Medications - Administering oral, topical and other types of medications (except parenteral) Flashcards
What are the different forms of oral medication?
Solid
- tablet (pill), caplet, capsule, enteric coated
Liquid
-suspension, syrup and elixir
Sublingual (under tongue) or buccal (tuck into cheek) –> absorbed through oral mucus membranes
What is the difference between the scored tablets, enteric coated tablets and sustained release capsules?
Sustained release capsules –> delayed release
Scored tablet –> has a guide on cutting the pill
Enteric coated –> doesn’t dissolve in the GI tract, but in the intestine
Discuss the preparation of oral medication?
Hands need to clean Keep the pill in package Put in a med cup Don't touch the medication Use a pill cutter or a scored tablet to half a pill
What are some considerations for oral pills?
check to see if pill is okay to be crushed
- Can mix crushed pill with food
Due to Cognitive impairment
- assess
- may not be able to follow commands
What are some oral liquid techniques/processes?
Plastic Medicine cup
Suspensions –> shake first
Syringe –> buccal or feeding tube
How would you handle a situation when
You bring several oral medications into your client’s room and he says, “I feel kind of nauseated, I don’t know if I should take those.”
Assess/look at chart
Check for hx of previous nausea
Medications to treat nausea or causing nausea
Administering medication in a different route
Taking medication with food
Checked when was the last time they ate
THINK ABOUT HOW CRITICAL THE MEDICATION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADMINISTERED TO THEM.
Scenario question
You have oral medications in pill form that are prescribed for your client, and she tells you, “I can’t swallow pills! They always make me feel like gagging.”
Can pills be curshed
Alternate form of PO or alternate route
Putting in food
Suggest a technique on how to take the pill
Can take liquid form of kids and have it for adults is possible
Kids banana tuck the pill in banana and will go through smoothly
