Medication Administration

Question 1

7 rights of medication administration

Answer 1

Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation, right to refuse

Question 2

How to verify the proper medication and prescription?

Answer 2

Read the drug label 3 times; original box, preparing the drug, before administering.

Verify form, dose, and route.

Question 3

3 C’s and E

Answer 3

Colour, clarity, concentration, expiry date

Question 4

Methods to determine the right dose of pediatric drugs

Answer 4

Length-based resuscitation tape measures, pediatric wheel chart, EMS field guide with table or charts

Question 5

What are the parts of a syringe?

Answer 5

Plunger, body/barrel, luer lock, needle hub

Question 6

What do hypodermic needles vary from for standard injections?

Answer 6

3/8” to 2”

Question 7

Gauge refers to diameter

Answer 7

Smaller number = larger diameter

Question 8

What is the proximal end of a needle?

Answer 8

Hub; attaches to standard fitting on syringe

Question 9

What is the distal end of a needle?

Answer 9

Beveled end; goes into arm

Question 10

Ampules

Answer 10

Breakable sterile glass containers; carries one dose of medication

Question 11

How to properly use an ampule

Answer 11

Hold upright and tap to dislodge any trapped solution, place gauze around the thin neck and snap it off with your thumb, draw up the medication with a blunt needle.

Question 12

Vials

Answer 12

Glass/plastic bottles with rubber stopper top; container single or multiple doses, once cover is removed, it is no longer sterile.

Question 13

How to properly use a vial

Answer 13

Cleanse the vials rubber top, insert hypodermic needle into the rubber top and inject the exact amount of air that you will be drawing up form the syringe into the vial.

Question 14

Mix-o-vial

Answer 14

Two compartments; squeeze vials together and then shake

Question 15

How to properly use mix-o-vial

Answer 15

Squeeze the vials together to break the seal, agitate or roll to mix completely

Question 16

Pre-filled syringes

Answer 16

Packaged in tamperproof boxes; two types - separated into a glass cartridge and syringe, preassembled pre-filled syringes

Question 17

Types of injections

Answer 17

Intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous

Question 18

Subcutaneous medication administration

Answer 18

Needle penetrates through the dermis, given into connective tissue between dermis and muscle; smaller than 23g needle; 1/2 -5/8 inches long, usually 1mL of fluid

Question 19

Common sites for subcutaneous medication administration

Answer 19

Upper arms, anterior thighs, abdomen

Question 20

What angle do you put the needle for subcutaneous med admin?

Answer 20

45°

Question 21

Intramuscular medication administration

Answer 21

Needle penetrates through he dermis and subcutaneous tissue and into the muscle layer; allows larger volume of medication, potential to damage nerves

Question 22

Common sites for intramuscular medication administration

Answer 22

Vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, gluteal area, deltoid muscle

Question 23

Needle size and dosage amount for intramuscular med admin?

Answer 23

21-23g needle, 1-1.5 inches long, usually 5mL EXCEPT deltoid(2mL)

Question 24

Z-track injections

Answer 24

Pull patients skin and subcutaneous tissue laterally, once medication is injected, remove the needle and release the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Question 25

Types of percutaneous medication administration

Answer 25

Transdermal, sublingual, buccal, intranasal

Question 26

Transdermal medication

Answer 26

Applied topically, useful for sustained release of medication

Question 27

Sublingual medication administration

Answer 27

Area is highly vascular, medication is rapidly absorbed, drugs may also be injected under the tongue

Question 28

Buccal medication administration

Answer 28

Region lies between the cheek and gums, medication comes in the form of tablets or gel

Question 29

Intranasal medication administration

Answer 29

Includes nasal spray, rapidly absorbed, preformed with mucosal atomizer device (MAD)

Question 30

What dose is required for intranasal medication administration?

Answer 30

2-2.5 times the dose of IV medications

Question 31

Medications administered by inhalation route

Answer 31

Nebulizer and metered-dose inhaler

Question 32

When/how are medications administered by inhalation route?

Answer 32

Patients with history of respiratory problems, delivered through mouthpiece or mask

Question 33

Nebulizer-What to do if patients are breathing inadequately?

Answer 33

Assist with Bag-mask ventilation, attach a small-volume nebulizer to device. Oxygen should be running 6-8lpm