This document outlines guidelines for administering various types of oral, topical, inhaled, and rectal/vaginal medications. It describes different drug forms like tablets, liquids, creams and patches. It provides instructions on using measuring devices, giving oral medications, applying topical drugs, administering eye/ear drops and nasal sprays, and inserting suppositories. The document emphasizes best practices like proper positioning, hygiene, and monitoring the person after administration.

1. Medication Aide
Chapters 10-13

2. Solid and liquid oral dose forms
 Capsule
 Tablet
 Lozenge
 Elixir
 Emulsion
 Suspension
 syrup

3. Equipment to measure
 Souffle cup
 Medicine cup
 Medicine dropper
 Syringe
 teaspoon

4. How to administer oral,
sublingual, and buccal drugs
 Give most important drug first (cardiac or antibiotics)
 Give solid drugs first then liquids: do not mix solid drugs
with liquids
 Do not let container touch souffle or medicine cup
 Turn lip or cap upside down, do not touch inside of lid or
cap
 Use souffle or medicine cup for all capsules and tablets
 Check with nurse before crushing tablets or opening
capsules or scoring a tablet
 Do not mix drugs with food or fluids unless directed
 Have person drink before taking drug
 Have person place well back on tongue
 Give person fluids to swallow drug
 Have person keep head forward while swallowing

5. Cont…
 Encourage person to drink full glass of fluid
 Remind person to suck on lozenges
 Do not dilute liquid drug unless ordered
 Do not mix liquid drugs together
 Give cough syrup last
 Do not return excess liquid to container
 Sublingual (under tongue) no water to drink,
allow drug to absorb
 Buccal (placed between cheek and teeth) no
water drink, allow drug absorb
 If liquid is less then 5cc. Use a syringe to
measure

6. Problems swallowing
 Have resident in sitting position
 Give sip of water prior to administration
 Give medication one-at-a-time with adequate
fluid, do not rush resident
 Give most vital medications first
 place medication well back on tongue
 Use straw versus glass
 Give liquid medications slowly
 Check to be sure each medication swallowed
 Watch for choking, call for help immediately
 If problems persists, report to nurse

7. Topical Drugs
 Topical drugs
◦ Cream
◦ Lotion
◦ Ointment
◦ Powder
◦ Transdermal patches
 Equipment
◦ Gauze, cotton ball
◦ Washcloth, towel
◦ Tongue blade, cotton-tipped applicator
◦ Gloves, finger cot

8. administration
 Provide privacy
 Wear gloves
 Position person (exposed application site)
 Cleanse application site- will need to remove old application, you need to
rotate application site (nitroglycerine ointment & all transdermal’s)
 May need to shake lotion bottle, pour onto cotton ball, plastic cup or gauze
pad
 Use tongue blade to remove cream from jar
 It tube, squeeze small amount onto gauze pad
 Apply agent in thin layer, in direction of hair growth with firm gentle strokes
 Use gloved hand to apply powder in thin, even coverage
 Do not rub or massage nitroglycerine ointment into skin; write date, time,
your name on tape securing new application; document application site
 Transdermal disk or patch- similar to nitroglycerine application; date &
initial the patch prior to removing the plastic backing, place exposed side of
patch to skin, press firmly in place
 Apply clean gloves once the site has been cleaned, prior to applying the
new cream or patch
 If excess body hair is present, clip the hair close to the skin, but don’t
shave it

9. Eyes, ear, nose, and inhaled drugs
◦ Opthalmic drops
◦ Opthamic ointment
◦ Otic drops
◦ Nasal drops
◦ Nasal sprays metered-dose inhaled medication
 Equipment
◦ Gauze pads, cotton balls
◦ Washcloth
◦ Tissues
◦ Gloves

10. administration
 Eye
◦ Position person properly (supine, sitting, Fowler’s position; head
tipped back)
◦ Remove eye secretions with saline & guaze pads or washcloth
folded into fourth’s (clean inner aspect to outer)starting with the
eye farthest away from you
◦ Give eye drops at room temperature
◦ Don’t allow container to touch eye, face, etc.
◦ Apply ordered number of drops 1/2-3/4 inch above conjunctival
sac
◦ Drops-remind that will cause burning or blurriness
◦ If 1 kind-wait 1 min between drops-if more then 1 kind wait 1-5
min
◦ Ointment-remind that will cause blurriness
◦ Waste a small amt. on a tissue to ensure ointment is not
contaminated
◦ Squeeze ointment in strip fashion into conjunctival sac from inner
to outer aspect
◦ Have person close eye after application
◦ Use tissue to blot excess- do not rub or wipe

11. Cont…
 Ear
◦ Give ear drops at room temperature
◦ Position in side lying position (affected ear up)
◦ Remove excess cerumen with wet washcloth
◦ Pull adult ear upward and back
◦ Insert cotton plug loosely into ear if ordered; have person remain
on side for 5-10 minutes-may switch to other side after 5 min
 Nasal
◦ Tell patient medication may cause burning or stinging feeling
◦ Have them blow their nose prior to using the spray-unless has a
head injury or surgery or has had nasal surgery
◦ Position: drops- supine head over edge of mattress; or place a
rolled up towel under the neck area
spray- sitting or semi-fowler’s –block the opposite nostril that’s
being sprayed
Have take a deep breath as the spray is squeezed into the nose
Remind person not to blow nose after application for several minutes
Do not dispose of clip

12. Cont….
 Inhaled
◦ Follow manufacture’s directions with dry powder via dispenser
◦ Give broncho-dilator before cortico-steroid
◦ Check inside inhaler for foreign matter
◦ Shake canister-have take 2 deep breaths-hold the canister about 1”
from the mouth
◦ Have person exhale, squeeze dispenser on the count of 3 while
inhaling deeply, slowly 3-5 seconds
◦ Have person hold breath for at least 10 seconds, exhale slowly
◦ Person may use spacer if unable to follow directions well-this can
be placed in the mouth
◦ Wait 1 min. before giving 2nd puff if it is the same drug
◦ Wait 1-3 minutes before giving second inhaled drug if different
◦ Have person rinse mouth after inhaling cortico-steroid
◦ Clean inhaler & spacer after administration
◦ Nep. tx’s can be done by a med aide if the person has been stable
& documented as such for a period of 6 mo.’s without any problems
or complications

13. Vaginal and Rectal Drugs
 Drug forms
◦ Creams
◦ Gels
◦ Tablets
◦ Foams
◦ Suppositories
 Equipment
◦ Applicator
◦ Water-soluble lubricant
◦ Pillow
◦ Perineal pad or panty shield
◦ Gloves
◦ Paper towels, toilet tissue

14. How to administer
 Follow standard precautions
 Provide privacy
 Insert rounded end of suppository first
 Administer drug at room temperature
 Vaginal drugs
◦ Have woman void
◦ Position in lithotomy position
◦ Spread labia to expose vagina
◦ Apply perineal pad/panty shield after administration of drug
◦ Remain supine, hips elevated 5-10 minutes
 Rectal drugs
◦ Have person move bowels (if possible)
◦ Position in Sims’ position or left side lying
◦ Raise upper buttocks to expose anus
◦ Use lubrication such as KY gel
◦ Insert toward the spine
◦ Don’t leave the suppository in feces or it will not work
◦ Remain in position 15-20 minutes