Time study comparison of nursing administration of nitroglycerin patches vs. nitroglycerin ointment vs. oral tablets

Studies have shown that pharmacy services influence the amount of nursing time devoted to medication related activities. A difference in dosage form mix"" may have been part of the influence 9-11 attributed entirely to pharmacy services. The new fiscal environment of prospective payment has resulted in hospital personnel reductions which have affected nursing practice. Anything pharmacists can do to reduce nursing time devoted to medication related activities will provide nurses more time to devote to their other nursing care responsibilities. This investigation has examined the influence of dosage form on nursing medication administration time looking at nitroglycerin patches, nitroglycerin ointment and oral tablets. There was not a significant difference between the mean administration times of nitroglycerin patches and nitroglycerin ointment or nitroglycerin patches and oral tablets. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean administration times of nitroglycerin ointment and oral nitrates. Dosage form does influence nursing time devoted to administration of nitroglycerin ointment compared to oral nitrates. Whether other dosage forms influence nursing administration time is a subject for future investigations.""