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Oral medications can be as

  • Suspension or Syrups

  • Tablets

  • Sublingual medications. 

Go through the following to be confident in administering oral medications

 

PROCEDURE

  • Wash hands with bactericidal soap and water or bactericidal alcohol hand rub

  • Before administering check if it is due and not been given already

  • Check the information in the prescription chart and make sure all details are correct

 

Look into the patient’s prescription for the following

  • Drug

  • Dose

  • Date and time of administration

  • Route of administration

  • Validity of the prescription

  • Signature of doctor

 

Select the required medications and check the expiration date

  • Empty the required dose of medication in a clean container. Don’t touch the medications

  • Take the medication and the prescription to the patient. Double check the patient’s identity by asking the patient to state their full name and date of birth. Look at the identity band to check as well

  • Explain the procedure to the patient and make sure to explain the action, and side effects of the drugs.

  • Administer the drug as prescribed

  • Offer water to drink if allowed

  • Record the dose, time and name of the person given by. Enter the batch number and expiry date as well

  • If you have to measure the dose in millilitres, you can use a sterile syringe to give it.

  • In babies and young children, the medicine is given by a syringe and directing it to the side of the mouth, toward the cheek.

 

REMEMBER

  • Irritant drugs can be given with meals.

  • If the medications interact with food, then better to administer it on empty stomach

 

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