Medication Prep
What is the first step of PO med administration?
Wash your hands! before you do anything
Where do you place a sublingual medication?
Under the tongue.
The RN enters patient room, and ask to verify wrist band and date of birth. Which right of administration does this display?
Right Patient
What should you do if you miss a dose of your oral medication?
You should take the missed dose as soon as possible if it is ordered to do so. If it is closer to the time of your next dose, do not double dose. Always just follow the instructions from your healthcare provider.
An advantage of PO medication is convenience. True or false?
True.
When is the best/safest time to check the MAR?
Before administering the medication to the patient.
Do sublingual and buccal medications dissolve or get swallowed whole?
They dissolve.
The RN is reading an order for a dissolvable tablet for one of their patients. The RN reads that this orders is PO so the RN administers the tablet PO. Which right does this display?
Right Route
Why is it important to store medications in their original packaging/container?
It ensures the medication is protected from moisture, light, and accidental ingestion. It also helps keep track of expiration dates and dosage instructions, the container provides important safety information and warnings.
Side effects of swallowing a buccal medication consist of hair loss, numbness in fingers, and cool body temperature. true or false?
false. It actually can consists of vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
You do not have to open the PO medication in the patient’s room, you can prepare it at the nurse’s station or Omnicell room. True or false?
False, it is best to open the medication in the patient room, over a counter, and after following the rights of med administration.
Medications that are swallowed are subject to the first pass effect, true or false?
True.
The RN’s patient is asking for tylenol for pain. The RN notices the patient just got tylenol 1 hour ago. The RN notifies the patient, that they cannot give Tylenol because they just received Tylenol. Which right does this follow?
Right Time
What is the potential risk of taking over the counter medications along with prescription medications?
they can interact with each other and could lead to less effectiveness, increase in side effect, and other dangerous complications. Always consult with the provider before combining both.
You can mix many different routes of oral meds at the same time. (buccal, sublingual, and swallowing all at the same time) true or false?
False. Some medications can only be buccal route, solely sublingual route, or needs to be processed through the GI tract.
What prep step did the nurse miss, if the patient takes the medication and immediately can’t breathe, breaks out in hives, and is itching?
The nurse should’ve checked for allergies before preparing and administering the medicine.
Tablets, soft gels, capsules, and liquids are all forms of PO meds. True or false?
True
It is time to give this patient morning pain medication, The nurse goes back to the doctor’s order to see how much to give. What right does this exhibit?
Right dose
What is the number one way to promote safe medication administratio?
Good hand hygiene
A disadvantage of PO medication can be possible ineffectiveness. True or false?
True. Because the digestive system/liver break down drugs before they reach the bloodstream, the concentration significantly reduces.
You do not have to wear gloves every time you administer PO medication. True or false?
False. The nurse must wear gloves when administering PO medicine to reduce spread of germs and risks of infection.
Sublingual and buccal medications are dissolved and absorbed directly into the what?
Bloodstream.
The RN has verified this is the right patient, now the nurse needs to check the medication that needs to administered to make sure it is supposed to be given to this patient. What right is this?
Right drug
Why should you never crush or chew certain oral medications?
Some medications are designed to be released slowly into the body or time. Crushing or chewing these can cause them to absorb too quickly and can lead to overdose or harmful side effects. Always check with your provider before altering how you take any medication.
PO medication can be given to unconscious patients too, which is an advantage. True or false?
False. PO must only be administered to conscious patients because they are unable to process the medication.