Drug Administration

DRUG ADMINISTRATION
OBJECTIVES
 Define drug administration.
 Mention types of drug administration.
 Explain the indications for each route of drug administration.
 Advantages and disadvantages of each route.
 List the five rights to ensure proper drug administration.
 Discuss important information concerning medication to assess from the
patient on admission and before medication administration.
DEFINITION
 This is the process of giving out medication to the patient in order to
treat or prevent disease or complication.
 A drug is any substance that alters physiologic function with the
potential for affecting health.
 A medication is a drug administered for its therapeutic effects.
 Thus all drugs are medications but not
ROUTES OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION
 Oral.
 Parenteral- intramuscular,
intradermal, intravenous and
subcutaneous.
 Topical – skin, otic , vagina, rectal,
nasal and ophthalmic.
COMPONENTS OF A DRUG ORDER
 Medication name
The name of the medication can be written in most settings
using the genetic or trade name. The name should be
clear all the time.
 Medication dosage
This includes the frequency and strength of the of the
dose
e.g. Metronidazole 500mg every 8 hours.
 Route of administration
Most medications can be given by several routes e.g. orally

(PO), intravenously (IV),and intramuscularly (IM).
COMPONENTS OF A DRUG ORDER
 Signature
A signature of the prescribing officer must
appear below the written order.
THE PATIENTS RIGHTS
 To be informed of the drugs name, purpose, action

andany possible adverse effects.
 To refuse any medication.
 To have complete information about the experimental use
of drug and to refuse or consent to its use.
 To receive labelled medications safely.
 Not to be given unnecessary
MEDICATION ASSESSMENT
 To administer medication safely to any patient, it is

important to collect information during the initial
assessment. This is baseline data but it should be on going
nursing assessment to determine drug effectiveness and
promptly identification of side effects. This will also assist in
individualized patient teaching to help ensure patient
compliance with pharmacologic therapy.
INFORMATION COLLECTED ON ADMISSION.
 Important information to elicit from the

patient during the initial interview
includes a medication history , allergies,
medical history and pregnancy
lactation status.
ASSESSMENT BEFORE MEDICATION ADMINISTATION
 Medication record.
This allows the nurse to see which medication has been
used most recently and whether it is time for the
medication to be administered . This prevents incidences
whereby a drug is administered at the wrong time.
 Diet and fluid orders.
A patient may have fluids and food withheld in preparation

for surgery or a
CONT…
But if patient is on medication which cannot be stopped

abruptly, like antihypertensives , they have to take them
with small sips of water.
If a diabetic patient is on NPO the physician should be
contacted because of the need to adjust or withhold the
medication. Patients blood glucose levels are checked
regularly and if insulin dependent on NPO for more
CONT…
 Physical assessment.
-Check for the ability to of the patient by giving the patient a
sip of water to swallow aswallow nd if he does not cough
or chockthen he can take medication orally.
-Gastrointestinal motility should be assessed too because
a dysfuntional gastrointestinal system affects drug
absorption.
-Check if the patient has enough muscle mass to
tolerate the medication because lean muscles can
result into poor absorption of medication as they are
injected in the subcutaneous muscles.
-check for adequate venous access and the
temperature, redness, swelling and pain at the
insertion site.
- Vital signs should be checked for medication requiring
this e.g. digitalis which require a heart rate of not
less than 60 beats per minute because they slow
the heart beat.
CONT…
Assessment of knowledge and compliance.

This ensures that the patient takes the medication with
knowledge of the purpose and side effects of the
medication.
FIVE RIGHTS IN MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION.
Each time a medication is administered it is important to

make sure that the right patient , is given the right
medication in the right dose by the right route at the
right time.
1. Right patient
medication has to be given to the patient for whom it is
intended. The patient should tell you their name and
you check on the treatment chart.
CONT…
3. Right dosage.
Giving the dose that was ordered for the individual patient.
4. Right route.
Medication is given by the ordered route is safe and appropriate
for the individual patient.
5. Right time..
Giving the medication at the time it is
DOCUMENTATION
 This is very important because it avoids medication

errors like repeatition . The time when the drug was
given should be indicate against the signature. If
medication was not given for some reasons it should
be indicated on the chart e.g. NPO. For drugs like
insulin injections the site too should be indicated.
The therapeutic and side effects of the medication
should be
ROUTES OF MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
ROUTES OF MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION
 ORAL MEDICATION
Medication that are given by mouth are designe dto be
swallowed(oral route), to be held under the tongue until they
dissolve (sublingual).
Purpose
1. Provide a safe, effective, economical route for
administering medications.
2. Provides a sustained drug action with
ASSESSMENT
 Review the order considering the five rights.

 Assess patients allergy history .
 Assess patient ability to take oral medications .
- Level of consciousness, cooperativeness.
- Presence of swallow reflex.
- Symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
CONT….
-identify any pre administration assessment of pulse, Bp, that

must be done.
- Check that correct medication and dosage is available at
the time scheduled.
EQUIPMENT
 Treatment charts/ kardex.
 Trolley.
PROCEDURE
 Wash hands to reduce transfer of microorganisms from hand
to medication.
 Arrange medication charts next to medication trays and cups. This
saves time and reduces chances of errors.
 Prepare medications for only one patient at a time to prevent errors
during preparation.
CONT….
 Ask patient to state their name and compare name on
medication card or record with name the patient is
mentioning.
 Complete any preadministration assessment e.g. (Bp)
required by specific medication to determine if
medication can be given at that time.
 Expain the purpose of the medication to patient, in
accordance with patients rights and will improve
compliance.
CONT…
 Dispose of soiled supplies and wash

hands.
 Record time medication was
administered and any pre-
administration assessment data which
were collected.
EXAMPLES OF ORAL MEDICATION
 Paracetamol, Brufen,
metronidazole etc.
PARENTERAL
 The giving of medication that are given by injection or

infusion through intramuscular(IM), intradermal(ID),
subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous(IV).
Indication
Treatment of disease / conditions whereby the
appropriate is the parenteral route.
ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
 Medication given through the parenteral route usually are
absorbed more completely and have a faster onset of action
than other routes .
 The risk for infection is high because the skin barrier is
bypassed, if aseptic techniques are not used when preparing
and administering parenteral medication.
 Complications may occur if parenteral medications are not
given tissue site or space intended.
EQUIPMENT
 Vials – containers that hold one or two dose of
medication. Medication that are in powder form come
with a diluent.
 Ampules – thin walled glass container that hold a single
dose of a liquid medication. Before it is opened all
medication should be moved to the ampule base by
gently tapping the top of the ampule with a finger. To
open the ampule the nurse holds an alcohol pad over
the neck of the ampule with the
CONT…
 Syringes – for drawing and

administration of medication part :
plunger, barrel, needle and needle
guard.
INTRADERMAL INJECTIONS
 Given into the dermis (the layer of tissue located

underneath the skin surface). A small needle and a
1ml syringe is mostly used.
 The skin is cleansed using alcohol wipe.
 The syring is held with the level of the needle up almost
parallel to the skin .
 Small volumes of medication are injected slowly e.g.
0.25mls or less.
SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION
 Injections are given into the subcutaneous

tissue the layer of fat located below the
dermis and above tissue.
 Absorption is usually slow, sustained and
completely. Small sized syringe and needle
used.
Common sites : upper arm, upper back,
abdomen, buttocks and thigh.
INTRAMUSCULAR
INJECTIONS
 Injection are given into the muscle layer
, beneath the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.
 Absorption is at an intermediate rate, slower
than IV administration and more rapid than SC
administration.
 A larger volume of medication is given . Site
choices are influenced by the age, medication
to be given , amount and
PROCEDURE
PURPOSE
 Administer medication deeply into
muscle tissue, without injury to the
patient.
 Administer a medication with absorption and
onset of action quicker than the oral route and
that may be irritating to the subcutaneous
tissues.
ASSESSMENT
 Review patients medical history, medication history

and allergy status.
 Assess for contraindications to receiving IM injections.
 Assess for anxiety related to fear of injection.
 Review chart for documentation of previous
injection sites, if it’s a patient receiving multiple
injections.
EQUIPMENT
 Treatment charts/ order or kardex.

 Antiseptic swabs .
 Vials or ampule.
 Syringes.
 Gloves.
VOCABULARIES IN USED
•route •enteral
an established line of travel or access of or relating to or inside the intestines
•digestive •oral
a substance that aids the process of breaking using speech rather than writing
down food •sublingual
•ointment beneath the tongue
skin cream that has a soothing, moisturizing •parenteral
effect located outside the alimentary tract
•intramuscular •subcutaneous
within a muscle located or applied under the skin
•intravenous •administer
within or by means of a vein supervise or be in charge of
•gradual
proceeding in small stages
VOCABULARIES IN USED
•delay •topical
time during which some action is awaited pertaining to the surface of a body part
•absorption •transdermal
a process in which one substance through the unbroken skin
permeates another •patch
•rectal a small contrasting part of something
of or involving the rectum •inhalation
•vapour the act of drawing in air or other gases
a visible suspension in the air of particles
of some substance
THANK YOU

Drug Administration

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DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Most medications can be given by several routes e.g. orally

 To be informed of the drugs name, purpose, action

 To administer medication safely to any patient, it is

 Important information to elicit from the

A patient may have fluids and food withheld in preparation

But if patient is on medication which cannot be stopped

Assessment of knowledge and compliance.

Each time a medication is administered it is important to

 This is very important because it avoids medication

 Review the order considering the five rights.

-identify any pre administration assessment of pulse, Bp, that

 Dispose of soiled supplies and wash

 The giving of medication that are given by injection or

 Syringes – for drawing and

 Given into the dermis (the layer of tissue located

 Injections are given into the subcutaneous

 Review patients medical history, medication history

 Treatment charts/ order or kardex.

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