Drug scheduling by nurses and drug interactions in patients with cardiovascular diseases

Programa de enfermería de medicamentos e interacciones con drogas en pacientes con enfermedades cardiovasculares

ABSTRACT

Objectives:  to identify and characterize the potential serious drug interactions in patients hospitalized with cardiovascular diseases, relating them to the schedules established for drug administration by nurses.

Methods:  a documentary, quantitative and sectional research. Ninety-nine prescriptions from patients admitted to the cardiology ward of a hospital in Rio de Janeiro for more than 48 hours were analyzed. Drug interaction was assessed using the Micromedex^® software. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results:  serious interactions were evidenced in 22 drug pairs, most frequently at 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., times with higher dose scheduling performed by nurses. The most recurrent drug pairs involved in serious interactions were simvastatin + amlodipine and enoxaparin + clopidogrel.

Conclusions:  drug scheduling by nurses requires a review of the criteria for proposing schedules for drugs in order to ensure patient safety.

Descriptors: Drug Prescriptions; Drug Interactions; Patient Safety; Cardiology; Nurses