Lecturer: Hemn Kareem Qadir Fundamentals of Nursing Lec.

4 &5

Administration of medications

Administration: Is a procedure of administering a substance for the

diagnosis, cure, treatment, or relief of a symptom or for prevention of disease.

Drug (medication) (medicine): is a substance used in the diagnosis,

treatment, cure, relief of symptoms, prevention of diseases, placebo.
Lecturer: Hemn Kareem Qadir Fundamentals of Nursing Lec. 4 &5

A drug allergy: is an immunologic reaction to a drug. When a client is first

exposed to a foreign substance (antigen), the body may react by producing
antibodies.

Anaphylactic reaction A severe allergic reaction usually occurs

immediately after the administration of the drug

Drug tolerance: exists in a person who has unusually low physiological

response to a drug and who requires increases in the dosage to maintain a
given therapeutic effect.

Drug interaction: occurs when the administration of one drug before, at the
same time as, or after another drug alters the effect of one or both drugs. Drug
interactions may be beneficial or harmful.

Drug Names

• Chemical and generic names (eg. Acetylsalicylic acid)

• Trade names Registered (eg. Aspirin)

Lecturer: Hemn Kareem Qadir Fundamentals of Nursing Lec. 4 &5

Common Mild Allergic Responses

No Symptoms Description and rational

1 Skin rash Either an intra epidermal vesicle rash or a rash typified

by an urticarial wheal or macular eruption; rash is
usually generalized over the body

2 Pruritus Itching of the skin with or without a rash

3 Angioedema Edema due to increased permeability of the blood

capillaries

4 Rhinitis Excessive watery discharge from the nose

5 Lacrimal Excessive tearing

tearing

6 Nausea, Stimulation of these centers in the brain

vomiting

7 Wheezing Shortness of breath and wheezing on inhalation and

and dyspnea exhalation due to accumulated fluids and swelling of
the respiratory tissues

8 Diarrhea Irritation of the mucosa of the large intestine

Lecturer: Hemn Kareem Qadir Fundamentals of Nursing Lec. 4 &5

The 10 rights to avoid medication errors

1.Right Medication 2.Right client education

3.Right Time 4.Right Dose.
5.Right Patient. 6. Right Route
7.Right to refuse 8.Right documentation
9.Right assessment 10.Right evaluation

Types of Medication Orders

1. Standing (routine): Medication order that is carried out until it is

discontinued or the required number of days has lapsed

2. As-needed (PRN): Order for a medication to be given only when it is

needed; must include circumstances in which the medication is to be
given (e.g., morphine sulfate 2 mg IV PRN every 3 hours for incisional
pain).

3. Single-dose (one-time only): Order for a medication to be given only

once, such as a medication given before a diagnostic test or before
surgery.

4. Immediately (STAT).
a. Order for a single dose of a medication to be given immediately.
b. Often ordered in emergency situations.

5. Now order: Order for a single dose of a medication that is to be given

quickly but not as quickly as a STAT order.
Lecturer: Hemn Kareem Qadir Fundamentals of Nursing Lec. 4 &5

Factors Affecting Medication Action

1. Developmental Factors
2. Sex
3. Genetic Factors
4. Diet
5. Environment
6. Time of Administration
7. Psychological Factors
8. Illness and Disease

Essential Parts of a Drug Order

1. Full name of the client
2. Date and time the order is written
3. Name of the drug to be administered
4. Dosage of the drug
5. Frequency of administration
6. Route of administration
7. Signature of the person writing the order