**2.1 Sources of drugs**

290 Complementary Pediatrics

appropriate despite strict control programs and such effort (Akan, 2006; Çetinkaya et al, 2010). In Turkey, antibiotic treatment is prescribed too frequently (Bal, 2005; Celen et al, 2005; Çetinkaya et al, 2010; Özgüneş, 2005;). In a study it is stated that antibiotics are being prescribed to significant portion of the patients who apply to clinics (15-48%) and only 2- 2.5% of those prescribed medication was based on culture results (Çetinkaya et al, 2010;

Since the prevalence of drug errors are high, it is that imperative that nurses understand the

Without considering by whom it was prescribed, nurses are responsible for the every each medication that is administered personally on legal grounds, moral grounds, and ethical

All professional nurses should take these issues seriously. Safe and correct medication is one of the principal responsibilities of a nurse during patient care. For a nurse to make free decisions over right medication, correct administration, and providing appropriate means for measurement and monitoring is important for the assessment of the side effects of medication and the patient reactions against it. Reliable medication requires knowledge

Comparing to that on an adult, medication administration greatly differs on children, while bringing along responsibilities. It is of the physician's responsibility to write down the doses into drug master file. Nurse, on the other hand, is responsible for administering the medication at the correct amount and on the correct time. Nurse has to know when this medication would start to be effective, for how long it would be effective, what side-effects it might cause, any

In a study carried out to analyze the knowledge and behavior of pediatricians regarding to the rational use of antibiotics, as well as the socio-demographic factors that might be affecting, 89.8% of the participants reported that, when prescribing antibiotics, they need to see the patient first, whereas, 78.1% indicated that they were prescribing antibiotics according to the patient's clinical condition, 71.1% reported that they had paid attention to the appropriateness of the symptoms, and 67.2% told that they were going to take microbiological culture samples for examination. As for the question '*who should give education about antibiotics*' 32.1% replied as the physician who had prescribed the medication, 23.4% said the junior doctors, 21.9% said pharmacists, 17.2% said the pediatric nurse, 9.4%

The pediatrics nurses auditing the medication use, evaluation by them if the importance of regular use of the medication is understood or not, to obtain the suitable feedback from the patent and the patient's family by the prescribing physician, adverse effects and what they should do under such circumstances etc., providing training and consultancy on all these

If taken by a living organism, drug is an agent that brings changes in body functions. Administration of drugs is of the principal practices in nursing. Safety of the patient is the

factors leading to errors, and avoid them to the best of their ability (Dinc, 2011).

synthesis, experience, critical approach and intellectual norms (Dinç, 2011).

toxic indications, and counter-measures in respect thereof (Kavakli et al, 1998).

are among their duties (Çetinkaya et al, 2010; Çetinkaya &Tengir, 2006).

Özgüneş, 2005).

grounds (Dinç, 2011).

said nurses (Çetinkaya et al, 2010).

**2. Pharmacological concepts** 

These are the basic sources of drugs:

