Chapter 10
Medication
Administration
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10-1
Objectives
10-2
Drug Administration
10-3
General Guidelines
• An EMT can give, or
assist a patient in
taking, medications
only by the order of a
licensed physician.
10-4
General Guidelines
• Assess the patient
• Obtain a medication history
including:
– Prescribed medications
(name, strength, daily
dosage)
– Over-the-counter
medications
– Allergies to medications
10-5
General Guidelines
• You must be knowledgeable about each drug
you give including the following:
– Mechanism of action
– Indications
– Dose
– Route of administration
– Contraindications
– Adverse effects
– Special considerations
10-6
General Guidelines
• Information to relay to medical
direction:
– Patient’s age
– Chief complaint
– Vital signs
– Signs and symptoms
– Allergies
– Current medications
– Pertinent past medical history
10-7
Physician’s Order
• Order will include:
– Drug name
– Drug dose
– Drug route
• Repeat orders back to physician
10-8
The Six Rights of Drug Administration
10-9
The Six Rights of Drug Administration
1. Right patient
2. Right medication
3. Right dose
4. Right route
5. Right time (frequency)
6. Right documentation
10-10
Routes of Drug Administration
10-11
Routes of Drug Administration
• Enteral
• Parenteral
10-12
Enteral Routes of Drug Administration
• Oral route
– Requires a responsive,
cooperative patient
– Advantages
– Disadvantages
10-13
Enteral Routes of Drug Administration
• Oral route
– Technique
• Use appropriate personal protective
equipment
• The inside of the medicine container, its
contents, and the inside of the
container’s cap are considered clean.
• Be careful not to touch these areas.
10-14
Enteral Routes of Drug Administration
• Oral route
– Technique
• When administering a tablet:
– Open the medication container
– Pour the correct number of tablets into the
inside cap of the container
– Pour the tablets into the patient’s hand
» Do not contaminate the inside cap of the
container
– Carefully recap the container
10-15
Enteral Routes of Drug Administration
• Buccal route
– “Pertaining to the cheek”
– Advantages
– Disadvantages
– Technique
10-16
Enteral Routes of Drug Administration
• Sublingual route
– Drug given under the tongue
– Rapid absorption
– Advantages
– Disadvantages
– Technique
10-17
Parenteral Routes of Drug Administration
• Inhalation route
– Rapid onset of action
– Gas (oxygen)
– Mist / aerosol (albuterol)
– Advantages
– Disadvantages
10-18
Parenteral Routes of Drug Administration
• Subcutaneous route
– Needle inserted underneath the skin into the
subcutaneous tissue
– Advantages
– Disadvantages
– Technique
10-19
Parenteral Routes of Drug Administration
• Intramuscular route
– Medication in a liquid form is injected into
a large mass of skeletal muscle
– Advantages
– Disadvantages
– Technique
10-20
Reassessment and Documentation
• After giving a drug:
– Document the reason the drug was given
– Document the medication administered
and the time you gave it
– Reassess the patient
– Document the patient’s vital signs and
response to the drug.
10-21
Questions?
10-22