NUR 155 Exam 4 -
Comprehensive
Study Guide on
Medication
Administration
galen college of
nursing
MED ADMINISTRATION:
• Six rights: ALWAYS CHECK PT ALLERGIES & MED EXPIRATION DATE
• Right drug – verify using 3 checks:
▪ When taking the drug out of the drawer/dispensing unit
▪ When comparing drug with the MAR as the drug is being prepared
▪ At the bedside immediately before administration
• Right dose –
▪ Verify calculation of the dose is correct & strength is correct
▪ Dose prescribed is appropriate for the patient
▪ Have another nurse check
• Right time –
▪ Administer within the right time frame (30 minutes before to 30
minutes after scheduled time)
▪ Correct time system – USUALLY MILITARY TIME to avoid errors in
day/night
• Right route – verify that the medication will be administered by the right
route, meds can ONLY be given the route that IS PRESCRIBED
▪ PO – oral (by mouth)
▪ SL – sublingual (under the tongue)
▪ Buccal (against the cheek)
▪ Parenteral (by injection or infusion)
▪ PR – rectal
▪ Vaginal
▪ Topical (on skin or mucous membrane)
▪ Transdermal
▪ Subcutaneous
▪ IM – intramuscular
▪ Intradermal
▪ IV
▪ Inhalation (taken into body through respiratory tract)
• Right patient –
, ▪ Barcode scanning system OR verify patient using 2 identifiers (full
name & DOB)
▪ NEVER use patients room number or physical location to verify
identity
• Right documentation –
▪ ONLY document AFTER administering med to reflect administration,
refusal or withholding of prescribed med
▪ Verify accuracy/complete
, ▪ Note any adverse reactions/side effects
• Safety checks when giving meds: 3 checks in detail -
• 1st check – upon removal
▪ Read the MAR and remove the medications from the client’s drawer.
Verify that the clients name and room number match the MAR.
▪ Compare the label of the medication against the MAR
▪ If the dosage does not match the MAR, determine if you need to do a
math calculation
▪ Check the expiration date of the medication
• 2 check – when preparing
nd
▪ While preparing the medication (pouring, drawing up or placing
unopened package in a medicine cup), look at the medication label and
check against the MAR
• 3 check – at bedside
rd
▪ Recheck the label on the container (vial, bottle or unused unit-dose
medication) against the MR before returning to its storage OR before
giving the medication to the client
• 6 rights & HIGH RISK SITUATIONS –
• Right drug:
▪ Incorrectly dispensing and giving a med with a name similar to the one
prescribed
▪ Administer a med that the nurse did not prepare
▪ Incorrectly identifying a medication
▪ Not listening to a patient who reports that the medication looks
different from that given previously
• Right dose:
▪ Needing multiple tablets, capsules, or med cups to prepare a single
dose
▪ Having a large change in prescribed dosage
▪ Having a unit dose or dose supplied by the pharm that does not match
the prescribed dose
▪ Not listening to a patient who states that the dose being offered is
different than that normally taken
▪ Using unstandardized measuring devices (like a plastic spoon)
▪ Breaking tablets that are not scored into pieces or not using an
accepted cutting device to split tablet
▪ Leaving part of a crushed med behind in the crushing device or the
patient not eating all the door or liquid the med is crushed into
▪ Not knowing the usual or safe dosage range
Comprehensive
Study Guide on
Medication
Administration
galen college of
nursing
MED ADMINISTRATION:
• Six rights: ALWAYS CHECK PT ALLERGIES & MED EXPIRATION DATE
• Right drug – verify using 3 checks:
▪ When taking the drug out of the drawer/dispensing unit
▪ When comparing drug with the MAR as the drug is being prepared
▪ At the bedside immediately before administration
• Right dose –
▪ Verify calculation of the dose is correct & strength is correct
▪ Dose prescribed is appropriate for the patient
▪ Have another nurse check
• Right time –
▪ Administer within the right time frame (30 minutes before to 30
minutes after scheduled time)
▪ Correct time system – USUALLY MILITARY TIME to avoid errors in
day/night
• Right route – verify that the medication will be administered by the right
route, meds can ONLY be given the route that IS PRESCRIBED
▪ PO – oral (by mouth)
▪ SL – sublingual (under the tongue)
▪ Buccal (against the cheek)
▪ Parenteral (by injection or infusion)
▪ PR – rectal
▪ Vaginal
▪ Topical (on skin or mucous membrane)
▪ Transdermal
▪ Subcutaneous
▪ IM – intramuscular
▪ Intradermal
▪ IV
▪ Inhalation (taken into body through respiratory tract)
• Right patient –
, ▪ Barcode scanning system OR verify patient using 2 identifiers (full
name & DOB)
▪ NEVER use patients room number or physical location to verify
identity
• Right documentation –
▪ ONLY document AFTER administering med to reflect administration,
refusal or withholding of prescribed med
▪ Verify accuracy/complete
, ▪ Note any adverse reactions/side effects
• Safety checks when giving meds: 3 checks in detail -
• 1st check – upon removal
▪ Read the MAR and remove the medications from the client’s drawer.
Verify that the clients name and room number match the MAR.
▪ Compare the label of the medication against the MAR
▪ If the dosage does not match the MAR, determine if you need to do a
math calculation
▪ Check the expiration date of the medication
• 2 check – when preparing
nd
▪ While preparing the medication (pouring, drawing up or placing
unopened package in a medicine cup), look at the medication label and
check against the MAR
• 3 check – at bedside
rd
▪ Recheck the label on the container (vial, bottle or unused unit-dose
medication) against the MR before returning to its storage OR before
giving the medication to the client
• 6 rights & HIGH RISK SITUATIONS –
• Right drug:
▪ Incorrectly dispensing and giving a med with a name similar to the one
prescribed
▪ Administer a med that the nurse did not prepare
▪ Incorrectly identifying a medication
▪ Not listening to a patient who reports that the medication looks
different from that given previously
• Right dose:
▪ Needing multiple tablets, capsules, or med cups to prepare a single
dose
▪ Having a large change in prescribed dosage
▪ Having a unit dose or dose supplied by the pharm that does not match
the prescribed dose
▪ Not listening to a patient who states that the dose being offered is
different than that normally taken
▪ Using unstandardized measuring devices (like a plastic spoon)
▪ Breaking tablets that are not scored into pieces or not using an
accepted cutting device to split tablet
▪ Leaving part of a crushed med behind in the crushing device or the
patient not eating all the door or liquid the med is crushed into
▪ Not knowing the usual or safe dosage range
