Medication Administration

• Brand name


  The name given to a drug by a manufacturer. Also called "trade name".
• Pharmacology


  The study of the effect of drugs on living organisms.
• Pharmacy


  The art of preparing, compounding, and dispensing drugs. It also refers to the place where drugs are prepared and dispensed.
• Medication


  A substance administered for the diagnosis, cure, treatment, or relief of a symptom or for prevention of disease. (In the healthcare context, the words medication and drug are generally used interchangeably)
• Prescription


  The written direction for the preparation and administration of a drug.
• Pharmacist


  A person licensed to prepare and dispense drugs and to make up prescriptions.
• Generic name


  The name given before a drug becomes officially an approved medication. It is generally used throughout the drug's use.
• Official name


  The name after which a drug is listed in one of the official publications.
• Chemical name


  The name that precisely describes the constituents of the drug.
• PRN order

  Permits the nurse to give a medication when, in the nurse's judgment, the client requires it. The nurses should use good judgment about when the medication is needed and when it can be safely administered.
• STAT order


  Indicates that the medication is to be given immediately and only once.
• Single order


  Or "one-time order", is for medication to be given once at a specified time.
• Standing order


  May or may not have a termination date. A standing order may be carried out indefinitely until an order is written to cancel it, or it may be carried out for a specified number of days.
• Essential Parts of a Drug Order

  • Name of the client
  • Age
  • Address
  • Date
  • Name of the drug to be administered
  • Dosage of the drug
  • Route of administration
  • Frequency of administration
  • Signature of the person writing the order
• Drug abuse


  Inappropriate intake of a substance, either continually or periodically.
• Drug dependence


  A person's reliance to take a drug or substance. Intense physical or emotional disturbance is produced if the drug is withdrawn.
• Therapeutic effect

  The primary effects intended, that is the reason the drug is prescribed. Also called "desired effect".
• Side effect

  The effect of the drug that is unintended. Also called "secondary effect".
• Drug allergy

  The immunologic reaction to the drug.
• Addiction


  Due to biochemical changes in the body tissues, especially the nervous system. These tissues come to require the substance for normal functioning. Also called "physical dependence".
• Drug interaction


  Effects of one drug are modified by the prior or concurrent administration of another drug, thereby increasing or decreasing the pharmacological action.
• Anaphylactic reaction


  A severe allergic reaction which usually occurs immediately following administration of the drug.
• Drug tolerance


  A decreased physiologic response to the repeated administration of a drug or chemically related substance. Excessive increase in the dosage is required in order to maintain the desired therapeutic effect.
• Drug antagonism

  The conjoint effect of two drugs is less than the drug acting separately.
• Drug synergism

  The combined effects of drugs is greater than the sum of each individual agent acting independently.
• Therapeutic Actions of Drugs

  • Palliative
  • Curative
  • Supportive
  • Substitutive
  • Chemotherapeutic
  • Restorative
• Never crush enteric-coated or sustained-release tablets. Crushing enteric-coated tablets allows the irritating medication to come intact with the oral or gastric mucosa, resulting in mucositis or gastric irritation.
• Sublingual

  The medication is placed under the tongue, where it dissolves. The medication should not be swallowed because the medication is absorbed in the blood vessels on the underside of the tongue.
• Oral administration

  The drug is swallowed. Advantages: least expensive, most convenient route, skin is not broken with injection. Disadvantages: unpleasant taste of the drugs, irritation of the gastric mucosa, irregular absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, slow absorption, and in some cases, harm to the client's teeth.
• Buccal


  A medication, usually a tablet, is held in the mouth against the mucous membranes of the cheek until the drug dissolves.
• Intradermal


  The medication is injected under the epidermis (into the dermis). The sites are the inner lower arm, upper chest and back, and beneath the scapula. The needle is at a 10-15 degree angle with the bevel up. Indicated for allergy and using a tuberculin syringe.
• Parenteral


  Administration other than through the alimentary or respiratory tract; that is by needle. Routes include intradermal, subcutaneous (hypodermic), intramuscular, and intravenous.
• Inject a small amount of drug slowly over 3 to 5 seconds to form a wheal or bleb when administering an intradermal injection. Do not massage the site of injection to prevent irritation of the site, and to prevent absorption of the drug into the subcutaneous.
• Routes for parenteral administration

  • Intradermal (under the epidermis, into the dermis)
  • Subcutaneous (hypodermic, into the subcutaneous tissue just below the skin)
  • Intramuscular (into a muscle)
  • Intravenous (into a vein)
• Intradermal injection

  1. Sites: inner lower arm, upper chest and back, beneath the scapula

  2. Needle at 10-15 degree angle, bevel up

  3. Inject a small amount of drug slowly over 3-5 seconds to form a wheal or bleb

  4. Do not massage the site to prevent irritation and absorption into subcutaneous
• Subcutaneous (hypodermic) injection

  1. Rotate sites to minimize tissue damage

  2. Use 5/8 inch needle for adults at 45 degree angle, 1/2 inch at 90 degree angle

  3. For thin patients: 45 degree angle

  4. For obese patients: 90 degree angle

  5. Aspirate before injection to check for blood vessel

  6. Do not aspirate and massage when administering heparin and insulin
• Subcutaneous drug administration


  • Vaccines (measles), insulin, heparin
• Intramuscular injection


  1. Needle length 1", 1 1/2", 2" to reach muscle layer

  2. Inject medication slowly to allow tissue to accommodate volume

  3. Ventrogluteal site is preferred as it contains no large nerves or blood vessels, has greatest thickness of gluteal muscle, and is sealed off by bone
• Ventrogluteal injection site


  • Located by placing heel of hand on greater trochanter, fingers pointing toward head
  • Formed by triangle of index finger on anterior superior iliac spine, middle finger on iliac crest
• Dorsogluteal injection site


  • Composed of thick gluteal muscles of buttocks
  • Not recommended for children under 3 unless walking for 1 year
  • Avoid striking sciatic nerve, major blood vessels, and bone