Discuss how to administer medication within
Guidelines
The following Factors on how to
administer medications
The right patient
The right medication in the right form
The right dosage
The right method of administration
The right time of administration
Medicine should be kept safely. To avoid
confusion, be guided by the following:
Label each medicines properly and clearly
Classify them carefully whether it’s an external or
internal use
Keep them in their original container
Keep them in the required temperatures
Be alert of the expiry date
Discard those who have reached the expiration
date
Dispose properly empty medicines bottles, expired
medicines, used syringes and wrap them in plastic
wrapper before disposal
Procedures and guidelines in
administering medications
1. A small tray
2. A glass of water
3. The prescribed drug
4. A spoon
5. Pen and paper to record information about
the medicine given, the time, amount etc.
6. Keep the medicine and the succeeding
administration organized
A medicine should be kept out of
children’s reach. Kept the cabinet locked
with no key visible. You can fairly sure
that the child is safe:
1. TABLETS, CAPSULE, AND PILLS
Tablets are hard, so you have to place the tablet
in a spoon and put a few drops of water to
dissolve them give t to patient with juice or
water
Capsules are designed to dissolve in the stomach
that is why they should not be opened.
Pills are sometimes hard to swallow. Put the pills
at the back of the tongue and followed by
drinking of water or juice.
2. Liquid Medicines
a. Always check the label of the bottle to
see if it the right medicine
b. Pour the medicine into a small
measuring cup, a tablespoon, or
teaspoon depending on the dosage
given by the doctor
c. Replace the cap, wipe the bottle, and
store it in a cool place
Caution must be observed the
following:
a. Never mix the medicine with a glass of
beverage because the medicine could sink
at the bottom of the glass and the patient
may not receive the right amount
required.
b. In giving medicine to babies, never add
the medicine to the content of the feeding
bottle for it may cause the same problem.
3. Ointment
An ointment is generally applied
to the skin.
4. Powder
Powder can be mixed with something
sweet such as peanut or jam and
sometimes, it can be mixed with a little
amount of juice or milk before giving to
patient.
5. Backrub
In applying backrub, the doctor
must be consulted first.
Patients with problems in spinal
cord or fractures at the back cannot
be given backrub.
Administering medicine through
rectum:
1. Giving a suppository – the
suppository is placed inside
the rectum where it melts at
body temperature.
In administering the medication,
so the following:
1. Wash your hands first and wear a glove
2. Tell the patient to urinate and let the patient lie on
the left side with his/her knees drawn up.
3. Make the patient breathe deeply through the mouth
4. Insert the suppository gently into the rectum,
pushing it as far as possible
5. Dispose the gloves properly and wash your hands
6. When bowel action takes place, be sure to record the
stool, its color, size, and consistency.
2. Giving an enema - an enema fluid injected
into a rectum for the purpose of stimulating a
bowel movement. It is a fluid contained in a
plastic bag with a nozzle.
The following should be done:
a. Wash your hands
b. Tell the patient should lie down on the left
side with knees drawn up
c. Place a cover under the buttocks to protect
the bed
d. Make the patient relax and breathe through
the mouth.
Giving an enema
e. Put a small amount of petroleum jelly
at the tip of the nozzle and insert
gently into the rectum at about 3-9
inches.
f. Avoid damaging the rectal wall
g. After bowel movement, record all
details regarding the stool.
