Administering Oral Medications 1

Ateneo de Zamboanga University
COLLEGE OF NURSING
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CHECKLIST
NAME: _____________________________________ DATE PERFORMED: _________________

YEAR & SECTION: ______________
ADMINISTERING ORAL MEDICATIONS
PREPARATION
Assess:
• Allergies to medications.
• Client’s ability to swallow the medication.
• Presence of vomiting or diarrhea that would interfere with the ability to absorb
the medication.
• Specific drug action, side effects, interactions, and adverse reactions.
• Client’s knowledge of and learning needs about the medication.
• Perform appropriate assessments specific to the medication.
Determine if the assessment date influences the administration of the medication.
Assemble equipment and supplies:
• Dispensing system
• Disposable medication cups: small paper or plastic cups for tablets and
capsules, or waxed or plastic calibrated medication cups for liquids
• Medication administration record (MAR), or computer printout
• Pill crusher/cutter
• Straws to administer medications that might discolor the teeth, or to facilitate
the ingestion of liquid medication for certain clients
• Drinking glass and water or juice
Applesauce or pudding to use for crushed medications
Know the reason why the client is receiving the medication, the drug
classification, contraindications, usual dosage range, side effects, and nursing
considerations for administering and evaluating the intended outcomes for the
medication.
Check the MAR.
Check the MAR for the drug name, dosage, frequency, route of administration,
and expiration date for administering the medication, if appropriate.
If the MAR is unclear, or pertinent information is missing, compare the MAR with
the most recent primary care provider’s written order.
Report any discrepancies to the charge nurse or the primary care provider, as
agency policy dictates.
Verify the client’s ability to take medication orally.
Determine whether the client can swallow, is NPO, is nauseated or vomiting, has
gastric suction, or has diminished or absent bowel sounds.
Organize the supplies.
Assemble the MAR(s) for each client together, so that medications can be
prepared for one client at a time.
PROCEDURE 1 2 3 4 5
1. Perform hand hygiene and observe other appropriate

infection control procedures.
2. Unlock the dispensing system.
Obtain appropriate medication.
3. Read the MAR and take the appropriate medication
from the shelf, drawer, or refrigerator.
4. Compare the label of the medication container or
unit–dose package with the order on the MAR or
computer printout. If they are not identical, recheck
the prescriber’s written order in the client’s chart. If
there still is a discrepancy, check with the nurse in
charge, or with the pharmacist.
5. Check the expiration date of the medication. Return
expired medications to the pharmacy.
6. Use only medications that have clear, legible labels.
Prepare the medication.
7. Calculate medication dosage accurately.
8. Prepare the correct amount of medication for the
required dose, without contaminating the medication.
9. While preparing the medication, recheck each
prepared drug and container with the MAR again.
Tablets or Capsules
10. Place packaged unit–dose capsules or tablets directly
into the medicine cup. Do not remove the medication
from the wrapper until at the bedside.
11. If using a stock container, pour the required number
into the bottle cap, then transfer the medication to the
disposable cup without touching the tablets.
12. Keep narcotics and medications that require specific
assessments—such as pulse measurements,
respiratory rate or depth, or blood pressure—separate
from the others.
13. Break scored tablets only, if necessary to obtain the
correct dosage. Use a file or cutting device if needed.
Check the agency policy as to whether unused
portions of a medication can be discarded and, if so,
how they are to be discarded.
14. If the client has difficulty swallowing, crush the tablets
(check to make sure tablets may be crushed) to a fine
powder with a pill crusher, or between two medication
cups. Then mix the powder with a small amount of
soft food, such as applesauce.
Liquid Medication
15. Thoroughly mix the medication before pouring.
Discard any medication that has changed color or
turned cloudy.
16. Remove the cap and place it upside down on the
countertop.
17. Hold the bottle so the label is next to your palm, and
pour the medication away from the label.
18. Place the medication cup at eye level and fill it to the
desired level, using the bottom of the meniscus to
align with the container scale.
19. Before capping the bottle, wipe the lip with a paper
towel.
20. When giving small amounts of liquids (< 5 mL),
prepare the medication in a sterile syringe without the
needle, or in a specially designed oral syringe. Label
the syringe with the name of the medication and the
route (PO).
21. Keep unit–dose liquids in their packages and open
them at the bedside.
Oral Narcotics
22. If an agency uses a manual recording system for
controlled substances, check the narcotic record for
the previous drug count and compare it with the
supply available.
23. Remove the next available tablet and drop it in the
medicine cup.
24. After removing a tablet, record the necessary
information on the appropriate narcotic control record
and sign it.
Note: Computer-controlled dispensing systems allow
access only to the selected drug, and automatically
record its use.
All Medications
25. Place the prepared medication and MAR together on
the medication cart.
26. Recheck the label on the container before returning
the bottle, box, or envelope to its storage place.
27. Avoid leaving prepared medications unattended.
28. Lock the medication cart before entering the client’s
room.
29. Check the room number against the MAR if agency
policy does not allow the MAR to be removed from the
medication cart.
30. Provide for client privacy.
Prepare the client.
31. Check the client’s identification band.
32. Assist the client to a sitting position or, if not possible,
to a side-lying position.
33. If not previously assessed, take the required
assessment measures, such as pulse and respiratory
rates or blood pressure.
34. Explain the purpose of the medication and how it will
help, using language that the client can understand.
Include relevant information about effects.
Administer the medication at the correct time.
35. Take the medication to the client within 30 minutes
before or after the scheduled time.
36. Give the client sufficient water or preferred juice to
swallow the medication. Before using juice, check for
any food and medication incompatibilities.
37. If the client is unable to hold the pill cup, use it to
introduce the medication into the client’s mouth, and
give only one tablet or capsule at a time.
38. If an older child or adult has difficulty swallowing, ask
the client to place the medication on the back of the
tongue before taking the water.
39. If the medication has an objectionable taste, ask the
client to suck a few ice chips beforehand, or give the
medication with juice, applesauce, or bread, if there
are no contraindications.
40. If the client says that the medication you are about to
give is different from what the client has been
receiving, do not give the medication without first
checking the original order.
41. Stay with the client until all medications have been
swallowed.
Document each medication given.
42. Record the medication given, dosage, time, any
complaints or assessments of the client, and your
signature.
43. If medication was refused or omitted, record this fact
on the appropriate record; document the reason,
when possible, and the nurse’s actions, according to
agency policy.
44. Dispose of all supplies appropriately.
Replenish stock and return the cart to the appropriate
place.
Discard used disposable supplies.
45. Evaluate the effects of the medication.
Return to the client when the medication is expected
to take effect to evaluate the effects of the medication
on the client.
TOTAL
________________________
Clinical Instructor
(Sign over printed name)

Administering Oral Medications 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Administering Oral Medications 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Administering Oral Medications 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ateneo de Zamboanga University

NAME: _____________________ DATE PERFORMED: _

ADMINISTERING ORAL MEDICATIONS

1. Perform hand hygiene and observe other appropriate

You might also like