COLLEGE OF NURSING

FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE ASABA

LESSON NOTES

COURSE TITTLE: FOUNDATION OF NURSING II

COURSE CODE: GNS 121 TOPIC: ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS

PLACEMENT: FIRST YEAR SEX: MIXED

AVERAGE AGE: 22YEARS DURATION: 90MINS DATE:

BEHAVIOURAL OBJECTIVES

Students learning objectives

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate competence in drug administration to prevent complications.

2. Discuss the legal aspects of nursing and its implications for nursing practice.

3. Apply principles of aseptic techniques and injection safety in the care of patients

4. Identify the importance of health care waste management.

UNIT 1

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define drug and explain the meaning of drug administration

2. Explain the meaning of Principles/Rules of drug administration.
3. Classify the various routes of drug administration
4. Demonstrate how drugs can be administered through the various routes

What is drug: A drug is any chemical substance that when consumed causes a change in an
organism's physiology,(how the body functions} including its psychology, (how the person
thinks, feels or behaves).
What is drug administration: this is the process of giving a drug to a person or animals All drugs
have a route of administration , and many can be administered by more than one route.

The Principles and Rules of drug administration.

The principles and rules of drug administration are guidelines set in place to ensure safe and
effective medication use. Some key principles and rule include the Rights of Medication
Administration and Additional Principles.

The Rights of Medication Administration

Often referred to as the "Five Rights" or "Ten Rights," these principles serve as a checklist to
confirm the medication reaches the intended recipient without errors. They are:

 Right Patient: Verify the patient's identity using two identifiers before giving any
medication.
 Right Medication: Check the medication label three times to ensure it's the correct one
prescribed.
 Right Dose: Double-check the medication dosage with the doctor's order, considering
factors like the patient's weight and medical condition.
 Right Route: Administer the medication by the prescribed route, such as orally,
intravenously, or topically.
 Right Time and Frequency: Give the medication at the exact time and frequency
prescribed, considering if it should be taken with food.
 (Additional Rights) Some institutions include additional rights, such as:
o Right Documentation: Documenting the administration accurately in the
patient's medical record.
o Right Assessment: Assessing the patient's baseline condition before and
monitoring for side effects after.
o Right Education: Educating the patient about their medications.
o Right to Refuse: Respecting the patient's right to decline medication.
 o Right Approach: Maintaining a professional and compassionate demeanor
throughout.

Additional Principles

These principles go beyond the "Rights" and focus on broader aspects of safe medication
handling:

 Hand Hygiene: Washing hands before and after medication administration to prevent
infections.
 Aseptic Technique: Using sterile procedures, especially for injections, to prevent
contamination.
 Storage: Storing medications according to the manufacturer's instructions to maintain
their effectiveness.
 Expiration Date: Checking the expiration date to avoid administering ineffective or
harmful medications.
 Reporting: Reporting any medication errors or near misses to prevent future
occurrences.

By following these principles and rules, healthcare professionals can significantly reduce
medication errors and ensure patients receive the right medication in the right way.

ACRONYMS AND TERMINOLOGIES USED IN DRUG ADMINISTRATION

S/ ACRONYMS MEANING THE LATIN FORM

N
1 OD Once daily Omni die
2 BD Twice daily Bis in die
3 T.D.S Three times daily Ter in die
4 Q.D.S Four times daily Quarter in die
5 PRN When necessary
  I/M- Intramuscular-referring to the route of administration. The drug is injected into
the muscles
 I/V- intravenous-the drug is administered directly into the veins.
 1/7 – meaning duration is for 1day
 1/52- meaning duration is for 1week
 1/12-meaning duration is for 1month

CLASSIFICATION OF ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION

Drug administration can be classified into different categories based on the route by which the
medication enters the body. Here are the main classifications:

1. Enteral Route: Medications are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. This is the
most common route of administration and includes:
o Oral: This is the simplest and most convenient route. Medications are taken by
mouth in the form of tablets, capsules, liquids, syrups, or powders.

Oral medication administration route

o Sublingual and Buccal: are placed under the tongue (sublingual) or between the
cheek and gum (buccal) for rapid absorption through the mucous membranes.
This route bypasses the digestive system and avoids first-pass metabolism by the
liver.
 ens in a

Sublingual medication administration route

o Rectal: Medications are inserted into the rectum in the form of suppositories or
enemas. This route is useful for patients who cannot take medications orally,
such as those who are unconscious or vomiting.

2. Parenteral Route: Medications are administered by injection or infusion, bypassing the

gastrointestinal tract. This route is used for medications that are not well absorbed
orally, need a rapid onset of action, or are intended for a localized effect. There are
several types of parenteral administration:
o Intravenous (IV): Medications are injected directly into a vein for the fastest and
most complete absorption.

Intravenous medication administration route

o Intramuscular (IM): Medications are injected into a muscle for slower absorption
than IV but faster than oral administration.

Intramuscular medication administration route

o Subcutaneous (SC): Medications are injected into the fatty tissue under the skin
for even slower absorption than IM.
 Subcutaneous medication administration route

o Intradermal (ID): Medications are injected into the inner layer of the skin for
allergy testing or local anesthesia.

Intradermal medication administration route

3. Topical Route: Medications are applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes for a
local effect. This route is used for medications that are intended to treat skin conditions,
such as creams, ointments, and lotions, or for localized pain relief, such as patches.
 Topical medication administration route

4. Inhalation Route: Medications are delivered into the lungs through the nose or mouth
for rapid absorption into the bloodstream. This route is commonly used for respiratory
conditions, such as asthma, and for systemic medications.

Inhalation medication administration route

5. Other Routes: There are other less common routes of drug administration, such as:
o Vaginal: Medications are inserted into the vagina for local treatment of vaginal
infections or hormonal replacement therapy.
 Vaginal medication administration route

o Ophthalmic: Medications are applied to the eye for the treatment of eye
infections or glaucoma.

Ophthalmic medication administration route

o Otic: are applied to the ear for the treatment of ear infections.
 Otic: medication administration route

o Transdermal: Medications are applied to the skin and absorbed through the
bloodstream for systemic effects. This route is used for medications that need a
continuous release into the body, such as nicotine patches.

Transdermal medication administration route

The choice of route of drug administration depends on several factors, including the desired
onset and duration of action, the physical and chemical properties of the medication, and the
patient's condition.

Drug Control Act

The drug control act is legislation enacted specially by the governments to regulate the production,
distribution, sale and use of drugs. The purposes of these laws are to prevent drug abuse, ensure public
safety and control the availability of potentially harmful substances. What the drug control act specifies
vary from country to country but they all include provision for licensing, inspection enforcement,
penalties for violations and measures to combat drug trafficking and abuse

Nurses Responsibilities in the Administration of Drugs .

Nurses play an important role in the administration of drugs in health care settings and these
responsibilities include:

1. Verify the medication orders for accuracy and appropriateness for patients’ condition.

2. Check physician's prescription as it provides information and specific instructions for

medication administration. Such as dosages, and administration routes, following proper
procedures for handling and storage.

3. Monitor patients for side effects and take appropriate actions

4. Provide patient information about their medications such as the dose, frequency, side
effects and instructions for administration

5. Proper documentation of the administered drug.

6. Ensure that the drug has not already being administered because such errors could result
in lethal dosage

7. Administer only those medications which are personally prepared. Do not administer a
drug prepared by another person.

8. Check for specific timings prescribed by physician for administration of medication such as
before food or after food, because medication action can be altered by food.

9. Do not leave medications at patient's bedside, this prevents chances of patient hoarding
medications, not taking it or taking at inappropriate time

10. Check decimal points. Some medications come in quantities that are multiples of one
another (e.g. Coumadin in 2.5 mg and 25 mg tablets).
11. In case if an error is made report to nurse-in-charge and physician as this could help to
minimize the effect of error

Administration of intravenous

intravenous medications by direct IV route can be given three ways:

 Through a saline lock (short venous access device)
 Through an existing IV line with compatible IV solution
 Through an existing IV with an incompatible IV solution