Today is our topic of discussion Oral Medication.
Oral Medication
ORAL MEDICATION
Oral medications are defined as the administration 4 medication by mouth and ensuring that patient swallows the medicine.
Purpose
- To prevent the disease.
- To cure the disease.
- To promote the health.
- To give palliative treatment .
- To give as a symptomatic treatment.
Nurses Responsibility in Administration of Oral Medication
- Check the diagnosis and age of the patient
- Check the purpose of medication
- Check the identification of the patient, the name and bed number
- Check the physician’s orders for the correct name of the drug, dosage and method of administration.
- Check the nurse record for the time at which the last dose was given.
- Check for any contraindications present in the patient for an oral intake of the medicines such as nausea,vomiting, unconsciousness, etc.
- Check the character of the drug-whether it can be taken safely by the oral method
- Check the form of the drug available and the correct method of administration.
- Check the level of consciousness of the patient and ability to follow instructions
- Check the abilities and limitations in swallowing the medications.
Equipment
A trolley containing:
- A bowel of clean water.
- Ounce glass, medicine glass, dropper teaspoon to measure the medicine.
- Drinking water in a feeding cup .
- Mortar and pestle to crush and powder the table if necessary.
- Duster/towel to wipe the outside the bottle after pouring the medicine ordered.
- Kidney tray and paper bag to discard the waste.
- Medicine cards to write the medication order from patients order sheet.
Preparation of the Patient
- Explain the procedure to the patient.
- Tell the advantages needs of medication If patient is allowed to sit assist him to sit.
- Never give medication in flat position as there is a danger of aspiration of drug and fluid when swallowed.
- Give a mouth wash, if necessary.
- If medication is ill tasting, prepare a drink to mask the taste of the medication.
- Protect the bed clothes and garments with a towel placed under the chin across the chest.