Medication Administration Flashcards
7 rights of medication administration
Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation, right to refuse
How to verify the proper medication and prescription?
Read the drug label 3 times; original box, preparing the drug, before administering.
Verify form, dose, and route.
3 C’s and E
Colour, clarity, concentration, expiry date
Methods to determine the right dose of pediatric drugs
Length-based resuscitation tape measures, pediatric wheel chart, EMS field guide with table or charts
What are the parts of a syringe?
Plunger, body/barrel, luer lock, needle hub
What do hypodermic needles vary from for standard injections?
3/8” to 2”
Gauge refers to diameter
Smaller number = larger diameter
What is the proximal end of a needle?
Hub; attaches to standard fitting on syringe
What is the distal end of a needle?
Beveled end; goes into arm
Ampules
Breakable sterile glass containers; carries one dose of medication
How to properly use an ampule
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.
Vials
Glass/plastic bottles with rubber stopper top; container single or multiple doses, once cover is removed, it is no longer sterile.
How to properly use a vial
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.
Mix-o-vial
Two compartments; squeeze vials together and then shake
How to properly use mix-o-vial
Squeeze the vials together to break the seal, agitate or roll to mix completely
Pre-filled syringes
Packaged in tamperproof boxes; two types - separated into a glass cartridge and syringe, preassembled pre-filled syringes
Types of injections
Intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravenous
Subcutaneous medication administration
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
Common sites for subcutaneous medication administration
Upper arms, anterior thighs, abdomen
What angle do you put the needle for subcutaneous med admin?
45°
Intramuscular medication administration
Needle penetrates through he dermis and subcutaneous tissue and into the muscle layer; allows larger volume of medication, potential to damage nerves
Common sites for intramuscular medication administration
Vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, gluteal area, deltoid muscle
Needle size and dosage amount for intramuscular med admin?
21-23g needle, 1-1.5 inches long, usually 5mL EXCEPT deltoid(2mL)
Z-track injections
Pull patients skin and subcutaneous tissue laterally, once medication is injected, remove the needle and release the skin and subcutaneous tissue.
Types of percutaneous medication administration
Transdermal, sublingual, buccal, intranasal
Transdermal medication
Applied topically, useful for sustained release of medication
Sublingual medication administration
Area is highly vascular, medication is rapidly absorbed, drugs may also be injected under the tongue
Buccal medication administration
Region lies between the cheek and gums, medication comes in the form of tablets or gel
Intranasal medication administration
Includes nasal spray, rapidly absorbed, preformed with mucosal atomizer device (MAD)
What dose is required for intranasal medication administration?
2-2.5 times the dose of IV medications
Medications administered by inhalation route
Nebulizer and metered-dose inhaler
When/how are medications administered by inhalation route?
Patients with history of respiratory problems, delivered through mouthpiece or mask
Nebulizer-What to do if patients are breathing inadequately?
Assist with Bag-mask ventilation, attach a small-volume nebulizer to device. Oxygen should be running 6-8lpm
