Question

A 50-year-old client with Crohn’s disease is in an acute health care facility. The client has progressively worsening dyspnea upon exertion. The primary care provider prescribes medications to the client, but one of the medications meant to be administered enterally is administered parenterally by the nurse. (Learning Objectives 13 and 14)

a. How can the nurse avert such errors in the future?

b. What should the nurse keep in mind when administering medications orally?

Answer 1

A -

A nurse can avoid such errors by carefully reading the orders before administering it to the patient. Routes for administering medications may include oral, parenteral, topical, enteral, inhalation, drops in the eyes or ears, or through injection. If you are uncertain of how a medication should be administered, or if the order is unclear, seek out additional clarification. Asking for clarification when in doubt is one of the SAFEST things a nurse can do for their patient.

B -

When preparing and administering oral tablets and liquid medications, the nurse must consider whether the medication is appropriate given for the patient's medical conditions, medication allergies, and current clinical status and when previous doses of the medication have been administered. Patients with altered gastrointestinal function (e.g., vomiting and nausea) should not be given oral medications since they would not be able to retain them. Oral medications are contraindicated in patients that are unconscious, uncooperative, or unable to swallow due to a medical problem. Medication administration also requires the nurse to be knowledgeable about the medication purpose, adverse effects, and patient preferences.