Injection compatibility: Learning outcomes
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- Describe what physical and chemical incompatibility means, and be able to explain the difference to others.
- Advise ward staff how to avoid compatibility problems with injectable medicines, and be able to recommend safe alternatives.
- Know the potential implications for patients if incompatibility occurs.
You can download a PDF of the whole tutorial (without interactive elements such as Learning Exercises) and a one-page summary of key points.
Competencies
This tutorial is aimed at hospital pre-registration pharmacists, and will help you achieve GPhC standards such as these:- A3 Manage problems
- B1.4 Elicit all relevant information by the use of appropriate questions
- C1.3 Assess the prescription for safety and clinical appropriateness.
- C2.3 Identify and take action to minimise risk to patients from their treatment
- C2.4 Actively provide information and advice to healthcare professionals
If you are a foundation pharmacist, this tutorial may help you meet competencies from the RPS framework including:
- 1.2 Need for the medicine
- 1.4 Selection of the medicine
- 1.7 Monitoring medicine therapy
- 3.3 Analysing information
- 3.4 Providing information
Continuing professional development
★ If you don't work on a ward where you encounter injection compatibility issues, then ask to visit a high care ward with a colleague. Reflect on the differences in pharmacy practice in a high care area. How else do pharmacists in a high care area ensure that injections are safe, other than checking for incompatibility?
★ If you have access to the Handbook on Injectable Drugs ("Trissel"), then read the introduction to discover how the published data on compatibility are interpreted and presented. Examine a selection of monographs to make sure you can understand how to apply the information in practice.
★ Next time you advise about a compatibility issue then write it up as a CPD exercise, clinical intervention, or case study. Present this case to your tutor, a colleague, or at a journal club and ask for peer feedback. Do you think your original approach was about right or did the feedback give you ideas for improvement?