Nursing 104

N104: Essentials of Nursing Care – Health Safety Study Guide Chapter Eight: Medication Safety Medication administration is one of the most critical and potentially dangerous activities that a nurse performs. The prudent nurse must understand principles of medication safety, administration, and factors influencing medication safety. All medications must meet legal standards as determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 8.1 Principles of Medication Safety Medication Forms and Preparations A drug is a chemical compound that affects an organism. A medication is a drug that has an intended therapeutic effect on an organism. A medication may be identified by one of three names: • The chemical name describes the molecular structure of a medication (e.g., N-acetyl-para- aminophenol). This name typically is only used by drug companies and chemists. • The generic name is the name assigned by the manufacturer of the drug and is the official name assigned by the FDA. The generic name is not capitalized (e.g., acetaminophen). • The trade name (brand name) is the name a specific manufacturer gives to their brand of a generic medication (e.g., Tylenol). Medications can be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will determine the speed and amount of absorption of the medication: • Oral o Tablet: Solid drug compressed into a shape to be swallowed or chewed o Capsule: Medication encased in a hard or soft coating o Caplet: Gelatin coated medication o Enteric coated tablet: Coated tablet that passes through the stomach and dissolves only when reaching the small intestine; should not be crushed o Elixir: Medication dissolved in liquid for oral administration o Lozenge or troche: Medication that is intended to be dissolved in the mouth o Suspension: Medication in a powder form, which is delivered in a liquid but does not dissolve prior to administration o Syrup: Medication dissolved in sugar water solution o Specialty tablet: Medication that allows rapid dissolving for sublingual administration • Inhaled o Aerosol: Medication suspended in a fine mist of liquid particles o Vaporizer: Medication suspended in larger mists of liquid particles • Parenteral o Solution: Medication dissolved in sterile liquid and intended for injection through the skin via IV, IM, SQ, intrathecal, or any other method of injection • Topical o Lotion: Medication suspended in a liquid for application to the skin o Ointment: Medication suspended in a semi-solid form for application to the skin

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