Process of Drug Administration

PROCESS OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION

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Introduction

Drug administration refers to the process of giving a medication to a patient in a prescribed dose, via a specific route, at proper intervals to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

General Principles of Drug Administration

1. Right Patient – Verify patient identity.
2. Right Drug – Administer exactly as prescribed.
3. Right Dose – Measure accurately.
4. Right Route – Oral, IV, IM, etc.
5. Right Time – Maintain correct intervals.
6. Right Documentation – Record administration details.
7. Right Reason – Know the indication.
8. Right Response – Monitor for effectiveness or side effects.

Routes of Drug Administration

Route	Description	Example
Oral (PO)	By mouth; convenient & safe	Tablets, capsules
Sublingual	Under the tongue; fast absorption	Nitroglycerin
Buccal	In cheek pouch	Hormone tablets
Rectal	Via rectum; used in vomiting/unconscious	Suppositories
Topical	On skin/mucosa	Creams, ointments
Inhalation	Via lungs; rapid action	Inhalers, nebulizers
Parenteral	By injection; bypasses GI tract	IV, IM, SC

Parenteral Routes (Injections)

Route	Description	Site
Intravenous (IV)	Directly into vein	Forearm, hand
Intramuscular (IM)	Into muscle tissue	Deltoid, gluteus
Subcutaneous (SC)	Into subcutaneous layer	Abdomen, thigh
Intradermal (ID)	Into dermis layer	Forearm (TB test)

Factors Influencing Drug Administration

• Age and weight
• Renal and liver function
• Allergies
• Consciousness level
• Route and drug formulation
• Food/drug interactions
• Patient compliance

Precautions Before Administration

• Wash hands and maintain aseptic technique
• Double-check drug label and expiry date
• Confirm patient allergy history
• Educate patient about the drug (name, purpose, side effects)
• Ensure availability of emergency care in case of adverse reaction

Legal and Ethical Considerations

• Administer only prescribed drugs
• Follow institutional policies
• Document time, dose, route, and any side effects
• Report any medication errors immediately

Medication Errors

• Wrong patient, drug, dose, route, or time
• Omissions or unauthorized drug use
• Poor communication or handwriting

Documentation After Drug Administration

• Drug name
• Dose
• Route
• Time and date
• Nurse/Healthcare provider’s initials
• Patient's response (especially if abnormal)

Patient Education

• Explain how and when to take the drug
• Discuss possible side effects
• Emphasize importance of compliance
• Encourage to report any unusual symptoms

Special Considerations

• Pediatric patients: Adjust dose carefully, use appropriate formulations
• Geriatric patients: Watch for polypharmacy, altered metabolism
• Pregnant/Lactating women: Avoid teratogenic drugs
• Critically ill patients: May need IV drugs for rapid effect

Common Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
OD	Once daily
BD	Twice daily
TID	Three times a day
QID	Four times a day
PRN	As needed
Stat	Immediately
PO	By mouth
IV	Intravenous

Video Description

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