Watkins - Chapter 9 - Enteral Medications and Administration Flashcards
Type of medications that involve the GI tract such as capsules, enemas, suppositories and many others.
Enteral Medication
Can insulin be given by mouth? Why?
No, because stomach acid destroys it.
What is the name of the pair of devices used to crush pills?
pestle and mortar
What type of drugs are you not allowed to crush?
enteric-coated pills; they need to be released in the intestines. If the coating is destroyed the medicine will not make it past the stomach.
_____ tablets have added antacids to prevent stomach irritation.
Buffered
Why can’t you open or crush time released or delayed action pills?
Doing so can release all the drug at once, causing an overdose.
When administering solid medication, what are the first few things you should do to ensure 7 rights?
- Read order
- Check container for match to order
- Double check container
- RIght dosage?
- Right patient?
- Check a third time to ensure you have the right med.
After administering medication, what do you do?
- Watch for negative response
2. Document date, time, dosage, med, RESPONSE (ie no problem noted)
Why do elixirs (containing alcohol) need to remain tightly capped?
To prevent evaporation of the alcohol, because this would change the concentration of the medication in the elixir, and dosing errors could occur.
Elixirs should never be given to ______, ______ or _____.
children, alcoholics, diabetics
_______ is a liquid drug preparation that contains oils and fats in water.
Emulsions
_____ are liquid and fine particles in water such as Milk of magnesia.
magma
_____ are finely ground forms of an active drug, sometimes given for pain relief.
Powders
What is the difference between a liquid medication as a solution versus a suspension?
solution is completely distributed into the liquid and will not separate; no need to shake. The first mL should be identical to the last mL. As for suspensions, the medication is suspended in the liquid and may separate and MUST be shaken.
Why are kids at risk of overdosing on medications such as Robitussin?
They are syrups that taste sweet. Children may enjoy the taste and drink too much. Keep out of reach!!!
When should you avoid giving a patient water to rinse down oral liquid medication?
When it is meant to coat the throat.
If you pour too much liquid med, what do you do with the excess?
Dispose of it. DO NOT PUT BACK INTO STOCK!!!
To check liquid medication dosage, the ______ medicine cup should be at ____ ______. View the _____ to ensure proper amount has been poured.
calibrated; eye level; meniscus.
You can check NG tube placemnt for slippage by?
Injecting air and listening through stethoscope…or, drawing back on a syringe to see if fluid comes back.
What is NSS?
Normal Saline Solution
When administering medicine through an NG tube, the medication must be _____ and _____ with _____. Be sure to flush tube with _____ before and after medication administration.
crushed and mixed in water.
NSS
Why and how would you use a needleless syringe to administer liquid med?
When a person such as a small child has a hard time swallowing. You can insert it into the buccal pouch aka the cheek.
T or F: sublingual means on the tongue.
False…sub means below… sublingual means below the tongue.
Why is sublingual medicine, such as nitroglycerin - - given during heart attack, so beneficial?
There are many capillaries under the tongue, providing a rich blood supply for quick absorption.
Is IV or Sublingual faster?
IV. But sublingual also bypasses the stomach.
When giving rectal medication, have the patient remove undergarments and then lie down on to a their ____ side. Before inserting the enema or suppository, apply a ____-based _____. Ask the patient to lie still for _____ minutes.
Left. (Place chux under them… absorbent/waterproof pad)
water based lubricant
30 minutes
T or F: The most common route used by patients is sublingual.
False. Orally.
What is a troche?
lozenge; used in buccal and allowed to melt.
A common way that individual medication doses are packed together is called a _____ _____.
Blister pack
