Drug Administration Equipment and Supplies

Question 1

Medicine cup

Answer 1

Reasonably accurate for measuring in one teaspoonful (5 mL) intervals. Not accurate enough for smaller measurements

Question 2

Calibrated spoon

Answer 2

Used to measure and administer liquid medications when the volume to be measured is between 1-10 mL. The spoon-shaped opening makes it potentially useful for use with pediatric and geriatric patients

Question 3

Dropper

Answer 3

Used to measure and administer very small amounts of liquid medication (e.g. fluoride drops, infant vitamins). Typically supplied with the medication from the manufacturer and may be calibrated to measure in a variety of units depending on the medication. Usually employed for measurements of 2 mL or less

Question 4

Oral syringe

Answer 4

Used to make precise measurement, usually down to the tenth of a milliliter, for oral administration (not for injection). The most common oral syringes are designed to hold up to 1, 5, or 10 mL

Question 5

Tablet cutter (or pill splitter)

Answer 5

Device with a safety-guarded steel blade designed to cut tablets into even halves

Question 6

Spacer

Answer 6

A tube-like chamber with an opening at each end. One end attaches to an inhaler (e.g. an albuterol inhaler), and the patient places their mouth around the other end. The medication enters the spacer, which holds the aerosolized drug until the patient inhales through the other end. Spacers are particularly useful for patients who may have poor coordination (e.g. pediatric and geriatric patients)

Question 7

Nebulizer

Answer 7

A device that delivers compressed air through a tube and into a special cup that turns nebulizer solution (a specially-designated liquid medication) into a mist that the patient can inhale to treat various types of lung disease (e.g. asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis)

Question 8

Lancet

Answer 8

A small sterile needle designed to poke a tiny hole in the skin to obtain a small blood sample, commonly used for blood glucose testing in patients with diabetes. A lancet should always be disposed of properly in a sharps container and should never be reused

Question 9

Lancing device

Answer 9

A typically spring-loaded device designed to penetrate the skin with a pre-loaded lancet at the push of a button

Question 10

Blood glucose test strips

Answer 10

A small, rectangular piece of material that is specifically designed to collect a small amount of blood (after creating a tiny hold in the skin with a lancet) to be analyzed with a blood glucose meter

Question 11

Blood glucose meter (or glucometer)

Answer 11

A compact electronic device that measures the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood collected on a blood glucose test strip

Question 12

Insulin syringe

Answer 12

Designed specifically for the measurement and administration on insulin. Calibrated to measure in terms of insulin units where 1 m: is equal to 100 units of standard insulin. Most common size is 1 mL; however, smaller sizes are available (i.e. 0.5 mL and 0.3 mL)

Question 13

Pen needles

Answer 13

An injection needle with a plastic hub that is designed to be attached to various types of injection pens (e.g. insulin pens). Many patients prefer self-injecting medications using injection pens and pen needles because they are much easier to use compared to drawing up the medication from a vial and injection with a syringe

Question 14

Standard syringe

Answer 14

May be used to administer injections by various routes (e.g. intravenous, intramuscular). The most commonly used size for administering injections is 3 mL. Larger capacity syringes are commercially available (e.g. 5-60 mL); however, they are typically used for sterile compounding, not for administering injections