How To Administer Oral Medication And Procedure For Oral Drugs is being discussed in this article for nurses.This knowledge will increase the knowledge of nurses in practical oral medication.

Equipment

1. Small tray. 2. Medicine chart. 3. Ounce measure.
2. Container with drinking water. 5. Spoon.

Procedure For Oral Medication

• Wash your hands before handling oral drugs. Avoid hand­ling pills, tablets and capsules by tip of your fingers. Use a spoon or even the cap of a container to transfer the drug.
• Check the drugs in your chart with that of doctors order. Sometimes by mistake you may give drugs wrongly to one patient if you do not check the bed number, the chart and order book.
• Check the label of drug on the containers.
• Shake liquids and make sure that the drug is evenly distribu­ted throughout. This is necessary since some drugs settles down at the bottom of container. Without shaking the drug may have adverse effect or no effect.
• Take the medicine glass or ounce measure with left hand and’ pour the medicine measuring by putting thumb nail in your from.
• Holding the ounce glass at eye level check the dose.
• The drug should be supplied to the patient in a clean Con­tainer. Clean paper or cloth should be used for wrapping tablets, capsules and powders.
• The use of a medicine glass, ounce measure or spoon is necessary to make sure that the correct dose is dispensed. Pour out liquid drug from side of the container away from the label to avoid staining or disfiguring the label waxing.

• Disagreeable taste can be masked by mixing the drug with sugar, honey or jaggery. Avoid mixing drugs with food especially for children because they may reject the food later on.
• For children give drugs slowly to avoid chocking. Never pinch the nose while administering drugs because the drug may be breathed into air passage causing dangerous problems. If the child does not open his mouth press the chin down or press the cheeks.
• Record on chart the time, amount and initials of nurse giving: drugs. Any reaction after medication should be noted.
• Tablets and capsules when administered wait till the patient swallows

Points to Remember for Oral Drugs

• The patients may not swallow drugs.
• The patient may vomit it out just after taking in mouth, in this case the drug may be repeated.
• Never give oral medication to unconscious patients.
• Avoid giving drugs to patient who is constantly vomiting.
• If an oral drug is to be given three times a day without any further specification, it is understood to give the drug after food.
• Slow acting purgatives are given at bed time. Mild acting are given early in the morning.
• In medicine cup board medicines for external use and inter­nal use should be kept in separate shelves.Poisonous drugs should be kept in a separate cupboard with- labelling of ‘poison.
• Oils should be kept over a piece of cloth or paper to prevent soiling of cup board.
• Never administer any drug which shows change in colour,, consistency and odour.

How To Administer Oral Medication.

Medicines come in various forms, doses, and routes of administration. Incorrect use can actually reduce the effectiveness of the drug and cause unexpected side effects. That is why every patient must understand how to use the drug before starting to use it.

Various ways of administering drugs

The way drugs are given is differentiated based on three main factors. These factors include the part of the body that needs to be treated, the reaction of the drug in the body, and the content of the drug.

For example, there are certain medications that will be destroyed by stomach acid if taken directly. These types of medications are usually given by injection to avoid this effect.

To understand more clearly, here are various ways of administering medication:

1. Taken directly (orally)

Taking medication orally is generally intended for medication in liquid, tablet, capsule, or chewable tablet form.

This is the most common method of administering medication because it is much easier, safer, and cheaper than other methods.

After taking the medicine, it will be absorbed through the intestinal wall. This process can be affected by the food and other medicines you consume.

Drugs that have been absorbed are then broken down by the liver before finally being circulated by the blood throughout the body.

2. Injection (parenteral)

There are several ways to administer medication using injections. Usually, these methods are distinguished by the injection site. Some of them are:

• This medication is injected into the fatty tissue just beneath the skin. The medication then enters small blood vessels (capillaries) into the bloodstream to be distributed throughout the body. Insulin is one of the most common methods of administering this medication.
• This method is intended for patients who need a larger dose of medication. The medication is injected directly into the muscle tissue of the upper arm, thigh, or buttocks using a large needle.
• Often referred to as an infusion, intravenous drug administration involves injecting a fluid containing the drug directly into a vein. The drug can be given in one dose or continuously.
• This method is intended to treat diseases of the brain, spine, and its protective layers. The drug is injected through a needle inserted into the gap between two vertebrae in the lumbar region.

3. Topical

Topical medications are types of medications that are absorbed directly by the body’s surface , especially the skin. Examples of topical medications are ointments, lotions, creams, powders, gels, and patches that are applied to the skin.

Using medication topically has the advantage that the effects of the medication will be felt directly on the part of the body that needs it.

The risk of side effects is also smaller because the drugs do not pass through other areas of the body directly.

4. Suppositories (rectal)

Suppositories are a type of medication that is inserted through the anus. This type of medication is intended for patients who cannot swallow medication directly, experience severe nausea, or must fast before and after surgery.

Suppository medicines are solid and contain a type of wax that easily breaks down once in the rectum. The rectal wall consists of a thin surface with many blood vessels so that the medicine can be absorbed quickly.

5. Other ways

In addition to the various methods above, you can also use medicine through other methods as needed. For example:

• Tablets placed under the tongue (sublingual) or on the inside of the cheek (buccal)
• A medicated tablet, liquid, gel, cream, or ring that is inserted into the vagina
• Liquid eye drops
• Liquid ear drops
• Drug particles inhaled directly or through vapor

The way you give your medicine has a big impact on your recovery. Make sure that you always take your medicine in the right way and dosage to reduce the risk of side effects or other health problems.Ask your doctor if there is anything you do not understand about taking medication. Do not change the dose or stop using it without permission or advice from your doctor.