Galen NUR 155 | Exam 4 | Practice Questions & Answers | Exam Prep
drug any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic function
medication drug specifically administered for its therapeutic effect on psychological function
6 rights of medication administration patient, time, dose, route, medication, documentation
Routes of medication administration -Oral administration
-Swallowed
-Sublingual
-Buccal
-Nasogastric
-gastric
-intestinal
-jejunal tubes
oral medications (PO) precautions always test the patients ability to swallow, level of consciousness, and if they are
experiencing nausea and vomiting
medication route: swallowing safest, most convenient, and least expensive (liquid or pill)
medication route: sublingual allows rapid absorption, placed under the tongue to dissolve
medication route: buccal allows rapid absorption, placed against the mucous membrane of the inner cheek
until dissolved completely
medication route: NG Tube check tube placement before med administration, crush med and mix with water,
flush before and after, if NG tube is hooked to suction, stop suction, give med, don't
start for 30 mins
topical medications lotions, creams, powders, and aerosol sprays
topical medication administration cleanse the skin before applying med, use gloves when applying to avoid
absorption through your skin
transdermal medications designed to be absorbed through the skin (usually a patch)
transdermal medications administration cleanse before placing, remove old patch, place in new spot from before
inhaled medication inhaler and nebulizer
2026-2027 / Stuvia Edition
, Galen NUR 155 | Exam 4 | Practice Questions & Answers | Exam Prep
Inhaled medication administration very rapid, administered through the respiratory tract
nasal medications nose drops, spray
Nose drop administration have pt blow nose and tilt head back (or to affected side), don't touch tip of
applicator, have pt leave head back for 5 mins
nose spray administration have patient tilt head down, looking at their feet with spray tip aimed in the direction
of the eye
otic medications (ear) should be room temp, if taking out the fridge, gently roll in hands
Otic medication administration pull ear up and outward for adults, down and back for children
if pt has a tympanic membrane that has been damaged, you want to be very
careful, ensure ear drops are room temp, use sterile technique -have the pt lie with
the ear to be treated in the uppermost position, wait 5 mins before administering in
another ear (if needed)
ophthalmic medications (eye) drops, oitments
Eyedrop Administration gently pull down skin below the eye to expose the conjunctival sac, administer
drops in center of sac, have pt blink several times, instruct patient to keep eyes
closed for 1-2 mins
Eye ointment administration squeeze a ¹⁄2-inch-wide strip of ointment onto the conjunctival sac, instruct pt to
close eyes for 2-3 mins, and inform them the med may temporarily blur vision
suppositories Rectal and vaginal
Rectal Suppositories administration can be local or systemic, often store in fridge, HAVE TO GO FROM FRIDGE TO
RECTUM, DONT PUT IN POCKET, position the pt on the left side with upper knee
flexed (left lateral position), to insert push pass the internal sphincter (3-4 in) instruct
pt to lay in same position with buttocks together for 5-10 mins, if its a laxative pt
should remain supine for 35-45 mins
vaginal suppositories administration have pt lie on back with knees flexed (dorsal recumbent position), fully insert using
a rolling motion, going downward and backward, instruct pt to lie on back for 5-10
mins
parenteral medications -administer by injection into tissue, muscle, or vein
-can be ampules, vials, powered, prefilled, or mixed
-includes intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular medications
intradermal injection is located where in the dermis
2026-2027 / Stuvia Edition
drug any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic function
medication drug specifically administered for its therapeutic effect on psychological function
6 rights of medication administration patient, time, dose, route, medication, documentation
Routes of medication administration -Oral administration
-Swallowed
-Sublingual
-Buccal
-Nasogastric
-gastric
-intestinal
-jejunal tubes
oral medications (PO) precautions always test the patients ability to swallow, level of consciousness, and if they are
experiencing nausea and vomiting
medication route: swallowing safest, most convenient, and least expensive (liquid or pill)
medication route: sublingual allows rapid absorption, placed under the tongue to dissolve
medication route: buccal allows rapid absorption, placed against the mucous membrane of the inner cheek
until dissolved completely
medication route: NG Tube check tube placement before med administration, crush med and mix with water,
flush before and after, if NG tube is hooked to suction, stop suction, give med, don't
start for 30 mins
topical medications lotions, creams, powders, and aerosol sprays
topical medication administration cleanse the skin before applying med, use gloves when applying to avoid
absorption through your skin
transdermal medications designed to be absorbed through the skin (usually a patch)
transdermal medications administration cleanse before placing, remove old patch, place in new spot from before
inhaled medication inhaler and nebulizer
2026-2027 / Stuvia Edition
, Galen NUR 155 | Exam 4 | Practice Questions & Answers | Exam Prep
Inhaled medication administration very rapid, administered through the respiratory tract
nasal medications nose drops, spray
Nose drop administration have pt blow nose and tilt head back (or to affected side), don't touch tip of
applicator, have pt leave head back for 5 mins
nose spray administration have patient tilt head down, looking at their feet with spray tip aimed in the direction
of the eye
otic medications (ear) should be room temp, if taking out the fridge, gently roll in hands
Otic medication administration pull ear up and outward for adults, down and back for children
if pt has a tympanic membrane that has been damaged, you want to be very
careful, ensure ear drops are room temp, use sterile technique -have the pt lie with
the ear to be treated in the uppermost position, wait 5 mins before administering in
another ear (if needed)
ophthalmic medications (eye) drops, oitments
Eyedrop Administration gently pull down skin below the eye to expose the conjunctival sac, administer
drops in center of sac, have pt blink several times, instruct patient to keep eyes
closed for 1-2 mins
Eye ointment administration squeeze a ¹⁄2-inch-wide strip of ointment onto the conjunctival sac, instruct pt to
close eyes for 2-3 mins, and inform them the med may temporarily blur vision
suppositories Rectal and vaginal
Rectal Suppositories administration can be local or systemic, often store in fridge, HAVE TO GO FROM FRIDGE TO
RECTUM, DONT PUT IN POCKET, position the pt on the left side with upper knee
flexed (left lateral position), to insert push pass the internal sphincter (3-4 in) instruct
pt to lay in same position with buttocks together for 5-10 mins, if its a laxative pt
should remain supine for 35-45 mins
vaginal suppositories administration have pt lie on back with knees flexed (dorsal recumbent position), fully insert using
a rolling motion, going downward and backward, instruct pt to lie on back for 5-10
mins
parenteral medications -administer by injection into tissue, muscle, or vein
-can be ampules, vials, powered, prefilled, or mixed
-includes intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular medications
intradermal injection is located where in the dermis
2026-2027 / Stuvia Edition
