Ideas That Work: Safe Medication Practice

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Know the Drug's Expiration Date at a Glance


red and green stickers GOOD-TILL DATE Use red and green stickers to mark the open and the 28-day expiration date on multiple-dose drug vials.

Safe Medication Practice
Know the Drug's Expiration Date at a Glance

When you open a multiple-dose vial of eye drops, use round colored stickers you can buy at any stationery store to note the open date and the 28-day expiration date. Here's how:

  • Cut a green sticker in half and place it over a red round sticker on the bottle.
  • Mark the open date on the green sticker and the expiration date on the red sticker.
  • The staff member who handwrites the dates on the stickers should also include her initials on the sticker.

This is a simple way to clearly document and conform to your pharmacy policy.

Ann Riley, RN, BS
The Eye Institute Surgery Center
Melbourne, Fla.
[email protected]

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