Activity Summary
Caring for critically ill patients often requires nurses to use one or more titrated medications, but understanding and implementing current order requirements can create confusion for the clinician and risk for the patient. The Joint Commission recently clarified its medication management standards including administration and documentation of titrated medications, along with minimum elements of complete medication orders. This document, shared with permission by Temple University Hospital, is an example of a policy and procedure implementing the Joint Commission revised requirements including block charting. The policy and procedure defines the actions and workflows required to minimize the error or patient injury and optimize patient care during the administration of titratable medications in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
Objectives
- Describe the application of the updated Joint Commission medication titration requirements.
- Discuss the appropriate implementation of 'block charting'.
Continuing Education Disclosure Statement
Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) are recognized by the AACN Certification Corporation, our credentialing arm, to encompass a wide spectrum of continuing education activities performed by nurses in high acuity and critical care and fulfill educational requirements for certification. Synergy CERP is a program exclusive to AACN for nurses wishing to recertify through AACN.
State boards of nursing and other certification organizations may recognize CERPs as meeting CE Contact Hour requirements. We recommend consulting with the state board or credentialing organization before submitting CERPs to fulfill CEContact Hour requirements.