Example protocol Q-check for anaesthesia

For complete anaesthesia or for maintaining it, the anaesthetic nurse prepares the anaesthetic medication with a colleague*. The medicine concerned is passed by a colleague and after verification drawn up in the syringe. In all cases the syringe needs to be labeled with the medication name and dose. When a syringe is ready it is being lay out on the Q-Check and the corresponding ampoule is placed in the holder behind the syringe. 

Step 2: Double-check before administering medication

Before administering the drugs to a patient, the anaesthesiologist/ anaesthesia assistant checks of the label correspond with the matching ampoule and he/she disposes the empty and checked ampoules in the glass container. This check can eventually be carried out by a operation assistant.

The anaesthesia assistant or anaesthesiologist should administer the medication immediately after executing above steps.

• It is not allowed to prepare anaesthesia medication on forehand for more than one operation. In that case checking the drugs can no longer be performed safely.
• If administering medicaments has to be done unexpectedly, you may deviate from the double check.
   

* This can be an anaesthesiologist, anaesthesia assistant, surgeon's assistant or a circulation nurse.