Medications Flashcards
A patient is taking a medication that has an enteric coating on it. You know this means
It cannot be crushed. The coating is there so that the pill is absorbed in the intestines/bowel not in the stomach. Could cause stomach ulcers if it is absorbed in the stomach
What is the safest and easiest way to administer medications
Oral
How do you administer a patients ophthalmic meds
Ask patient to look up and drop the medication in eye, making sure the meds flow from inner to outer canthus.
Press on tear duct for 30-60 seconds to make sure no medication gets into them
What must you always remember when giving optic meds
Warm them first
Stay on side from 2-3
Vaginal meds
Insert 3-4 inches
Stay in back for 10 minutes (best to do at night)
Rectal meds
Patient in side lying position
Insert 4 inches
Patient must stay on side for at least 5 minutes
Always keep cold (do not let melt) (never carry in your hands)
Your are giving a patient a vaccine shot. You are giving the injection in the deltoid. What should the needle length be?
1”
Giving a patent an injection to the vastus lateralis. What should the needle length be?
1 1/2”
You want a small gauge needle. You are picking between a 23 gauge and a 10 gauge. Which one would you pick?
23 gauge
The small the number the bigger the gauge
What is the most preferred injection site and why?
Ventrogluteal
Large muscle free of nerves
You have a patient that is 18 months old and you are giving them an injection. What do you know about injection sites for patients under 2 years of age?
They must always be given vastus lateralis
Why do we never give injections into the dorsogluteal site anymore?
Chance of hitting the sciatic nerve
Z-track injections are given because
The medication can either stain or burn skin
We do this technique so that it locks into the muscle
IV injections are _____ than IM injections
Absorbed faster
Subcutaneous injections are given so that the medication absorbs
Slowly