- Subcutaneous (beneath skin): injection
- Intramuscular (in muscle): injection
- Intravenous (in vein): injection
- Nasogastric and gastronomy tubes: liquid
- Transdermal: patches
Make sure that the patient can swallow if the route of the medication is by
mouth and stay with the patient until the medication is swallowed. Enteric
coated or time-release drugs should not crushed or mixed. Caution should be
used when administering intravenous medications because the body quickly
absorbs these drugs. Therefore, healthcare providers need to know expected side
effects, effects that occur when the drug is first given, effects the drug has dur-
ing its therapeutic peak, and duration of the drug’s action. Caution should be
used when administering any medication via this route.
Self-administration of medication (SAM) is the normal practice for patients
in the home and workplace. This method is also used in some acute and long-
term care institutional settings. In these settings the nurse gives the patient a
packet of medications with instructions that are kept at the bedside. The
patient takes the medication according to the instructions and advises the nurse
when he or she has done so. This practice help patients learn how to manage
the medications and prepares them for discharge and use of these medications
in the home. This method is often used with oncology (cancer) patients and
maternity patients.
Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) is a common method of administering
intravenous pain medication for many patients. This will be discussed further in
a subsequent chapter.
RIGHT TO REFUSE MEDICATION
A mentally competent patient has the right to refuse medication. Refusal is doc-
umented on the patient record. Patients should be advised of the consequences
of the refusal to take the medication such as a worsening of the condition. As a
general rule, every effort is made to encourage the patient to take the medica-
tion. However, no one should physically force a patient to take medication.
RIGHT TO EDUCATION
The patient has the right to be told about the medication that is about to be
administered. The patient is told:
CHAPTER 1 An Inside Look at Pharmacology^19