Med Admin 1 Flashcards
What do nurses need to assess prior to administering medications?
1) Check the medication administration record (MAR) or computer printout against the prescriber’s original medication order. Check the patient’s name and the medication name, dosage, route, and time for administration.
2) Assess the patient for any contraindications to receiving oral medication. Check the patient’s reflexes for swallowing, coughing, and gagging.
3) Assess the patient’s medical history, history of allergies, medication history, and diet history. Add the info to the MAR and identification bracelet.
4) Gather information from the patient’s physical examination and laboratory data that may influence medication administration
5) Assess the patient’s knowledge regarding health and medication use.
6) Assess the patient’s preferences for fluids. Maintain fluid restriction when applicable.
What are some contraindications to receiving medication orally?
Is the patient experiencing nausea or vomiting? Has the patient received a diagnosis of bowel inflammation or reduced peristalsis? Has the patient undergone recent gastrointestinal (GI) surgery? Does the patient have gastric suction? Is the patient restricted to nothing by mouth (NPO)?
What are 3 routes of administration and how do you know which to pick?
Oral, parenteral, or topical
Depends on: medication properties, desired effect, client’s physical and mental condition
What forms can oral medications come in?
Solids - Caplet, capsule, tablet, pill, etc Liquids - Elixir, aq solution, syrup, tincture, etc. Lozenge - Aka troche Aerosol - Asthma puffers Sustained release
How can you help a patient swallow oral medications?
Raise head of the bed
Provide a drink of water first
Encourage them to drink a full glass of water with pill
Use pill cutter if allowed
Crush with applesauce or pudding if not contraindicated
What should you do if your patient has difficulty swallowing or is unable to swallow safely?
one pill at a time
crush it up into something if possible
See if another route can be used
Can be given via a tube (Ex. gastrostomy, nasogastric, esophagostomy, etc.)
What forms can topical medications come in?
Lotion Ointment Liniment Paste Topical medication disc or patch
How do you administer topical medications safely?
Wear gloves
Cleanse wound prior to administration
If using a patch, ensure that old one is removed before putting the new one on, rotate spot where patches are applied
Document where medication was applied and document removal if using a patch
How do you administer opthalmic medications?
Hold the eye droppers approximately 1–2 cm above the conjunctival sac and let drip
How do you administer otic medications?
Adults - pull ear up back and out
Children < 3 y/o - pull ear down and back
How do you position the head to administer nasal instillations?
To access:
posterior pharynx -> tilt head backward
frontal & maxillary sinuses -> tilt head back over edge or bed/pillow and turn the head to the side to be treated
ethmoid & sphenoid sinuses -> tilt head back over edge or bed/pillow
What are the 4 types of parenteral routes?
Subcutaneous (subcut)
Intradermal (ID)
Intramuscular (IM)
Intravenous (IV)
What are the two different systems of drug measurement?
metric (g, L, m) - written 0.5 not .5, 1 not 1.0
household (tsp, cup, gallon) 1 kg = 2.2 lbs
What are the different ways medications are dispensed?
Packages
Prescriptions
Unit dose (all the prescribed pills for one person at one time)
Drug dispensing machine
Nurses need to calculate medications b/c they are ordered in different ways. What are some different types of ways meds can be ordered?
Dosage ordered in mg or mL commonly
Sometimes ordered in tablets
By body weight (very often in pediatrics)
Sometimes ordered by body surface area
