What do you do if a client states that the drugs are different than what they are used to at home?
Double check medication chart
What do you do FIRST in applying a topical agent?
Clean area, wash skin with soap and water
What is polypharmacy and how does it relate to age? What are the two organs of the body that process medications and what happens if they have disorders of either one? How does that affect drug absorption and dosage and side effects?
- Polypharmacy - multiple medication, Elderly is taking a lot of medication for multiple health condition. - Liver is not functioning can become toxic to the body, Kidney cant get rid of the body�s wastes
What are the steps to giving ear drops? What if the eardrum is ruptured?
5-10 minutes
What are the steps to ear irrigation?
side lying or sitting position, same as above
What do you do if you pull back on an 1M injection and get blood in the syringe?
remove and throw away syringe and get a new one.
What are the sizes (length) and gauges of needles used for ID, 1M, SQ injections? How do you give each injection (angle, location: vastus lateralis, deltoid, ventrogluteal, dorsogluteal)
Sizes: 1. SQ 27-28 gauge, 5/8 to � inch 2. Insulin - 29 to 30 gauge, � to 5/16 3. ID - 25- 26, 3/8 to 5/8 inch 4. IM - 20 to 22 gauge, 1 to 1 � inch Angle: 1. IM (intramuscular) 90 - into the muscle2. SQ (subcutaneous) 45 - between dermis and muscle; 3. ID (intradermal) 15 - 20 to 22 gauge, 1 to 1 � inchInjection sites: Vastus Lateralis - made between the two hand Deltoid: no more than 2ml rectus femoris - ventrogluteal dorsogluteal
In giving a suppository to a client with hemorrhoids, what does the nurse need to do?
Assess the area
If a client has to take an unpleasant liquid, how do you help them take it?
use a straw, pinch the nose
If a client is talking on the phone and you have meds to give, what do you do?
Wait for the client to hang up or excuse themselves, Do not leave meds on the table with patient
What is the preferred drink to give when administering Fe to a client?
Fluids containg vitamin C (Orange juice), Vitamin C enhances the absorption of Iron
SL -
Sublingual: beneath the tongue
SR-
sustained release
Enteric coated -
designed to pass through the stomach without dissolving. Their special coating will dissolve in the intestine.
IV -
intravenous
Transdermal -
patches applied to the skin that provide sustained continuous release of medication
Wax matrix -
wax-like discharge from stool, discard - its normal
NG (when giving meds through NG tube that are hooked to ILS, what should the L VN do?) -
naso gastric clamp suction for 30 minutes
Spansule -
a medicinal capsule containing many tiny beads of medicine that dissolve at spaced intervals for long- acting medication
Lozenge -
hard circular disks made of medication in a candy form, dissolves in the mouth. treat sore throats
Scored =
indented to allow tablet to be broken in half
Capsule -
small two part containers that are usually made of a gelatin substance that is designed to dissolve in the stomach or GI Tract
Tablet -
a medication in the form of a powder compressed into a small dish-like shape
Convalescent/Convalescing -
recovering from a disease or operation
Terminal -
an advanced stage of disease with no known cure and poor prognosis
Anemia -
blood disorder characterized by red blood cell, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels below below normal range
Hypernatremia -
greater than normal concentration of sodium (>142 mEq/L) Signs and Symptoms - Dry tenacious mucous membranes - Low urinary output -Firm rubbery skin turgor -restlessness, agitation, confusion, flushed skin
Hyponatremia -
Less than normal concentration of sodium in the blood (<134 mEq/L) Signs and symptoms -headache -postural hypotension-muscle weakness, muscle twitching, tremors - Fatigue - Apathy- Nausea/Vomiting - Abdominal cramps
Hyperkalemia -
an increase in the body�s serum potassium level greater than 5 mEq/L Signs and symptoms - nausea, vomiting - Diarrhea, colic - Cardiac dysrhythmias -Irritability-Ecg changes - Hypotension- Numbness, tingling-Paresthesias- Skeletal muscle weakness, especially of lower extremity
Hypokalemia -
a decrease in the body�s potassium to a level less than 3.5 mEq/L Signs and symptoms - Skeletal muscle weakness (especially in lower extremities), leg cramps - Decreased bowel sounds, cramps and constipation, anorexia, nausea, vomiting - Orthostatic hypotension - Polyuria - Parenthersias, hypoflexia - Diminished deep tendon reflexes, lethargy, confusion; paralysis involving the respiratory - Cardiac Dysrhythmias; weak, irregular pulse - Ecg changes
Analgesic -
an agent that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness. Example: acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
Pruritis-
itching of the skin
Kegels (what muscles are used)? -
vagina and anus.