Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

SKILL 5-24

Administering Medication via a

Small-Volume Nebulizer (Continued)

Comments

b. Ask the patient to state his or her name and birth date,

based on facility policy.

c. If the patient cannot identify him- or herself, verify the

patient’s identification with a staff member who knows

the patient for the second source.

15. Complete necessary assessments before administering med-
    ications. Check the patient’s allergy bracelet or ask the
    patient about allergies. Explain what you are going to do,
    and the reason for doing it, to the patient.


16. Scan the patient’s bar code on the identification band, if
    required.


17. Remove the nebulizer cup from the device and open it.
    Place premeasured unit-dose medication in the bottom sec-
    tion of the cup or use a dropper to place a concentrated
    dose of medication in cup and add prescribed diluent, if
    required.


18. Screw the top portion of the nebulizer cup back in place
    and attach the cup to the nebulizer. Attach one end of tub-
    ing to the stem on the bottom of the nebulizer cuff and the
    other end to the air compressor or oxygen source.


19. Turn on the air compressor or oxygen. Check that a fine
    medication mist is produced by opening the valve. Have
    patient place mouthpiece into mouth and grasp securely
    with teeth and lips.
    20.Instruct patient to inhale slowly and deeply through the
    mouth. A nose clip may be necessary if the patient is also
    breathing through the nose. Hold each breath for a slight
    pause, before exhaling.
    21.Continue this inhalation technique until all medication
    in the nebulizer cup has been aerosolized (usually about
    15 minutes). Once the fine mist decreases in amount,
    gently flick the sides of the nebulizer cup.


20. Have the patient gargle and rinse with tap water after
    using the nebulizer, as necessary. Clean the nebulizer
    according to the manufacturer’s directions.


21. Remove gloves and additional PPE, if used. Perform hand
    hygiene.


22. Document the administration of the medication immediately
    after administration.


23. Evaluate patient’s response to medication within appropri-
    ate time frame. Reassess lung sounds, oxygenation satura-
    tion if ordered, and respirations.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice