NUR 2474 PHARMACOLOGY FOR
PROFESSIONAL NURSING FINAL CONCEPT
REVIEW GUIDE 2026 MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION AND CLINICAL DECISION
MAKING
◉ How do you safely prepare medication?
Answer: Have good lighting & work alone.
Check medication label 3 times (When you grab the medication,
Before dispensing medication, & When you replace medication.)
Don't use anything without a label.
Bottles with bad labels need to be returned to the pharmacy.
Never transfer medication into another bottle.
Check expiration date.
Inspect & throw away decomposing medications.
◉ How would you administer medication via IM?
Answer: Injecting at 90° using the Z-Track method.
◉ How would you administer medication via IV?
Answer: Assess for allergies.
,Assess the IV site for complications.
Clean the port closest to the IV site with alcohol swab.
Administer medication.
◉ How would you administer medication via SubQ?
Answer: Injecting 45° (Skinny Patient) or 90° (Average Patient) into
the fatty tissue.
◉ How would you administer medication via oral route?
Answer: Assist the patient into an upright or side lying position.
Ask patient if they would like the medications in his/her hand or in
the cup.
Offer water.
Remain with the patient until each medication is swallowed. Never
leave the patient's bedside.
◉ How would you instill ear medications?
Answer: Warm the medication to prep it before entering the
patient's room.
Clean any ear drainage.
Place the patient on his/her unaffected side or have the patient sit
up with head titled to the unaffected side.
,Straighten the ear canal by pulling up & back for adults or down &
back for children.
Administer the medication and allow the drops to fall on the side of
the canal. Avoid instilling in the middle of the canal or the tympanic
membrane.
Instruct patient to remain in this position for 5 minutes.
Gently press on the tragus to facilitate the medication to travel
towards the tympanic membrane.
If ordered loosely place a cotton ball into the ear canal.
If you have to administer drops in both ear wait 5 minutes between
each side.
◉ How would you instill eye medications?
Answer: Offer the patient a tissue.
Cleanse each eye from the inner area to the outer area.
If the patient does not have cervical spine injury instruct the patient
to tilt his/her head back.
Gently apply pressure with fingers at the edge of the lower eyelid to
expose the conjunctival sac.
Administer the medication & release the lower eyelid.
Instruct patient to close eyes gently.
Apply gentle pressure on the inner canthus to prevent the
medication from flowing into the tear ducts.
Instruct patient not to rub eyes.
, ◉ How would you apply a transdermal patch?
Answer: Wear gloves!
Remove the old patch & fold it close on itself.
Clean the old site to remove residue.
Document date, time, & initials on the new patch.
Rotate site.
Clean the new site.
Apply the patch.
◉ How would you apply an ointment medication?
Answer: Wear gloves!
Clean the area.
If the medication is not powder, never administer the ointment
straight from the container! Squeeze the ointment into a disposable
cup.
Spread over the area as prescribed.
Observe for allergic reaction.
◉ Name the 5 injection sites for subcutaneous.
Answer: Abdomen
Upper Arm
PROFESSIONAL NURSING FINAL CONCEPT
REVIEW GUIDE 2026 MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION AND CLINICAL DECISION
MAKING
◉ How do you safely prepare medication?
Answer: Have good lighting & work alone.
Check medication label 3 times (When you grab the medication,
Before dispensing medication, & When you replace medication.)
Don't use anything without a label.
Bottles with bad labels need to be returned to the pharmacy.
Never transfer medication into another bottle.
Check expiration date.
Inspect & throw away decomposing medications.
◉ How would you administer medication via IM?
Answer: Injecting at 90° using the Z-Track method.
◉ How would you administer medication via IV?
Answer: Assess for allergies.
,Assess the IV site for complications.
Clean the port closest to the IV site with alcohol swab.
Administer medication.
◉ How would you administer medication via SubQ?
Answer: Injecting 45° (Skinny Patient) or 90° (Average Patient) into
the fatty tissue.
◉ How would you administer medication via oral route?
Answer: Assist the patient into an upright or side lying position.
Ask patient if they would like the medications in his/her hand or in
the cup.
Offer water.
Remain with the patient until each medication is swallowed. Never
leave the patient's bedside.
◉ How would you instill ear medications?
Answer: Warm the medication to prep it before entering the
patient's room.
Clean any ear drainage.
Place the patient on his/her unaffected side or have the patient sit
up with head titled to the unaffected side.
,Straighten the ear canal by pulling up & back for adults or down &
back for children.
Administer the medication and allow the drops to fall on the side of
the canal. Avoid instilling in the middle of the canal or the tympanic
membrane.
Instruct patient to remain in this position for 5 minutes.
Gently press on the tragus to facilitate the medication to travel
towards the tympanic membrane.
If ordered loosely place a cotton ball into the ear canal.
If you have to administer drops in both ear wait 5 minutes between
each side.
◉ How would you instill eye medications?
Answer: Offer the patient a tissue.
Cleanse each eye from the inner area to the outer area.
If the patient does not have cervical spine injury instruct the patient
to tilt his/her head back.
Gently apply pressure with fingers at the edge of the lower eyelid to
expose the conjunctival sac.
Administer the medication & release the lower eyelid.
Instruct patient to close eyes gently.
Apply gentle pressure on the inner canthus to prevent the
medication from flowing into the tear ducts.
Instruct patient not to rub eyes.
, ◉ How would you apply a transdermal patch?
Answer: Wear gloves!
Remove the old patch & fold it close on itself.
Clean the old site to remove residue.
Document date, time, & initials on the new patch.
Rotate site.
Clean the new site.
Apply the patch.
◉ How would you apply an ointment medication?
Answer: Wear gloves!
Clean the area.
If the medication is not powder, never administer the ointment
straight from the container! Squeeze the ointment into a disposable
cup.
Spread over the area as prescribed.
Observe for allergic reaction.
◉ Name the 5 injection sites for subcutaneous.
Answer: Abdomen
Upper Arm
