Pharmacology & IV Supplies
RTEC 93
Pharmacology for the
Radiologic Technologist
Drug Classifications

Name – generic or brand

Action

Method of legal purchase (prescription
or non-prescription)
Classification by Name



Chemical name – actual chemical
structure
Generic name – when it becomes
commercially available (never
capitalized) – nonproprietary name
Brand name – give by a drug
manufacture – trademark, trade name,
proprietary name
Example

Chemical name – 7 chloro-1,3-dihydro1-methyl-5-phenyl-H-1,4benzodiazepin-2-one

Generic name – diazepam

Brand name - Valium
Drug Reactions

Anaphylaxis
– VS

Anaphylactoid
Principles of Drug
Administration





“The golden rules of drug
administration”
The five rights of drug administration
Right drug
Right patient
Right route
Right amount
Right time
Drug Routes



Oral – by mouth
Sublingual – under the tongue
Topical – directly onto the skin
– transdermal

Parenteral – by injection or other than
oral - intramuscular, subcutaneous,
intravenous, intrathecal
Charting Drug
Information


Any time a drug is administered to an
inpatient it must be charted
Information includes:
– Drug name
– Dose of the drug
– Route of administration (if parenterally,
then the side of injection)
– Date & Time
Legal Considerations


Errors with drug administration is the
most common legal problems for
radiologic technologists
Techs must follow charting protocols
and document all errors in drug
administration
Pg. 319
 Do
Not Use
– abbreviations
Parenteral Injection
Supplies

Drugs are injected into the body with
a plastic syringe. All of the supplies
for drug injection are used only once.
– The tourniquet may be used again as
long as it was not soiled.
Supplies for Venipuncture
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Disposable gloves
Alcohol Swabs
Tourniquet
Needle
– Butterfly or
Angiocath
Tape
2X2 or 4X4
Contrast & Syringes
Saline
3 parts of the syringe
Plunger, Barrel & Tip
Sizes

General-purpose
syringes
– 2, 2.5, 3, 5, 10, 20
& 50 ml

Special design
syringes
– TB & insulin
syringes
– Luer-Lock syringes
(best for closed systems)
3 parts of the needle
Hub, Cannula or Shaft & Bevel
Needle Sizes
 Length



The measurement in inches of the
shaft portion
0.25 to 5 inches
Shorter = subcutaneous, Longer = IM,
1 – 1.5-inch = IV
Needle Sizes



Gauge
The thickness of diameter of the
needle
The smaller the diameter of the shaft
the finer the needle, the larger the
gauge number. Inverse relationship
with size and # (Ex: 25-gauge very small diameter,
18-gauge used to draw contrast not start IV’s)
Examples: Package
labeled

“20g/1.5”

“25g/1”

“22g/1/5”
Bevel Length


Long bevels = SC & IM
Short bevels = IV
Parenteral Drugs


2 different containers: Ampule & Vials
Ampule = sealed glass container
holding one single dose
Vial


Small glass bottle with a sealed rubber
cap
Different sizes and may contain
multiple doses of a drug
When you are done with your supplies
where do your dispose of them?
Questions?
 "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.
The optimist sees the opportunity in every
difficulty."
Winston Churchill
Demo “filling a syringe”
 Lab practice: Vitals &
drawing meds