Question

in 250 words please describe - Role of the nurse in safe administration of oral medication

Answer 1

Role of nurse in safe administration of oral medication:

  There are several routes of drug administration. One of the common route of drug administration is oral administration of drug. In Oral administration, the drug or the medicine is taken through the mouth. It includes two types of Medicine, one is oral( buccal, sublingual) and another one is enteral ( that swallows ) medications and it will be in the form of tablets, Capsules, syrups, drops, granules etc.

One of the primary responsibility of a nurse is the safe administration of drug to the patient. The roles or responsibility of a nurse in safe oral drug administration are:

* Nurse has to observe the " rights of drug administration " ; such as right patient, right drug, right route, right time, and right dose.

* For safe administration of oral medication, nurse has to aware about her rights in drug administration; the rights are,

- legible and complete written order ( about drug, dose, frequency and route)

- correct dispensing of drug

- right for accessing the information regarding drug and clarification about it.

- right to identify problems related to drug administration and report it.

* Nurse should not take any verbal order from physician. Prescription order through telephone only when the physician is not physically present.

* Nursing assessment includes: check the age , medication order and diagnosis of the patient.

Check for any fluid or diet restrictions ( before surgery).

- Physical assessment should incude; Check the patient's

ability to swallow

ability to follow instructions

articles for drug administration

vital signs ( check Blood pressure, before giving Antihypertensives, heart rate before digoxin).

* Prepare and arrange articles for oral drug administration such as ounce glass, towel, drinking water, medicine card, pestle ,kidney tray ( all should be in a clean tray).

* Explain the procedure and give the suitable position for the patient.

* Always read doctor's order and compare with medicine cards.

* Provide water to moisten the mouth( before administration) and after administering.

* Nurse had to do " right documentation ". documentation is necessary after an oral drug administration.