1. UNIT 12

2.  Client with acute or chronic alteration in their
health may to use a variety of medication.
 The role of nurse in the administration of has
becomes increasingly complex and
diversified.
 Administration of correct medication and
dosage by the specified route, using proper
technique and taking appropriate precaution
were once all that was expected of a nurse.

3.  Administration of medication is a basic
nursing function that involves knowledge and
skill . The safe and accurate administration of
medication is one of the most important
responsibilities of a nurse. Improper
administration of medication can cause
harmful effects. The nurse administering
medication should have the basic knowledge
regarding drugs which include the following -

4.  Name of the drug.
 Classification.
 Route and time of administration.
 Principles of drug action.
 Dosage.
 Medication standards.
 Types and forms of drugs.
 Source of information about medication.
 System of medication distribution.

5.  Medication order.
 Prescription and non-prescription
medication.
 Weights and measures used.
 Preparations of solution and calculation of
fractional doses.
 Storing of medication.
 Factors affecting safety in the administration
of medication.

6.  Abbreviations and symbols used.
 Rules for administration of medicine.
 Legal aspects of medication administration.
 Nurse practice acts.
 Institutional medication policies.
 Client's rights.
 Substance abuse.
 Nurse’s role in administration of medication.

7.  A drug is a substance that alters physiological
function, with the potential for affecting
health.
 A drug is a chemical substance that modifies
body function when taken into the living
organism, which may or may not be a
therapeutic effects.

8.  Medication may be defined as a substance
used to promote health, to prevent illness, to
diagnose, to alleviate or cure disease.
 A medication is a drug administered for its
therapeutic effects.
 All medications are drugs, but not all drugs
are medication.

9.  Drugs may be known by several names:-
 (a) Chemical name is the name by which a
drug is known to the chemists. For example
the chemical name of the anti-inflammatory
agent ibuprofen is 2-4 (iso butyl phenyl)
propionic acid.

10.  (b). Generic name or non-proprietary name is
the name assigned by the manufacturer who
first developed the drug and is assigned by
the United States Adopted Name Council.
 (c). Official name is the name by which the
drug is identified in the official publication.
For example BP (British Pharmacopoeia)

11.  (d).Trade name or brand name or proprietary
name is the registered name assigned by the
manufacturer and is copyright.
 For Example Paracetamol (chemical name)
have different trade names, such asCrocin,
Calpol, Metacin etc.

12.  Drugs may be classified in several ways:
according to their:-
 a. Chemical composition,
 b. Clinical actions,
 c. Therapeutic effect on body systems,
 e. Their purpose and uses,
 f. The symptoms relieved by the drug etc.

13.  TERMINOLOGIES :-
 Analgesics: Drug used to relieve pain.
 Anaesthetics: Drugs which cause loss of
sensation.
 Anthelmintics and vermifuges: Drugs which
destroy and expel worms.
 Antipyretics: Drugs which reduce fever.
 Antidotes: Substances used to counteract
the effects of poison.

14.  Antiinfectives: Act either to inhibit, kill or
retard the growth of micro-organisms.
 Antiinflammatory:Those help to reduce the
inflammation.
 Anticoagulants: Substance which inhibit or
decrease the blood-clotting process, either
by inhibiting the formation of the formation
of the clotting substances.

15.  Anticonvulsants:Those used to prevent or
treat convulsions therefore it is used in
epilepsy.
 Antacids: Substance that react with
hydrochloride acid to decrease the activity of
the gastric secretion.
 Antiseptic: A substance that inhibits the
growth of bacteria.

16.  Antibiotics: Products of living micro-
organism that have the ability to destroy or
inhibit the growth of the organism.
 Antitussives: Drugs that inhibit the cough
reflex, act primarily upon the cough centre in
the C.N.S.
 Antidiarrheatics: Agent that are used to treat
diarrhoea either by detoxicating the noxious
substances or by killing the infectious
gastrointestinal microorganism.

17.  Antiasthmatics: Drugs which provides
symptomatic relief of asthmatic attacks by
relaxing the smooth muscles of the
bronchioles.
 Antipruritics: A drug that relives itching.
 Antispasmodics: An agent that relieves the
spasmodic pains or spasm of the muscles.

18.  Antiemetics: Drug relliving or preventing
nausea and vomiting.
 Antitubercular:The specific drugs used in the
treatment of tuberculosis.
 Diuretics: Which increase the flow of urine.
 Digestants: An agent that promote
digestion.
 Emetics: An agent that produce vomiting.

19.  Galactagogue: Substance that increase the
flow of milk.
 Hypnotics: Drugs that produce sleep.
 Haemostatics: An agent that stop
hemorrhage.
 Hypotensive: Any substance that capable for
lowering the blood pressure.

20.  Hormones:They are the substitutes for body
hormones.
 Inotropes:They are the drugs that
strengthen cardiac contraction.
 Mydriatics: Dilate the pupil of the eye.
 Myotics: Contract the pupil of the eye.
 Muscle relaxants: Agent used for diminution
of tension or functional activity of muscles.

21.  Narcotics: A drug that produces stupor or
complete insensibility.
 Sedatives: Substances which lessen the body
activity.
 Stimulants: Increase the functional activity
of an organ or system.

22.  Vasodilators: Drugs which dilate the blood
vessels and consequently lower the blood
pressure.
 Vasoconstrictors: Drug or agent that cause
constriction of the blood vessels with the
effect of raising the blood pressure.

23.  1. Oral route: The most common route of
drug administration.
 Drug are given by mouth more frequently
than by other route.
 Advantages:
 (a) It is safe, convenient and economical.
 (b) Self medication is possible
 (c) Complication of parenteral therapy are
avoided .

24.  Disadvantages:
 (a) Onset of drug action is slower than
parenteral route.
 (b) Drug which are bitter in taste cannot be
administer.
 (c) Drugs producing nausea/vomiting cannot
be administer.
 (d)This route is not possible in an
unconscious patient.

25.  2. Sublingual route :-The drug is placed
under the tongue. It is allowed to dissolve in
the mouth.
 Advantages:
 A. Onset of action is quick.
 B. Inactivation of drug in the stomach is
avoided.
 C.The drug enters directly into systematic
circulation without inactive in the liver.

26.  3. Rectal route:- The drug is placed inside
rectum as suppositories, or enema.
 Advantages:
 A.This route is frequently used when
nausea/vomiting are present.
 B. Irritation of gastric mucosa is avoided.
 C. It is suitable for those drugs which are
destroyed by gastric acidity.

27.  4. Inhalation route:- The drugs are inhaled in
the form of vapors and absorption of drugs
occur through respiration tract mucosa.
 5. Cutaneous orTopical route:- The
application of suitable drugs dosage from to
the skin for either local or systemic effects is
known as topical route.

28.  7. Parental route:- Route of administration
of drug other than alimentary tract are called
parental.The drugs is injected with the help
of an injection directly into the blood or some
particular part of the body. Injections may be
given :-

29.  The drugs are injected in one of superficial
vein. A large volume of drugs can be
administer easily through this route.
 Advantages:-
 A. It produce rapid action
 B. Dose is easy to monitor
 C. Large quantities of fluid can be given by
this route.

30.  D. Drug is not destroyed either by liver or
intestine.
 Disadvantages:-
 A. It is highly unsafe route
 B. Drug given can not be withdraw
 C.Trained personal is required to give this
injection
 D.Venous irritation can be lead to
thrombosis.

31.  The drugs is injected directly in the muscles
.Gluteus and deltoid muscles are the most
common sites use in adult .
 Advantages:-
 A. Fat soluble drugs can be given only by this
route.
 B. onset of action is rapid.
 C. absorption is good

32.  Disadvantages:-
 A. Injection produce local pain
 B. Maximum of 5 ml can be given by this
route.

33.  The drug is injected into the skin.This route is
mainly for sensitivity test(for allergens) and
immunization.The forearm and upper back
are the chosen sites.

34.  The drug is injected directly in the
subcutaneous tissue, fatty layer only small
amount(0.5-1 ml) of drug can be given by this
route.

35.  Diagnose disease
 Prevent disease
 Treat disease/ decrease symptoms
 Restore normal function
 Maintain normal function

36.  Always use 7R’s:-
 Right patient
 Right route
 Right time
 Right medication/drug
 Right dose
 Right method
 Right documentation

37.  It is the administration of drug:
 1.Which is not given according to the order.
 2. Inappropriate for the client.
 3.Medication was given but not charted.
 4. Administration of medication at the wrong
rate.
 5. Administration of medication at wrong
route.

38.  Administration of medication at wrong time.
 Administration of medication at wrong dose.
 Administration of wrong medication.
 Administration of medication to wrong client.
 NOTE:- When medication error occur
note/document that as it occur.

39.  Medication are manufacture in a of forms or
preparation to make them more useful or
easy to administer. Many medication are
made in several forms.The form of drug
guides the route of administration.The nurse
should be quit sure to use the proper form
while administering medication.

40. FORM/PREPARATION
 Aqueous solution
 Capsule
DESCRIPTION
 One or more drugs
dissolved in water.
 Powder or gel form of drug
encased in a hard or soft
outer casing that dissolves
in stomach, liquids

41. FORM/PREPARATION
 Lotion
 Ointment
DESCRIPTION
 Drugs in liquid suspension
intended for external use.
 Semisolid preparation of a
drug or drug inVaseline
that is applied to and
absorbed by the skin

42. FORM/PREPARATION
 Pill
 Powder
DESCRIPTION
 Drug in powder form mixed
in a cohesive material such
as liquids.
 A finely ground form of a
drug or drugs. Some are
used internally and some
are used externally

43.  To stock the medicine, each ward should be
provided with a medicine cabinet/room.
 It should be large enough to hold all
medication stocked in a ward.
 As far as a possible the medicine room should
be kept separate and near to nursing room.
 A washing sink with running water should be
there for hand washing.

44.  Adequate light should be there for reading
label of medicine.
 There should be a separate compartment for
different kind of drugs to protect them from
mixing .
 Drugs use for external use place separate
from internal use medicine.

45.  The container should be place or arrange in
alphabetically, so that it is easy to find them.
 Poisonous drugs should be kept in a separate
cupboard which must be have separate lock
and key.
 A senior nurse have the responsibility for
poisonous drugs.

46.  A register should be maintained to kept the
account of the poisonous drugs.
 A daily inventory should be taken to prevent
theft of narcotics.
 All the poisonous drugs should be marked
“poison” in red ink.
 No drug should be stored without labels,
even for a day.

47.  All medication container should be kept
closed always.
 The drug that are unusual in colour, odour
and consistency should be returned to the
pharmacy and replaced with fresh ones.
 Check the expiry dates of every drug before
use.

48.  Therapeutic Effect :- It is effect which is
desired or the reason a drug is prescribed.
Therapeutic effects are the medication’s
desired and intentional effects.
 Local and systemic effects:- Local effects of
a drug are expected when they are applied
topically to the skin or mucus membrane.

49.  A drug used for systemic effect must be
absorbed into the blood stream to systemic
effect in the various systems and parts of the
body.
 Adverse Effects:-Adverse effect is any effect
other than the therapeutic effect.
 Side Effect:- Side effects are the minor
adverse effects. Side effects can be harmful
or harmless.

50.  Toxic effect:- The effects of drug after
prolonged use of drug or due to overdose of
drugs.
 Intolerance:- When a patient is more
sensitive to effects of drugs, a drug produce
toxic effects even at therapeutic doses.

51.  Allergic reaction or hypersensitivity:-These
reaction to drugs are the result of body’s
immunological response to a drug. In this
reaction drug act as a allergen.
 Idiosyncrasy:- These are defined as
genetically determined unexpected response
to drug, e.g., primaquine produce haemolysis
in Negroes.

52.  Photosensitivity:- Some drugs cause
sensitization of skin to ultraviolet radiation.
 Drug Dependence:-It is a state of person in
which the person has a compulsion to
continue taking the drug in order to
experience pleasurable psychic effects.

53.  Withdrawal reaction:- Sudden
discontinuation of some drugs result in
adverse consequences.
 Teratogenicity:- some drugs produce fetal
abnormalities if used in pregnancy, such drug
are known as teratogenic.
 Carcinogenicity:- some drugs after
prolonged administration may induce cancer.

54.  Age:- Infants, children and elderly requires
smaller amount of dose as compared to
adults.
 Sex:- Male required large dose as compared
to produce same response.
 Race:-There may be racial different of drug
response due to genetic differences or
difference in life style etc.

55.  Weight:- More weight patient needs higher
doses.
 Route of administration:-The routes are
also affects the drug response, i.e., parental
route produce rapid action then other routes.
 Health and illness:- Many drugs are
metabolised in liver and excreted through
kidney.

56.  Effects of other drugs:-When two or more
drugs administer simultaneously.They may
modify the response of each other.
 Tolerance:- Prolonged use of some drugs
required high dosages for producing some
response, e.g., opiates.

57.  Physical state:- Form of drug either it is
liquid, solid, or gaseous.
 Particle size:- Size of drug also affect the
absorption.
 Solubility:- Easily solution drugs is quicker
absorbed.
 Area of absorption surface:- Large area of
absorption surface, quicker absorption of
drug.

58.  Route of administration:- Where it is
IV,IM,SC,ID.

75.  ad - up to
 a.c. - before meals
 b.i.d - twice daily
 conc. - concentrated
 C. - with
 dil - diluted
 div. - divide
 et. - and
 gutt. or gtt.- a drop
 h.s. - at bed time

76.  i.c. - between meals
 m - mix (thou)
 mist. - a mixture
 noct. or n. - at night
 o.h. - every hour
 p.c. - after meals
 p.prand - after dinner
 p.r.n. - as need arises
 q.i.d - four times a day
 q.s. - as much as may be required

77.  q.h. - every hour
 q.q.hor. - every four hours
 S. - without
 stat. - immediately
 s.o.s - when required
 spt. - spirit
 syr. - syrup
 t.i.d - thrice daily
 t.d.s. - to be taken three times a day
 tinc. or tr. - a tincture

78. ARTICLE REQUIRED
 A trolley
 A bowel of clean water.
 Ounce glass, minim glass,
teaspoon, dropper etc.
PURPOSE
 To take different
medications and articles to
the bedside.
 To wash the medicine
glass.
 To measure the
medication.

79. ARTICLE REQUIRED
 Drinking water in a glass or
feeding cup.
 Mortar and pestle.
 Medicine slab and spatula.
 Duster or towel
 Kidney tray & paper bag
 Plastic measuring cups and
soufflé cups.
 Medicine cards.
PURPOSE
 To offer to the client after
the medicine is given to
him.
 To crush the medication.
 To divide the medicine.
 To wipe out the bottle.
 To discard the waste.
 To take the medication to
the individual client.
 To write mediation order.

80.  Wash hands.
 Read the physician order.
 After reading the medication card take the
appropriate medicine from the shelf.
 Measure the medication, calculate dose if
necessary.
 Take the medication as needed or ordered.
 Return the container back into the shelf.

81.  Place the medication card with the
medication on the tray.
 Prepare each medication into separate
containers.
 Lock the medication cabinet and take the
medication to the bed side.
 Identify the client with the medicine card.
 Administer medication as prescribe.

82.  Provide water to drink after the medicines are
administer.
 Place the ounce glass in the bowel of water.