with healthcare professionals;
highlight where there are areas of uncertainty in the management of their condition.
Conclusion
This chapter has provided an overview of the main pharmaceutical and prescribing reference guides used within clinical practice. Guidance has been given to encourage you to start to navigate the BNF in particular, to ensure you know where to find all the information needed about any medicinal product or device in order to ensure safe and effective practice. The differences between paper based and online versions have been highlighted to ensure you are aware where to access the most up‐to‐date and accurate drug information.
References
1 Joint Formulary Committee (2019a). How BNF publications are constructed: Assessing the evidence [Online]. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/about/how‐bnf‐publications‐are‐constructed.html (accessed 17 September 2019).
2 Joint Formulary Committee (2019b). British National Formulary: How to use BNF publications online [Online]. London: Joint Formulary Committee. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/about/how‐to‐use‐bnf‐publications‐online.html (accessed 17 September 2019).
3 Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018a). The Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates [Online]. www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code (accessed 20 September 2019).
4 Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018b). Standards of proficiency for nursing associates [Online]. https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/standards‐for‐nursing‐associates/standards‐of‐proficiency‐for‐nursing‐associates/ (accessed 20 September 2019).
5 Young, S. and Pitcher, B. (2016). Medicine Management for Nurses at a Glance. Oxford: Wiley.
Further reading
Electronic Medicines Compendium www.medicines.org.uk/emc
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Information on Medicines and Prescribing www.nice.org.uk/about/nice‐communities/medicines‐and‐prescribing
Joint Royal Colleges of Ambulance and Liaison Committee (JRCACLC) www.jrcalc.org.uk
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) www.sign.ac.uk
1 UK Drug Tariff https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies‐gp‐practices‐and‐appliance‐contractors/drug‐tariff
Multiple choice questions
1 Which of the following are all pharmaceutical reference guides?MIMS, NICE, and emcSIGN, BNF, and MIMSBNF, MIMS, and emc
2 What does the BNF stand for?British National FormularyBritish National FormulationsBranded National Formulary
3 How many times a year is the BNF published?OnceTwiceThree times
4 Does the BNF detail all the information necessary for prescribing and dispensing?Yes, alwaysNot alwaysNo
5 What does PoM stand for?Pharmacy‐only medicinePrescribed oral medicinePrescription‐only medicine
6 MIMS is primarily intended for use in which healthcare setting?All healthcare settingsPrimary careSecondary care
7 Within MIMS, how are you able to search for a drug?By drug nameBy conditionBy manufacturerAll of the above
8 What does the abbreviation p.c. mean?Before foodWith foodAfter food
9 Where will you find the “blacklist”?Within the BNFWithin the Drug TariffWithin NICE
10 On a device, what does the CE mark signify?That the device has been tried and tested and is safe to useThat the device can be prescribedThat the device has copyright protection
11 How often is the Drug Tariff updated?ContinuallyWeeklyMonthly
12 Which document informs healthcare professionals on how to prescribe and use a medicine correctly?A clinical trial paperProduct informationSummaries of product characteristics
13 A PIL is a medicine leaflet written for whom?Healthcare professionalsPharmacy staffPatients
14 Where will you find the most up‐to‐date information about the use of medicines?BNF/MIMS paper copyBNF/MIMS onlineNICE guidance
15 You find an outdated BNF being used within a clinical area, what should you do?Nothing, it is still safe to use an outdated BNFNothing, as it is not your place to say anythingSpeak to a senior member of staff to get it replaced with an up‐to‐date version
Chapter 3 Legal and ethical issues
Claire Leader, Emma Senior and Deborah Flynn
Aim
The aim of this chapter is to examine the legal and ethical considerations that are related to pharmacology and medicines management in contemporary healthcare settings.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this chapter, the reader will be able to:
1 Define commonly used legal and ethical concepts
2 Identify situations where legal and ethical considerations are required to make defensible decisions
3 Explain how legal and ethical considerations influence the decision‐making process
4 Apply legal and ethical considerations to a variety of scenarios likely to be encountered in modern healthcare settings
Test your knowledge
1 According to UK law, what must be established in order to prove a case of negligence?
2 Can a wife consent to treatment on behalf of their husband who lacks capacity?
3 What is the meaning of beneficence in relation to ethics?
4 Can healthcare professionals provide treatment for children without the consent of their responsible parent in an emergency situation?
5 What
