Oral Medications Flashcards
What is the main rule to follow when administering medications?
“Ten rights - 3 checks”
Who is legally liable for causing harm to a patient from a medication error?
The nurse
Oral =
Enteral (GI tract)
Main absorption occurs in the
Small intestines
The dose prescribed is ______ than parenteral route
Higher
Any factor that slows gastric emptying will decrease and prolong absorption
The rate of gastric emptying
What are some contraindications of oral meds?
Nausea
Vomiting
Dysphasia
NPO (MD may ok with a sip of water)
Withheld or given by another route and may order to give this route and hold suction for 20-30 minutes
Gastric suctioning
Coated, chewable, and effervescent are what kind of meds?
Tablets
They can soft or hard?
Capsules
Delays absorption until drug reaches the intestines
Enteric coated
After administering chewable tablets, always follow with
Water to help dissolve and absorb. Swish and swallow.
Time released effervescent tablets should not
Be crushed, chewed, or broken
Has a local effect
Lozenges or troche
Powders need to be mixed in _____ml to aid absorption
15ml
Liquids are usually ordered by
Tsp
Tinctures are more potent than _____________.
Elixirs
Elixirs and tinctures are meds dissolved in?
Alcohol and water
Oral medication placed under the tongue that is dissolved via mucous membranes and immediately absorbed by the surrounding blood supply
Sublingual
Between the cheek and upper lip and dissolved via the mucous membranes and surrounding blood supply; local or systemic action
Buccal
When giving oral medications nurses need to assess what?
Allergies Ability to swallow Presence of vomiting or diarrhea Drug actions, side effects, interactions, adverse reactions Patients knowledge Lab values Vital signs specific to med
When administering oral meds patient should be in what position?
Supine of high semi-fowlers
When pouring a liquid medication how should it be poured?
Label up
If med administered is less than 5ml what is done?
Use a syringe
