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Nursing vocabulary · Medication Administration

Controlled drug

Meaning in nursing, with examples

nounCommon term

In nursing, controlled drug means: A medicine, such as morphine or fentanyl, that is strictly regulated by law because it can be misused or cause dependence.

In Turkish: kontrollü ilaç, narkotik ilaç, kırmızı reçeteli ilaç

How it is used

A British term; Americans say 'controlled substance' or 'narcotic'. Controlled drugs are kept in a locked cupboard, and on many wards two staff check and sign the register each time a dose is given or stock is counted. Often shortened to CD: 'CD check', 'CD keys'.

Example sentences

  1. Can you be my second checker for a controlled drug? Bed 4 needs her morphine.

  2. The controlled drug count at handover was correct.

Common collocations

  • controlled drug register
  • controlled drug cupboard
  • controlled drug check
  • second checker
  • medication chartThe form or electronic record where a patient's medicines are prescribed and where nurses sign for each dose they give or do not give.
  • administerTo give a medicine or treatment to a patient, by any route, according to a prescription or protocol.
  • PRNWritten on a prescription to show that a medicine is given only when needed, for example for pain or nausea, not at fixed times. It comes from Latin 'pro re nata'.
  • five rightsA checklist nurses use before giving any medicine: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route and the right time.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Medication Administration

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.