Explain the two types of order and the

responsibilities in carrying out order

List and elaborate the 6 right of administering
medication
Identify the do and dont in administering
medication
Identify the common abbreviation when
administering medication
Discuss the important consideration of
medication administration
Practice the right technique in administering
medication by following the 6 rights
 Drug(pharmacological definition):

A chemical substance administered

for the diagnosis, cure, treatment,
relief or prevention of disease. Used
to otherwise enhance physical or
mental well-being
 Drug administration is very important and
can be a dangerous duty
Given correctly restore patient to
health
Given incorrectly patients condition
can worsen
Nurses must:

Understand principles of pharmacology

Understand fundamentals of drug
administration
Routes
Dosage calculations
Techniques for injection
Six rights
Patient education
 Standing Order- it is carried out until the
specified period of time or until it is
discontinued by another order.

Single Order- it is carried out for one time only.

Stat Order- it is carried out at once or

immediately.

PRN Order- it is carried out as the patient

requires.
 1. Observe the 6 Rights of drug
administration.
1. Right drug
2. Right dose
3. Right time
4. Right route
5. Right patient
6. Right documentation
 2. Practice asepsis
3. Nurses who administer medications
are responsible for their own actions.
Question any order that you consider
incorrect.
4. Be knowledgeable about medications
that you administer.
5. keep narcotics and barbiturates in
locked place.
6. Use only medications that are clearly
labeled containers in.
 7. Return liquid that are cloudy or have
changed in colour to the pharmacy
8. Before administering a medication,
identify the client correctly.
9. Do not leave the medications at the
bedside.
10. If the client vomits after taking oral
medication, report this to the nurse in
charge and/or physician.
Identify the drug from the Dr.s order. Clarify
with the Dr. if in doubt.

Check the drug three times:

- before removing it from the trolley or shelf
- when the drug is removed from the container
- before the container is returned to storage
- check the expiry date of the drug

Check the drug with another RN for DDA &

barbiturate.
 The nurse should be familiar with the
generic drug name as well as the trade
name.
The use of generic name in clinical
practice is preferred to reduce the risk of
medication errors.
- Check the dose, read the container
label, calculate the dose & check
with a RN if necessary.

- Use proper measuring devices for

liquids, do not crush tablets or open
capsules unless directed to by the
pharmacist. (do not crush enteric
coated tablets).
 If a drug is required in another form you
may get it from the pharmacy.

Pediatric & elderly more sensitive to

medications need extra caution with
drug dosage.
 For routine medication orders, the
medications must be given no more than
30 min before or after the actual time
specified in the prescribers order. E.g.,
9.00am med, may be given between
8.30am-9.30am.

The effect of changing in dosing or timing

of medication should never be
underestimate because one missed dose of
certain medication can be life threatening.
 Other factors must be considered when
determining the right time e.g., multiple
drug therapy, drug-drug or drug-food
compatibility, scheduling of diagnostic
studies, bioavailability of drug (e.g., the
need for consistence timing of doses
around the clock to maintain blood
levels), drug actions, and any biorhythm
effects such as occur with steroids.
 Oral Route Forms: a) solid: tablet, capsule, pill,
powder.

b) liquid: syrup, suspension, emulsion.

Enteric coated tablets should not be crushed

before administration. Suspensions are never
administered intravenously. If the patient
vomits within 20 30mins of taking the drugs,
notify the physician. Do not readminister the
drug without a physicians order.

 2. Sublingual- drug placed under the

tongue, where it dissolves.
3. Buccal- medication is held in the mouth
against the mucous membranes. of the
cheek until the drug dissolves.
4. Topical a) Dermatologic- lotions,
liniments, ointment, pastes and powders. b)
Ophthalmic- instillations and irrigations. c)
Otic, d) Nasal, e) Inhalation, f) Vaginal-
tablet, cream, jelly, foam, suppository
5. Rectal- (objectionable taste or odor)
18
 6. Parenteral- administration of medications by
needle.
a) Intradermal (ID)- under the epidermis (into the
dermis).
b) subcutaneous (SC)- in the subcutaneous
tissue (also, hypodermic)
c) intramuscular (IM)- into the muscle.
d) intravenous (IV)- into a vein.
e) intraarterial- into an artery.
f) intraosseous- into the bone.
 Checking the pts identity before giving
each medication dose is critical to the
pts safety.
Ask the patient to state his/her name and
check his ID band to confirm pts name,
ID number, age, and allergies against the
medication chart.
 Documentation of information r/to
administrations is crucial to pt safety.
The pts chart should always have the
following:
Date & time of the medication administered
Name of medication, dose, route & site of
administration.
Drug action to assess the changes of
symptoms the pt experiencing, adverse
effects, toxicity & other drug-related physical
& physiologic symptoms.
 Improvement of the pts condition,
symptom, disease process.
No changes/lack of improvement.
Patients teaching/degree of pts
understanding.
 Other info:
if a drug not administered & reason why?
Refusal of a medication & reason for refusal.
Actual time of drug administration
Data regarding clinical observations &
treatment of the pt if a medication error has
occurred.
Drugs can have three types of names:

a. chemical
b. generic
c. trade/brand/proprietary
a.Chemical name:

- a very precise description of the drugs

chemical composition, identifying the
drugs atomic and molecular structure.
- this name is of significance to the
pharmacist.
b. Generic name:

- The name assigned by the

manufacturer who first develops the
drug. Often the generic name is derived
from the chemical name.

- the official name is the name by which

the drug is identified in the official
publication.
c.Trade/ Brand/ Proprietary name:

- Is selected by the drug company

selling the drug and is copyrighted

- a drug can have several trade names

when produced by different
manufacturers
e.g. Chemical name= Acetylsalicylic acid
Generic name = Aspirin
Trade names include Aspro, Disprin

Be aware that in different countries

generic and trade names will also differ,
e.g. in Australia & the United States one
drug has the generic names of
paracetamol & acetaminophen, i.e.
Panadol/Tylenol.
Drugs can be classified from different
perspectives
e.g. drugs may be classified by -
(a) body systems
i.e. drugs affecting the respiratory system
drugs affecting the cardiovascular system
OR
(b) the symptom relieved by the drug, or the
clinical indication for the drug i.e. analgesic,
antibiotic
 MANE morning
MIDI midday
NOCTE Night

BD/BID twice a day

three times a day
TDS/TID
four times a day
QID
give immediately
STAT
when required
PRN when necessary
 ac before meals
Pc after meals
q.h.or1/24 every hour
q2h or 2/24 every two hours
q4h or 4/24 every four hours
qod Every other day
 BUC inside cheek
O/P.O oral/per oral
S/L sublingal
(under the tongue)
ID intradermal
IM intramuscular
SC/SQ subcutaneous
 SCI subcutaneous
injection
IVI intravenous injection
IVT intravenous therapy

NEB nebuliser
PR per rectum
TOP topical/skin
VAG vaginal
 Rx Prescribe, take
NPO/NBM Nil per oral/nil by
mouth