04 Preparing and Administering Medications Free Online FlashCards

What are the core requirements of safe medication administration?

Give the correct medication to the correct patient by the prescribed route, dose, and time, and monitor the patient’s response.

What should you do with an unclear or potentially unsafe medication order?

Pause and clarify it with the prescriber or pharmacist before giving the medication.

How should you verify a patient’s identity before giving medication?

Use the required patient identifiers and compare them with the medication record. Do not rely on a room number or recognition alone.

What patient information should you review before administration?

Review the documented allergy and reaction, relevant assessment findings, precautions, and any required parameters, such as blood pressure or blood glucose.

When should a medication dose be documented?

Document the medication, dose, route, and time after it is given, not before. Record omitted or refused doses and the reason.

When may an oral tablet or capsule be altered?

Do not crush, split, or open them unless the pharmacist or product instructions confirm it is safe; alteration can damage modified-release or enteric-coated products.

What is an important precaution when giving medication through a feeding tube?

Verify the tube and formulation, check with a pharmacist before crushing or mixing medicines, and do not mix medication into feeding formula unless specifically directed.

What should you check before applying a new medication patch?

Check for and remove an old patch before applying a new one, rotate sites as directed, and record the patch and application time.

How do you help keep an eye-dropper tip clean during administration?

Avoid touching the dropper tip to the eye, lashes, fingers, or other surfaces.

What technique helps deliver a metered-dose inhaler medication effectively?

Coordinate actuation with a slow inhalation, or use a spacer if prescribed.

What needle-and-syringe practice prevents unsafe reuse?

Use a new sterile needle and syringe for every entry into a medication container and every injection; never reuse them.

How should single-dose medication containers be used?

Use single-dose vials, ampules, and IV bags or bottles for one patient only; do not save or pool leftovers.