TERMS/ABBREVIATIONS
b.i.d.
twice a day
What is the most common route for medication administration?
Oral
What are the four types of medication orders
Stat (given immediately one time)
Single (one time order)
Standing (may be carried out until canceled)
PRN (as needed)
What injection is administered just beneath the epidermis at a 5-15 degree angle, what are the common sites?
Intradermal (ID) (0.1mL)
SITES
Inner lower arm (TB)
The upper chest
On the back beneath the scapulae
What are the parts of a syringe and parts of a needle?
Syringes have a tip, barrel, and a plunger
Needles have a hub (includes the gauge #), a needle shaft, and the bevel. ALWAYS have BEVEL UP!
ac
before meals
Name two routes where the medication is not supposed to be immediately swallowed but is given orally
Sublingual (under tongue)
Buccal (against cheek)
How many checks are involved with safe medication administration?
THREE CHECKS!
FIRST Check: Read MAR & remove the med(s) from the client's drawer. Verify that client's name & room # match the MAR. Compare the label of the med against the MAR. If the dosage does not match the MAR, determine if you need to calculate. Check exp date of the med.
SECOND Check: While preparing the med, look at med label and check against MAR
THIRD Check: Recheck the label on the container against the MAR before returning to its storage place OR before giving the med to the client.
What type of injection is just below the skin at a 45/90 degree angle, what are the most common sites
Subcutaneous (Subq drug examples include insulin, and heparin) (0.5 to 1 mL)
SITES
BE SURE TO ROTATE SITES!!!
Outer aspect of upper arms
Anterior aspect of the things
Abdomen
Scapular areas of upper back
Upper ventrogluteal and dorsogluteal areas
What is the difference between an ampule and a vial?
Ampule is a glass container that must be broken at the neck, you must use a filtered needle to withdraw medication.
A vial can be glass or plastic that is sealed with a rubber cap. DONT FORGET TO SCRUB rubber top with alcohol.
NPO
nothing by mouth
Name the four most common parenteral (routes other than through GI tract) routes
Subcutaneous (hypodermic)
Intramuscular (IM)
Intradermal (ID)
Intravenous (IV)
What are the 7 essential parts of a medication order?
-Full name of client
-Date & time the order is written
-Name of drug to be administered
-Dosage of the drug
-Frequency of administration
-Route of administration
-Signature of person writing the order
What injection is usually given at a 90 degree angle and is absorbed quickly, what are the common sites
Intramuscular (IM 0.5-3 mL)
SITES
Ventrogluteal (preferred site)
Vastus Lateralis (site of choice for infants/children)
Dorsogluteal (not preferred due to sciatic nerve)
Rectus Femoris (anterior aspect of thigh)
Deltoid (upper arm)
What is the proper way for ophthalmic (eye) and otic (ear) medication administration?
Ophthalmic- May need to irrigate or clean eye (inner to outer) prior to administration. Eye drops (drop into lower conjunctival sac by placing thumb/fingers of nondominant hand on patients cheeckbone gently pulling down. Ointment is applied inner to outer. DO NOT TOUCH TIP TO EYE!
Otic- May need to clean ear prior to medication administration. Pull pinna upward and backward (patients over 3 yrs of age) After medicine is in ear have patient lay on side for about 5 mins.
q.i.d.
four times a day
What route introduces the medication throughout the respiratory tract?
Inhalation (inhalers, nebulizers)
What is the process of administering medications
Identify the client with TWO identifiers (usually name/birthday and wristband)
Inform the client (explain the medication while scanning the meds into the MAR)
Administer the medication (AFTER medication is scanned into the MAR, three checks need to be done)
Provide interventions as indicated
Record medication administered
Evaluate patients response to the medication
What is the Z-track technique/method
Use the ulnar side of nondominant hand to pull the skin back (1 in) to the side. Insert needle at 90 degree angle (book says to aspirate by pulling back on plunger) if blood does not appear inject the medication slowly (10 sec per mL) After injection may need to wait 10 seconds before removing the needle.
What is the correct way to draw up medicine from a vial?
Gather equipment (syringe, needle, vial, alcohol swabs)
Hand hygiene
Attach needle to syringe (if not pre attached)
Remove cap from vial (scrub with alcohol)
Remove cap from needle then draw up an equal volume of air, inject into vial
Draw up medicine with base down or invert the vial
gtts
drops
What are some routes of administration if the patient is NPO?
Transdermal (patch)
Rectal
Vaginal
Topical (applied to skin, into body cavities or orifices, inhalation)
What are the 10 rights of medication administration?
1) Right Med
2) Right Dose
3) Right time
4) Right Route
5) Right Client
6) Right Client Education
7) Right Documentation
8) Right to Refuse
9) Right Assessment
10) Right Evaluation
What types of syringes, needle sizes, needle lengths would you need to administer intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular injection to a normal healthy adult
ID- TB syringe, needle size #25-#27 gauge, needle length 1/4-5/8 inch
Subq- 1-2 mL syringe or insulin syringe, needle size #25-#30 gauge (#30 is usually for insulin), needle length 5/8 inch at 45 degree angle or 3/8 inch at 90 degree angle
IM- Deltoid- 1mL syringe, needle size #23-#25 gauge, needle length 1 inch
Ventrogluteal- 3-5mL syringe, needle size #21-#22 gauge, needle length 1 1/2 inch
Name as many types of drug preparations as you can
Aerosol spray or foam
Aqueous solution
Aqueous suspension
Caplet
Capsule
Cream
Elixir
Extract
Gel or jelly
Liniment
Lotion
Lozenge (troche)
Ointment (salve, unction)
Paste
Pill
Powder
Suppository
Syrup
Tablet
Tincture
Transdermal patch