid

Dr. C. Bea Trippin

DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 2 INITIALS

5/3/07 1225 2. Vancomycin 100mg qd iv

Dr. C. Bea Trippin

DATE TIME DOCTORS ORDERS 3 INITIALS

5/4/07 1225 3. Fluconazole 50mg po qd

Dr. C. Bea Trippin

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