Tips for Medication Administration
Know the code to the medication box on your respective unit.
Is patient NPO? Has the physician written an order for medications with sips of water?
Does patient have swallowing problems?
Are medications to be administered with thickened liquids?
What are patient allergies? Does the red band indicate allergies?
Does the patient have a pink band to indicate no injections on that arm?
Does your patient receive dialysis?
Does your patient need applesauce or pudding to assist them in taking their medications?
Are any medications supposed to be administered with a meal?
If receiving cardiac meds, what is the patient’s B/P and HR?
Did the physician write orders for parameters to hold medications? For example, hold
Toprol if SBP < 110.
If receiving narcotics, what is patient’s respiratory rate? Remember to ask patient to rate
pain on a linear scale.
If receiving digoxin, what is the patient’s apical pulse for one minute?
Does your patient receive Coumadin? What are applicable labs? (PT/INR)
What are applicable labs? For example, K level if receiving potassium supplement.
Hgb/Hct if receiving iron.
If receiving insulin, what is the patient’s blood sugar and what type of insulin is being
administered? If Novolog or Humalog, make sure tray is in front of patient.
If administering a PRN medication, what are the time parameters for administration?
Does the patient have water?
Are there med cups, 8 ounce cups, spoons and/or straws if needed?
If administering an injection, do you have a blunt needle, the correct size needle and
syringe, alcohol wipes and a 2x2?
If a topical medication, do you have sterile applicators or a tongue blade?
Is there a pill crusher/splitter available if needed? Are medications allowed to be
crushed?
Does the patient have an ID band?
Are you aware of why your patient is receiving the medication? What about nursing
implications/patient teaching? Main side effects? Route of medication?
If administering Lovenox, make sure your patient does not have an epidural catheter. It is
contraindicated with an epidural catheter.
Do not administer Glucophage within 48 hours of receiving a scan with dye.
If administering meds via a PEG tube, have bacteriostatic water available and an
irrigation set to include a 60cc syringe.
Make sure that all of the medications are available. If not, ask the nurse to submit a med
request to the pharmacy.
If administering insulin, make sure you obtain the correct vial of insulin from the
refrigerator.
Remember the six rights! Always access your patient via scanning of the ID band.