Medication Tips Flashcards
g = _______________
gram
kg = ________________
Kilogram
mcg= ________________
microgram
mg = _______________
milligram
mL= __________
milliliter
PO = __________________
by mouth
IM= ________________
intramuscular
subcut =__________________
subcutaneous
ac = ________________
Before meals
pc = __________________
after meals
qAM = __________________
every morning
b.i.d = _______________
twice a day
t.i.d. = ___________________
Three times a day
qh = ____________________
every hour
STAT= ______________
immediately
PRN = __________________
as needed
1 gram = _________ milligrams
1000
1 milligram = _______ micrograms
1000
30 milliliters = ________ ounce
1
2.2 pounds = ____ kilogram
1
1 teaspoon = _______ mL
5
1 tablespoon= __ teaspoons = __ mL
3, 15
Procedure for Medication Administration at Bedside:
- Wash hands
- Position patient if needed
- Assess patient’s ability to swallow medications
- Open and administer medications
- Never leave medications at the bedside
- Take them with you or lock them until the patient is ready for them
- Document medication was given via protocol
Remember to document assessment findings if needed
Document medication held or refused per facility policy and why:
- Away for test or procedure
- NPO
- Assessment findings did not meet parameters or administering the medication would not be safe
- BP 90/52 (BP med not needed)
- Potassium 6 (above normal range, so potassium tablet not needed)
- Patient diarrhea (did not need stool softener)
- Notify physician if needed
Eye Drops (gtts)
- Clean away any drainage
- Give patient a tissue
- Extend head upwards
- Retract lower eyelid
- Place in conjunctival sac
- Close eye and apply gentle pressure on nasal-lacrimal
Eye Ointment
- Thin line from inner canthus to outer
- Do not touch eye with tube
For ear drops in adults and children>3 years, position patient on side and _______________________. Instill drops, patient should lay on their side for at least 5 min. Apply gentle pressure and massage tragus with finger
Pull pinna up and back
For ear drops in children under 3 years, position patient on side and _______________________. Instill drops, patient should lay on their side for at least 5 min. Apply gentle pressure and massage tragus with finger
pull the pinna down and back
Procedure for Administering
Nasal Spray:
- Patient to clear passage way
- Occlude opposite nasal passage
- Shake spray
- Insert tip into nostril
- Squeeze bottle to give dose
- Have patient inhale when squeezing
- Allow patient self administer if they are able
Procedure for Administering
Inhalers:
- Inhaler Shake container for 2 to 5 seconds
- Place in mouthpiece in mouth
- Lips may or may not touch inhaler
- Have patient exhale
- Inhale slowly as the inhaler is depressed (5-10 seconds)
- Wait 1-5 minutes between puffs
- Allow patient self administer if they are able
- Consider using a spacer
Procedure for Administering topical:
- Powder, cream, oil, ointment, lotion
- Absorbed through the skin
- Wear gloves
- Assure skin clean
- Apply per order
Procedure for Administering transdermal:
- Remove old patch
- Check skin for irritation
- Apply new patch in new site
- Apply medication to patch if ordered
ie Nitroglycerin Paste 1 inch
Date, Time and Initial patches
Procedure for Administering Rectal Medications:
- Sims position
- Only expose rectal area
- Don gloves
- Lubricate suppository with water-soluble lubricant
- Patient take deep breath
- Insert
suppository into anus
- 4 inches for adults
- 2 inches for children
- Remain on side for 5 minutes
Procedure for Administering all Injections need to assess _____________________.
circulation, adipose tissue and muscle atrophy
If using ampule must use ______________ and open it away from user with gauze or protective device
filter needle
What size needle to you use for intradermal injections?
3/8 to 5/8 inch
Procedure for Administering
all Injections:
- Wash Hands/Gloves
- Select Site
- Place patient in comfortable position
- Cleanse Site- Center to outward
- Remove cap or slide safety barrel back
- Hold syringe between thumb and forefinger
- Inject as per procedure
- Discard in sharps container
__________________ is the purpose for intradermal injections.
Skin testing
A small hypodermic 25-27 g syringe is part of the equipment needed for an _______________ injection.
Intradermal injection
What is the amount for an intradermal injection?
Less than 0.5 mL
What are some sites for an intradermal injection?
Injection into the dermis- inner aspect of arm, or upper back below the scapula
The needle angle needs to be 5 to 15 degrees, for what type of injection?
intradermal
You need to pull skin taut, insert bevel up, do not aspirate and inject solution slowly to from small bleb, for what type of injection?
intradermal
If no bleb on a intradermal injection then the test is _________________
invalid
The purpose for a ________________ injection is for slow absorption and a sustained effect.
subcutaneous
The equipment for a _______________ injection includes:
Syringe 0.5 to 3mL
Needle 25 to 30 g, 3/8 to 5/8 inch
subcutaneous
Upper arm, abdomen, thigh, back, ventrodorsal gluteal area are location sites for a ____________________ injection
subcutaneous
The amount for _________________ injections is 1mL or less
subcutaneous
For Subcut: You need to choose site, cleanse site, pinch/bunch skin to gather subcut tissue for thinner. Insert___________ degree angle. Release tissue and inject slowly, remove and apply gentle pressure.
Discard syringe in sharps container
45 to 90
Insulin is administered __________________ to control blood glucose levels.
subcutaneously
The nurse must verify _______________ before giving an insulin shot.
blood glucose
Remember ___________ must be verified with another licensed nurse
insulin
______ - long acting (cloudy)
NPH
________- short acting (clear)
regular
_____- rapid acting (clear)
rapid
Order: “NPH insulin 50 units and Regular 10 units subcut every am”
1.Inject 50 units air into NPH Cloudy (long acting)
2.Inject 10 units of air into Regular
3.Withdraw 10 units of Regular
4.Insert same syringe into NPH and withdraw 50 units of NPH
With a _________________ shot: if drawing up from vial, change to new sharp needle after drawing up, site: lower abdomen fat pad, inject slowly at 90 degree angle, wait 10 seconds before with drawing and DO NOT APPLY PRESSURE
anticoagulant
Intramuscular injections is to promote ____________ absorption.
rapid
Equipment for ________________:
Syringe: 1-5 mL syringe
Needle:
Deltoid: 23-25g, 5/8"- 1" needle
Vastus/ventrogluteal: 18-23g, 1" to 1 1/2 " needle
Amounts: normal adult up to 3mL; children, older adult and thin patients 2 ML; infants and small children 1 mL
Intramuscular
The ___________ muscle can only hold 1 to 2 mL
deltoid
Procedure for Administering Intramuscular Injections:
Choose site
- Cleanse site
- Pull skin taut and in Z track fashion ~ Laterally 2.5 to 3.5 cm and hold until medication injected
- Insert needle at 90 degree angle
- Depends on patient mass
- Remove needle and apply gentle pressure but do not massage area
- Discard syringe in sharps container
** Z track method not required for deltoid
Deltoid:
Technique:
- Upper arm, 1 to 2 inches below acromion process, inject 90 degree angle
- OR place four fingers across deltoid and it is at the 3rd finger
- Advantage:
- Faster absorption
- Easily accessible w/minimal exposure
- Less pain & fewer local side effects from vaccines
- Disadvantage:
- Small muscle limited amts
- Possible radial nerve & axillary nerve damage
Vastus Lateralis
Technique
- Supine position
- Locate greater trochanter & lateral femoral condyl; inject 90o angle into mid 3rd & anterior lateral aspect of thigh
- Child under 2 yr
- Advantages:
- Large muscle tolerate large amt fluid
- Easily accessible
- Disadvantages:
- Thrombosis of femoral artery from injection in mid thigh
- More painful site
Ventrogluteal
Technique
- Place patient on side
- Locate greater trochanter, palm at site; point index finger toward patient’s groin; middle finger along posterior iliac crest; form “V”
- Inject at 90 degree angle
- Advantages:
- Free of important nerves/vessels
- Easily identified
- Accommodates large amt fluid
- Less painful
- Disadvantages:
Nurses unfamiliar w/site