Oral Drug Administration

Oral drug administration

• Verify the practitioner's order

• Reconcile the patient's medications when the practitioner prescribes a new medication

• Perform hand hygiene

• Gather and prepare the equipment and supplies

• Compare the medication label to the order in the patient's medical record

• Check the patient's medical record for an allergy or a contraindication

• Check the expiration date on the medication. Obtain new medication, as needed

• Visually inspect the medication for loss of integrity

• Discuss unresolved concerns about the medication with the practitioner

• Perform hand hygiene

• Confirm the patient's identity

• Provide privacy

• Explain the procedure

• If the patient is receiving the medication for the first time, teach about concerns related
to the medication (indication and possible medication side effects)

• Assess the patient's condition

• Observe the patient carefully for signs of an adverse reaction to a previously

administered medication

• Verify that the medication is being administered at the proper time, in the prescribed
dose, and by the correct route

• If your facility uses bar-code technology, use it

• Administer the medication to the patient along with an appropriate vehicle or liquid, as
needed

• If the patient can't swallow a whole tablet or capsule, consult the pharmacist

• Stay with the patient until the patient has swallowed the medication

• Monitor the patient for adverse reactions; respond appropriately

• Discard used supplies appropriately

• Perform hand hygiene

• Document the procedure

Lippincott Procedures (2020). Oral Drug Administration. Revised August 21, 2020.
https://procedures.lww.com/lnp/view.do?pId=1820088&hits=oral,administration,drug,drugs&a=false&ad=false

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