Oral Administration Of Medications

Deblina Roy M.Sc. Nursing 1st Year

Drug/ medication

• Substance administered for the diagnosis, treatment, or relief of a symptom or for the prevention of diseases

• Used interchangeably with the word drug

•Drug also has the connotation of an illegally obtained substance.

Prescription• Written directions for the

preparation and administration of a drug

Generic name and Trade name

• Genric name:Name given before a drug becomes officially approved as a medication.

• Trade name: easy to remember name given by manufactuters.

• Eg:Trade name : CrocinGeneric name : Paracitamol.

Legal Aspects of Administering Medications

– Nursing practice acts– Responsibility for actions– Question any order that appears unreasonable– Refuse to give the medication until the order is

clarified

Routes of drug administration

• Local • Systemic

Oral Medications

• In oral administration the drug is swallowed. It is the most common, least expensive, and most convenient route for most clients

Parts of a Medication Order

– Full name of the client– Date and time the order written– Name of drug to be administered– Dosage– Frequency of administration– Route of administration– Signature of person writing the order

Articles for the procedure Articles number

Steel Tray 1

Drinking water in a Jug 1

prescription

Medicines prescribed

Medicine Cup 1

Pill crusher or tablet cutter if required

Kidney tray and paper bag

Procedure To give oral medication.

• Gather equipment. Check each medication order against original physician’s order according to agency policy. Clarify any inconsistencies. Check patient’s chart for allergies.

• Know actions, special nursing consideration, and adverse effects of medications to be administered.

• Perform proper hand hygiene.• Move medication cart outside patient’s room

or prepare for administration in medication area.

• Unlock medication cart or drawer.• Prepare medications for one patient at a time.

• Select proper medication from drawer or stock and compare with Kardex or order. Check expiration dates and perform calculations if necessary.

• 8. Recheck each medication package or preparation with the order as it is poured.

• 9. When all medications for one patient have been prepared, recheck once again with the medication order before taking them to patient.

• 10. Carefully transport medications to patient’s bedside. Keep medications in sight at all times.

• 11. See that patient receives medications at the correct time.

• 12. Identify the patient carefully. There are three correct ways to do this.

• a. Check name on patient’s identification bracelet.

• b. Ask patient his or her name.• c. Verify patient’s identification with a staff

member who knows patient.

• 13. Complete necessary assessments before administration of medications. Check allergy bracelet or ask patient about allergies. Explain purpose and action of each medication to patient.

• 14. Assist patient to an upright or lateral position.

• 15. Administer medications.• a. Offer water or other permitted fluids with pills,

capsules, tablets, and some liquid medications.• b. Ask patient’s preference regarding medications to

be taken by hand or in cup and one at a time or all at once.

• c. If capsule or tablet falls to the floor, discard it and administer a new one.

• d. Record and fluid intake I-O measurement is ordered.

• 16. Remain with patient until each medication is swallowed unless nurse has been patient swallow drug, she or he cannot record drug as having been administered.

• 17. Perform hand hygiene.

• 18. Record each medication given on medication chart or record using required format.

• a. If drug was refused or omitted, record this in appropriate area on medication record.

• 19. Check on patient within 30 minutes of drug administration to verify response to medication

Nursing Process

• Assessment:• Attitude about medication use• Knowledge of therapy• Learning needs

Nursing Diagnoses

• Deficient knowledge (medications)• Noncompliance (medications)• Disturbed sensory perception• Impaired swallowing• Ineffective therapeutic regimen

management

Planning

• Goals and outcomes– Example:

Client will verbalize therapeutic and adverse effects of medications

• Setting priorities• Continuity of care

Implementation

• Client and family teaching• Medication orders: receipt, transcription,

communication• Calculation and measurement• Correct administration technique• Recording

Special Considerations

• Infants and children• Older adults

– Self-prescribing– Over-the-counter medications– Misuse– Noncompliance

Evaluation

• Client response to medications• Client and family ability to administer

medications

Questions????

– Place unit dose-package medications in a disposable cup. Do not open wrapper until at bedside. Keep narcotics and medications that require special nursing assessments in a separate container.

– When removing tablets or capsules from a bottle, pour the necessary number into bottle cap and then place tablets in a medications cup. Break only scored tablets, if necessary, to obtain proper dose.

– Hold liquid medication bottles with the label against palm. Use appropriate measuring device when pouring liquids and read the amount of medication at the bottom of the meniscus at eye level. Wipe bottle lip with a paper towel.

10 Rights for administering medications

– Right medication (Drug)– Right dose– Right time– Right route– Right client– Right documentation– Right client education– Right to refuse– Right assessment– Right evaluation