Medication Administration

Question 1

6 Right of Medication Administration

Answer 1

• Right drug
• Right dose
• Right time
• Right route
• Right patient
• Right documentation
  BONUS Right indication, right to know, right to refuse

Question 2

Three Medication Checks

Answer 2

1. Before you prepare the medication
2. After you prepare the medication
3. At the bedside before administering the medication

Question 3

The five routes of med administration

Answer 3

• Oral
• Topical
• Irrigation/instillation
• Inhalation
• Parenteral

Question 4

Types of oral meds

Answer 4

• Pills
• Sublingual (under tongue)
• Buccal (in cheek)
• Enteral tube

Question 5

Types of irrigation/installation meds

Answer 5

• Ophthalmic (eyedrops)
• Otic (eardrops)
• Nasal
• Vaginal
• Rectal

Question 6

Types of parenteral meds

Answer 6

• Intradermal
• Subcutaneous
• Intramuscular
• Intravenous

Question 7

Considerations for oral meds (list a few)

Answer 7

• Assess the patient’s swallowing ability, consciousness, risk of aspiration, nausea/vomiting
• Is the patient NPO?
• Hold bottle with label in palm of your hand while pouring liquid
• Use scored edge only when splitting pills
• Sit patient upright or lateral
• Remain w/ patient until med is swallowed/absorbed
• W/ trouble swallowing crush/mix in applesauce or pudding or thickened water
• Waste high alert/narcotic meds w/ another nurse as witness

Question 8

Considerations for topical meds

Answer 8

• Observe skin before, during, after admin
• Sites for patches should be clean, dry, free of hair, skin intact
• Remove old patch before placing new patch
• Rotate sites for patches
• Write date, time, initials on patch

Question 9

Considerations for irrigation/installation meds

Answer 9

• Provide tissues for excess liquid
• WEAR GLOVES
• Assess area before, during, after admin
• Use room temp solutions unless otherwise indicated
• May need lube for vaginal/rectal meds
• Remain lying down for 5-10 minutes after vaginal/rectal med admin

Question 10

Considerations for inhaled meds

Answer 10

• Assess lungs prior to admin & after
• Exhale first then breath deeply
• After breathing in med, hold breath for 5-10 seconds
• Wait 1-5 minutes between puffs

Question 11

Intradermal (ID) Injections - List syringe, needle length, needle gauge, and angle for insertion

Answer 11

Syringe: 1mL or TB syringe
Length: 3/8-3/4”
Gauge: 26-28
Angle: 5-15 degrees

Question 12

Sites for ID injections

Answer 12

Forearm, upper chest, upper back

Question 13

Subcutaneous (SQ) Injections - List needle length, gauge, & angle for insertion

Answer 13

Length: 3/8-5/8
Gauge: 25-27
Angle: 45-90 degrees

Question 14

Avoid sites for SQ injections with….

Answer 14

• Burns
• Birthmarks
• Scars
• Inflamed tissue
• Lesions
• Bony prominences
• Large underlying vessels/nerves

Question 15

Sites for SQ injections

Answer 15

• Deltoid (upper arm)
• Abdomen 2” away from umbilicus
• Dorsogluteal (upper butt)
• Ventrogluteal (Upper hip)
• Rectus femoris (Inner thigh)
• Vastus lateralis (Outer thigh)

Question 16

Intramuscular (IM) Injections - List syringe, needle length, gauge, angle for insertion

Answer 16

Syringe: 1-3mL
Length: 1-1 1/2”
Gauge: 23-25
Angle: 90 degrees

Question 17

Sites for IM Injection

Answer 17

• Ventrogluteal (Upper hip)
• Deltoid (Upper arm)
• Vastus lateralis (thigh)