Lab 1 Flashcards
- Technically refers to any route other than via
gastrointestinal system - Commonly refers to meds given by injection with needle
and syringe (IM, SUBCUT, ID, IV) - Generally act quickly because more rapidly absorbed than
oral meds - Sterile solutions, generally nonirritating
- Preferred route if client is vomiting, unconscious, or has a
nonfunctioning GI tract
parenteral medications
- Sealed glass container designed to hold single
dose - Designed to snap open
- Use protective sleeve, alcohol wipe package,
or sterile gauze to hold while snapping open - Insert filter needle into open ampule and
withdraw medication by pulling back on
syringe plunger - Withdraw meds with filter needle to prevent
aspiration of tiny glass or rubber particulate - Remove and discard filter needle and attach
appropriate needle for med administration
ampules
- Plastic or glass with rubber stopper or
diaphragm - Sterility of rubber stopper not guaranteed—
wipe first with alcohol - Single dose or multi-dose
- Always measure regardless
- May require reconstitution
- Injection of air equal to amount to be withdrawn
facilitates removal of solution—DO NOT
OVERFILL - Draw up only amount of solution needed for
dose
vial
Has two compartments—powder separated by
stopper from solution; mix before administration
mix-o-vial
- Prefilled glass or plastic, fits into an applicator
- White tip can be removed to reveal rubber stopper
cartridge
Premeasured dosage in a syringe with or without
needle attached
prefilled syringe
what are the components of syringes?
barrel
plunger
tip
outer calibrated portion to hold medicine
barrel
fits into the barrel to withdraw and inject medicine
plunger
end of syringe upon which needle or blunt tip device is placed or into which it is prebuilt; may be slip tip or luer-lok
tip
- Sizes 0.5 mL to 60 mL
- Calibrated in hundredths, tenths, and whole mL
- Term “cc” or cubic centimeter not best choice to write
- Minims—RARE, and use is discouraged
- Express dose in metrics—use decimals for partial dose
- Do NOT read dose at pointed tip of rubber on plunger; read
where rubber touching solution also touches inside barrel
hypodermic syringe
- Narrow—capacity of 1 mL
- Calibrated 0.1 to 0.01 (tenths to hundredths)
- Provide accurate measurement
- Heparin, skin testing, and pediatric dosing
tuberculin syringe
- Measured in units
- Syringe calibrated to match insulin doses
- U-100 syringes for U-100 insulin
- NEVER think in terms of mL when giving insulin; think in
units
insulin syringe
what are the 2 types of insulin syringes?
Lo-dose U
standard U
what are the meds measured in units?
heparin, pitocin, insulin, and penicillin
what are the meds in millimoles?
potassium and sodium bicarbonate
- Some medications are stable for only short periods in
the liquid state. - Once mixed, a medication is good for only 1 to 14
days. - Nurses may have to mix medications just before
administration or in the home setting
reconstitution
powdered or concentrated liquid medication
solute
liquid added to the ____, type depends on the med
solvent or diluent
liquid mixture that results when the solvent dissolves in the solute
solution
what are the basic principles for reconstitution?
- Manufacturer provides directions
* Including solvent amount in mL, diluent, storage
instructions, concentration after admixture - Diluents—Check expiration dates before use!
* Most common—sterile water or normal saline
* Others: D5W, special solution (provided) - Must identify the following information:
* Type of diluent, amount of diluent
* Expiration period after admixture - If components in item #3 are unavailable, consult the
CPS or other reliable source - After reconstitution using a multi-dose vial, LABEL it
with:
* Date and time, dosage strength, expiration date, and
time
* Storage instructions (e.g., “refrigerate” )
* Nurse’s initials
* Apply label so that med information is visible
* Discard if labeled inappropriately - The concentration of new mixture MUST be on the label
(e.g., 500 mg per mL) - Powder often adds significant substance to the total
volume of the solution (e.g., volume of diluent is 2.5 mL
and total volume of solution is 3 mL). The label should
indicate the total volume and concentration after the
reconstitution has occurred
what are the guidelines for choosing appropriate concentrations>
- Route of administration
- Choose concentration that is closest to the order from
prescriber - “Respectively” means “in the order given”
- Standard type for general infusions
- Delivers 10, 15, or 20 gtt/mL
- Used to deliver large volumes
macrodrip
- Delivers tiny drops—60 gtt/mL
- Used to deliver small amounts with exactness
- Because drop factor is 60 gtt/mL, drops per minute equals
mL per hour (e.g., 25 mL per hour = 25 gtt/min)
microdrip
