NRS 312 Study Guide - Final Guide: Insulin, Tachypnea, Partial Thromboplastin Time
Medication Administration Part 2
• Routes of Administration
o Oral (PO) or enteral
▪ Tablets, capsules, liquids, suspensions, elixirs
▪ will go through the intestines. Meant to be absorbed and digested
o Sublingual & buccal
▪ Tablets, liquids, quick dissolve products
▪ In the upper cheek (Buccal) (next time you administer you put on other
side. This needs to be documented). Sublingual is under the tongue.
o Topical
▪ Creams, ointments, lotions, transdermal patch
▪ TD: transdermal (Patch)
o Instillation – eyes, ears, nose
▪ Drops, ointments, sprays
▪ The order will say so explicitly. Sometimes OU(both) OS(left) OD (Right)
is an abbreviation. Better to write out words in full. We want to be a s
clear as possible to those who are administering these drugs
o Inhalation
▪ Metered dose inhalers (MDI), dry powder inhalers (DPI), nebulizer
▪ MDI: crush a pill inside a inhaler that people inhale
o Nasogastric and gastostomy tubes
▪ NG: nasogastric or PEG or G-Tube
o Suppositories
▪ Rectal (PR), vaginal
o Parenteral
▪ Subcutaneous: SQ
▪ Intramuscular: IM
▪ Intradermal: ID
▪ Intravenous: IV
▪ Epidural, Intrathecal are normally written out
• Assessment
o Essential assessments prior to medication administration – related to action of
drug
o Examples:
▪ Antibiotics
• Drug allergies
• Lab confirmation (WBC count to see if the infection is improving
or if we even need a antibiotic)
• Contraindications (alcohol use, pregnancy, antibiotic resistance)
• Hx of infection.
• You can culture urine
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Document Summary
Medication administration part 2: routes of administration, oral (po) or enteral, tablets, capsules, liquids, suspensions, elixirs, will go through the intestines. Meant to be absorbed and digested: sublingual & buccal, tablets, liquids, quick dissolve products, in the upper cheek (buccal) (next time you administer you put on other side. Sublingual is under the tongue: topical, creams, ointments, lotions, transdermal patch, td: transdermal (patch, instillation eyes, ears, nose, drops, ointments, sprays, the order will say so explicitly. Sometimes ou(both) os(left) od (right) is an abbreviation. Intake and output: opioid analgesics, pain, history of opioid use, respiratory issues, 10 rr or less according to the nclex, head trauma, loc, try other pain meds first non pharmalogical, constipation is often forgotten. If its too much then stop: double check high-alert medications with a 2nd rn. Injectable or anticaugulant ( check with 2nd nurse: avoid distractions interruptions increase the risk of errors, read back all verbal and telephone orders jc requirement, jc: joint comission.
