Administering Oral Medication

Medical Equipments:

• Medication administration record (MAR)
• Medication cart or tray
• Glass of water of juice
• Medication cup
• Medication properly labeled
• Straw

Nursing Procedures:

1. Identify the patient's potential problem such ach absence of a gag reflex
2. Check the MAR against the written orders
3. Identify for drug allergies
4. Wash your hand
5. Prepare the medication for one patient at a time
6. Select the correct medication and double-check against MAR
7. Calculate the medication doses if necessary and double-check for accuracy
8. Do not touch the drug while pouring in cup or leave the drug in the wrapper if unit-dose is available until at the bedside
9. For liquid medication: place the label side of the medicine bottle against your palm and pour the liquid at eye level


10. Recheck the medication with MAR
11. Check again MAR and make sure that all medications to be administered have been prepared
12. Place on the tray or medication cart
13. Check patient's armband before giving medication
14. Do any assessment required before the drug administration such ach apical pulse rate before digoxin administration
15. Place patient on sitting position
16. Provide liquids before and during ingestion and encourage patient to drink 5-6 oz of water
17. If the patient is unable to hold the medication cup, assist him/her by using medication cup to introduce the pills to the person's mouth one at time
18. If a drug / medication falls on the floor, discard it and start over
19. Remain with the patient until all medications have been swallowed
20. Wash your hand
21. Record the administered drug on the Medical Administration Record
22. Observe the side effects or adverse reaction that might be happened to the patient