Drug prescribing and drug administration

This part of the book covers important aspects of safely prescribing and administering drugs. It also explains what happens when renal failure is present or the infant is undergoing therapeutic hypothermia. Staff should never prescribe or administer any drug without first familiarising themselves with the way it works, the way it is handled by the body and the problems that can arise as a result of its use. Lists summarising common side effects and potential drug interactions are seldom of much help in identifying which problems are common or likely to be of clinical importance in the neonate, and access to this more detailed information is as important for the staff responsible for drug administration as it is for those prescribing treatment in the first place.