RLE

San Pedro College

ORAL
MEDICATION
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San Pedro College

DEFINITION
ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS IS GENERALLY THE SAFEST, MOST CONVENIENT, AND THE
LEAST EXPENSIVE. DRUGS FOR ORAL ADMINISTRATION ARE AVAILABLE IN MANY DIFFERENT
FORMS: TABLETS, ENTERIC COATED TABLETS, CAPSULES, SYRUPS, EMULSION, ELIXIRS, OILS,
SUSPENSIONS, POWDERS, AND GRANULES.

ORAL DRUGS ARE SOMETIMES PRESCRIBED IN HIGHER DOSAGE THAN THEIR PARENTERAL
EQUIVALENTS BECAUSE AFTER ABSORPTION THROUGH THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM,
THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY BROKEN DOWN BY THE LIVER BEFORE THEY REACH THE SYSTEMIC
CIRCULATION. THE CONTRAINDICATION FOR THIS FORM OF MEDICATION IS
NAUSEA, VOMITING, INABILITY TO SWALLOW AND UNCONSCIOUSNESS.
Sublingual administration - Some medications are readily
absorbed when placed under the tongue to dissolve.

Buccal administration - Administration of a medication by

placing in the mouth against the mucous membranes of the
cheek until it dissolves.
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San Pedro College

PURPOSE P U R P O S E

The main purpose of preparation and administration of oral medication

safely and accurately is so that the client may receive maximum
therapeutic effectiveness from the medication.
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San Pedro College

1)    Medicine/s
EQUIPMENTS
4)    Medicine glasses

2)    Medicine
ticket/s
5)    Medicine
dropper/s

3)    Medicine tray

6)    Syringe/s
7)    Glass of water
7)    Glass of water
OPTIONAL

10)    Spoons
8)   
8)    Paper
Paper wipeswipes

11)    Mortar and pestle

9)    Waste receptacle

9)    Waste receptacle
12)    Stirring rod if powder is
used

13)    Tongue depressor

14)    Drinking straws

 “Ten Rights” in giving medication:
1) The right client 6) The right dose
2) The right drug 7) The right time
3) The right route 8) The right client’s right to
4) The right assessment education
5) The right documentation 9) The right evaluation
10) The client’s right to
refuse
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San Pedro College

TYPES OF ORAL
MEDICATIONS
.
 TYPES OF MEDICATION
ORDERS
1 Stat order - a stat order indicates that the medication is to be given immediately and only
once.
Single order- this single order or one-time order indicates that the medication is to be given
2
once at a specified time of OD.
Standing order - standing order is written in advance carried out under specific circumstances.
3

4 PRN order: "PRN" is a Latin term that stands for "pro re nata ", which means "as the thing
is needed." A PRN order or as-needed order, permits the nurse to give medication when the
client requires it.
Important Abbreviations
Abbreviations Meaning
ac before meals
AM morning
bid twice a day
Cap capsule
gtt drops
h or hr hours
IM intramuscular
IV intravenous
no number
pc after meals, after eating
PO by mouth
PM afternoon
PRN when needed/necessary
qid four times a day
q2h, q4h, q6h, q8h, q12h every ____ hours
Rx take
STAT immediately, at once
tid three times a day
ad lib as desired, as directed
tab tablet
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San Pedro College

FORMULA
 

LEGEND
D = DESIRED DOSE
-   Ordered in unit of measure desired
H = STRENGTH AVAILABLE
-   Have on-hand in unit of measure available
Q = QUANTITY
-   Unit of measure that carries what is on-hand cited in "H"
A = UNKNOWN
-   Number of "Q"s needed to give the prescribed dose 
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San Pedro College

PROCEDURES
Locate the corresponding medication ticket due for the shift and compare it with the doctor's order in the client's chart.
1 Rationale: The source of the order is more reliable than the medication tickets which are only a device for convenience.

Check for history of allergies. Fill up the medication booklet.

2 Rationale: This ensures that no client is given a medication containing an ingredient to which the client is allergic.

Arrange the ticket/s automatically either by the location of the clients or by some other factors.
3 Rationale: : Organization and planning result in economy of time and effort and minimize confusion.

Wash your hands.

4 Rationale: Prevent spread of microorganisms.

Bring requisites to preparation area. Check the medicine glass to ensure that the rim is not broken.
5 Rationale: Broken rim of the medicine glass can injure: or damage the mucous membrane of client's mouth or lips.

Take one medicine ticket at a time, locate medicine in the box, read and compare label against the medicine ticket. Note also the
6 expiration date. Remove the medicine from the box.
Rationale: For organization of work, avoidance confusion, and ensures safety of client.
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San Pedro College

Before pouring or getting the prescribed dose; compare name of drug on the label with name of drug on medicine ticket.
7 Rationale: Proper checking ensures correct drug is prepared.

8 Pour or prepare prescribed dosage of medicine in glass as follows:

L I Q U I D S
Shake bottle if necessary (suspensions, granules).
a
Rationale: To mix the drug well.

Remove cap and place it upside down on the counter.

b Rationale: Avoid contamination.

Hold medicine glass with the non-dominant with the thumbnail, marking the level of the
c
prescribed amount. Read at eye level using the lower meniscus.
Rationale: : For accurate measurement.

d Hold bottle with the dominant hand with label facing up. Pour the exact prescribed amount.
Rationale: To ensure that label is intact and could be read.

e Wipe rim of bottle with paper towel. Replace the cap.

Rationale: Ants and other insects may feast on the liquid that is left.
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San Pedro College

TABLETS, PILLS,
CAPSULES
Using the index finger of the dominant hand, gently tap the bottle to allow the prescribed number of medicine into the bottle cover. If
a in a box, tap the prescribed number into a dry medicine glass.

Place packaged dose or unit-dose capsules or tablets directly into the medicine cup. Do not remove the medication from the wrapper
b until at the bedside.

Rationale: : The wrapper keeps the medication clean and facilitates identification. When not used, it could be returned in the
medication box.

POWDERS
Shake powder from its base.
a Rationale: Loosening the powder facilitates fast reconstitution.

Add required amount of water to powder in its container and shake until thoroughly dissolved.
b Rationale: To obtain the expected strength of the drug.
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San Pedro College

DROPS
Before inserting the medicine dropper into the bottle, press the rubber and draw up the prescribed
a amount at eye level.

b Place the dropper (with medicine) inside the medicine glass.

E F F E RV E S C E N T
TA B L E T
a Read the instructions preparation on the label.

b Pour in a glass the amount of water required and drop the effervescent tablet.

c Allow tablet to dissolve completely.

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San Pedro College

When through with medicine preparation, place ticket and medicine on the tray according to the hospital protocol.
9 Rationale: Frequent checking ensures the proper observance of the safeguards in drug administration.

Have the CI or nurse check the prepared medicines. Also, present the filled up medication booklet for her signature.
10 Rationale: This is to ensure the accuracy of the prepared medication.

Read again the label on medicine and check again the medicine ticket before returning the drug/ container to the medicine box.
11 Rationale: If drugs are spilled or refused, positive identification as to name and amount can be made.

Complete the preparation until all medicines and tickets are on the tray. See to it that each medication is in a separate container.
12 Rationale: Keeping drugs identified ensures proper administration of the correct drug to the correct client.

13 Keep medication ticket and drug together at all times.

Rationale: Ensures accuracy of the prepared medication.

While transporting medication to the client’s bedside, carefully hold the tray in front and at waist level.
14 Rationale: Careful handling and close observation prevent accidental or deliberate disarrangement of medications.
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San Pedro College

15
AT EACH CLIENT'S
BEDSIDE:
Identify client before giving medicine. Check the medication ticket, ask the client to state his name. If the client is a child, ask the
a
parents to tell you the name of the child.
Rationale: Ensures proper identification of client consider that illness and strange surroundings often cause client to be confused.

Perform any assessment necessary prior to giving certain medication (e.g get BP before giving Nifedipine Methergin or get heart rate
b (HR) before Digoxin admn. Record result in the jot down notebook.
Rationale: Provides data if the mediation should be given.

Assist client to sitting or high Fowler’s position if necessary.

c
Rationale: Prevents aspiration and promotes wallowing of medication.

Give the prepared medicine. If the client expresses doubt about the medication, always recheck the order, drug label, and dosage
d stated in the container.
Rationale: Consider client’s right to be beard and thus, prevent error medication.

e Pour drinking water and hand to the client (if not contraindicated Cough syrup is not followed by water).
Rationale: Cough syrup is intended to have soothing effect in the mucous membrane of the throat.
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Stay at bedside until client has taken the medicine.

f
Rationale: The presence of the nurse will encourage the client to swallow the medicine. Unless the nurse has seen the client swallow
the drug, it cannot be recorded that the drug was administered.

Offer additional fluids as necessary.

g Rationale: Fluids facilitate swallowing it helps dissolve and delete solid drugs.

Turn medication ticket.

h Rationale: After each medication ensure that medicine has been given.

Repeat all steps until all medicines in tray are given.

16 Rationale: Careful management of medication tickets reduce the possibility of error and losses.

17 Return medicine tickets to the place provided for them.

Rationale: This is an identification and a proof that the client was administered with the ordered medication

18 Wash all equipment used, dry and return to their proper place. Wash hands.
Rationale: Washing of the equipment and the hands prevents contamination and deter the spread of microorganisms
Immediately record the medications given.
a) Affix initial on the medication sheet in the client’s chart.
19 b) Document on the nurse’s notes.
Include also special factors related to oral administration (eg. NGT clamped following administration) in addition to the usual factors charted.
Rationale: Immediate recording prevents the possibility of accidentally repeating administration of the drug.
REFERENCE

Using medication: Oral medications. (2017). Retrieved November 27,

2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361020/

Berman, A., Snyder, S., & Frandsen, G. (2016). Kozier & Erb’s
fundamentals of nursing. 10th ed. Pearson Education Limited. England.
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San Pedro College

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FOR JOINING
TODAY'S LECTURE.