Chapter 32: Oral Medications

Medication Orders Lists the drug name and directions for its administration Written on client’s medical records Written by medical personnel, physician’s assistant, or advanced practice nurse

Medication Orders (cont’d) Components of medication orders Drug name: trade name Drug dose: the amount of drug to administer, prescribed using the relevant system of measurement

Medication Orders (cont’d) Route of administration: how the drug is given Oral, topical, inhalant, or parenteral route Frequency of administration: how often and how regularly the medication is to be given Signature of prescribing agent

Oral Route Solid Scored tablet Enteric-coated tablets Sustained release

Oral Route cont. Liquid Calibrated cups Droppers Syringes Dosing spoon

Medication Orders (cont’d) Verbal orders: instructions for client care that are given during face-to-face conversations Telephone orders: obtained from a physician during a telephone conversation Documented in the medication administration record

Methods of Supplying Medications Storing medications: medications remain locked until the drugs are administered Accounting for opioids: federal laws regulate their possession and administration; nurses are responsible for an accurate account of their use and must keep a record of each narcotic used from the stock supply

Methods of Supplying Medications (cont’d) Ways to supply drugs: Individual supply Unit dose supply Stock supply

Medication Administration Applying the 5 rights safeguards against medication errors Calculating dosages is one of the 5 rights Oral medications are prepared and taken to the client’s bedside in a paper or plastic cup for administration Action taken when medication error occurs

Medication Administration (cont’d) Oral medications are administered by enteral tube if client cannot swallow them Documentation is required on medication administration record Nurses are ethically and legally responsible for reporting medication errors Client education appropriate medication use

Enteral Tube Process of giving oral medications by enteral tube Circumstances under which oral medication can be given using an enteral tube

Question Is the following statement true or false? An advanced practice nurse can write a medication order.

Answer True. An advanced practice nurse can write a medication order if legally designated to do so by state statutes.

Question The standard abbreviation for writing twice a day is? a. q.d. b. q.o.d. c. b.i.d. d. t.i.d.

Answer c. b.i.d. The standard abbreviation for writing twice a day is b.i.d.; q.d. stands for everyday, q.o.d. for every other day, and t.i.d. for three times a day.

Question Which of the following is the most common route to administer medication? a. Oral b. Topical c. Inhalant d. Parenteral

Answer a. Oral The oral route is the most common route to administer medication. The topical route is used for skin application, inhalant for aerosol, and parenteral for injection.