Medication Administration Flashcards
What are the 7 things that must be included in a med order?
Date, client’s name, route of administration, time, dose, medication, signature of physician
6 rights of Medication Administration
Patient, time, medication, dose/amount, route, reason
What are 2 additional things to do when administering meds?
Check the expiration of the meds and document in patient’s chart
How many identifiers do we use to verify a patient’s identity?
3
What are the identifiers used to identify patients prior to med administration?
Name, DOB, MRN number
What should be checked on the patient prior to the administration of drugs? (Not the identifiers)
Vitals
What are common med errors?
Administering PRN medication too early, giving full pill instead of half, omission of 6 rights and 3 checks, talking at the Pyxis
What is the window for scheduled meds?
1 hour before and one hour after scheduled time. PRN MEDS CANNOT BE GIVEN EARLY!
How many nurses need to witness a narcotic disposal?
2
What are risk factors for medication problems involving geriatric patients?
Age > 85, 6+ comorbidities, low weight, renal insufficiencies, 12+ medications per day, previous adverse drug reactions
Which medication route is the most addictive?
Inhalation
What does ac mean?
Before meals
What does HC mean?
At bedtime
Where is the best location to administer insulin?
Abdomen
What is important to remember when administering insulin?
Make sure to rotate site of insulin injection
What color are insulin syringes?
Orange
What are insulin injections measured in?
Units not CCs
What type of syringes are used for injections?
Leur-lok
What can happen if too much insulin is administered?
Hypoglycemia
As the gauge of needle increases, the diameter of the needle __________?
Decreases
What are the 3 main sites that should be used for Parenteral injections?
Vastuslateralis, deltoid, ventrogluteal
Where is it no longer recommended to do IM injections?
Dorsal gluteal
What type of needle can be recapped?
Clean needles
What are the 3 types of injections?
Intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal
Where can a subcutaneous injection be administered?
Abdomen, back of arm
What factors influence the choice for which injection site to use? (There are 6)
Age, size, medication, volume, frequency, ability to position a patient for injection
What angle is used for IM injections?
90°
If a medication needs to be absorbed rapidly, what type of injection should be used?
IM
How many units of insulin equals 1ml?
100 units
Which injection uses aspiration?
IM injections
What should the rate of injection be in an IM injection?
1ml/10 sec
When is aspiration not necessary for an IM injection?
Vaccines (immunizations)
What is the safest and least painful site for IM injections?
Ventrogluteal
When would a ventrogluteal injection be recommended?
Large volumes or irritating solutions
Which gauge needle is usually used for adults?
20-23 gauge
Which gauge needle is utilized for infants and children?
22-25 gauge
What length of needle should be used for infants and children?
1/2 to 1 inch
What length of needle should be used for adults?
1-1 1/2 inch
What length of needle is used for obese patients?
Up to 3 inches
Maximum volume for ventroglutealinjections? (Adults, adolescents, smaller children, infants)
Adults:2.5ml, adolescents:2ml, smaller children: 1-1.5ml infants: 0.5ml
What is the preferred and most used sites for infants and toddlers?
Vastus lateralis
Volume that can be injected into the vastus lateralis
Adults: 2-3ml, adolescents: 2ml, children: 1ml, infants: 0.5ml
What is the age range for a deltoid injection?
Anyone 3 and older
What types of solutions can be injected into the deltoid?
Must be nonirritating usually immunizations and biologics)
What volume can be injected in to the deltoid?
Children: 0.5ml-1ml Adult:max 2ml
What gauge needles should be used in the deltoid?
22-25 gauge
Where is a subcutaneous injection administered? Which layer of skin?
Into adipose tissue, between dermis and muscle
Gauge of needle for subcutaneous injection
25-30
Length of needle for a subcutaneous injection
5/8 inch
Volume injected with subcutaneous injections
Children: max 0.5 mL adults: 0.5ml-1ml
What are the primary sites of subcutaneous injections?
Adolescents & adults: dorsal of upper arm, abdomen; infants: anterior thigh
Angle of an intradermal injection
5-15°
When should allergies be checked for patients?
When preparing the medication as well as at bedside
Which needle is the most universal?
23 gauge and 1 inch
