Medication Administration Competency
Student Name______________________________
Assessment Item
Description
Before entering
patients room
At med cart/MAR/computer
Identify patient that meds are to be given to
Makes 1st check when taking med out of
drawer/2nd check when preparing to
give/3rd check at bedside or entering room.
Prepare as follows:
Determined any assessments that
must take place prior to admin.
Hand Hygiene
Check expiration dates on meds
Oral Liquid: Open bottle and
place lid top side down.
Bottle label facing up (avoid
drips on label)
Pour correct amount of med into
med cup
Wipe bottle if needed
Oral Solid: Remove med from
packet/bottle without touching
med and place into medication
cup.
Crushed/Altered Meds: crush or
split med per facility policy.
Injections: Select appropriate
size needle, syringe
Vial: After opening wipe rubber
top of vial.
Tighten needle to syringe
Pull back on plunger to fill
syringe with an amount of air
equal to amount of solution to be
withdrawn
Expel air bubbles
Recheck amount in syringe
Turn vial to upright position and
remove needle
Replace needle guard using
scoop method. Do not hold guard
Change needle
Prepare ophthalmic or otic meds
as indicated and obtain any
supplies necessary.
Check all meds against MAR and
room number
LOCK MEDICATION CART
Administering
Medication
Checks the clients name verifies
medications against the medication record.
Perform hand hygiene
Provide patient privacy
Provide for a safety with two patient
Date ____________________
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
Comments
Faculty
Initials and Date
identifiers prior to administration. Armband
and have patient state name and DOB
Assess client allergy status
Administers medications according to the
six rights of administration: have student
verbalize 6 rights
Explain all meds being administered
Administering Oral
Medications
Assess patients swallowing ability
Makes final check before giving med (may
have already indicated this at cart)
Verbalized appropriate method form
administering sublingual medication
Performs appropriate administration of
sublingual medication.
Administering
Ophthalmic
Medications
Hand hygiene AND don gloves (exposure
to mucous membranes)
Appropriately cleans the eyelid and
eyelashes if needed
Performs appropriate administration of
ophthalmic medication gently pulling lid
down and having patient look up
Administering Otic
Medications
Hand hygiene AND don gloves (exposure
to mucous membranes)
Cleans the pinna of the ear and meatus of
the ear canal cotton tipped swab before
administration if needed
Performs appropriate administration of otic
medications
Warm bottle in hands
Pull back and up for adult;
straight back for child; back and
down for baby
Instill drops
Press gently but firmly on the
tragus of the ear
Have patient lay on side for about
5 minutes
Insert cotton ball loosely for 15
to 20 minutes
Administering
Nasal Medications
Performs appropriate administration of
nasal medications
Administering
Rectal Medications
Assists client to left lateral or left Sims
position. Don gloves
Performs appropriate preparation for
administration
Performs appropriation administration of
medication.
Administering
Intradermal
Injections
Performs appropriate procedure for
administration of intradermal injections
Administering
Subcutaneous
Injections
Hand hygiene AND don gloves
Cleansed area with antimicrobial wipe
Used thumb and forefinger and gently
grasped loose area of fatty tissue
Selects the appropriate site for injection.
Performs appropriate procedure for
administration of subcutaneous injections
explaining when 45 vs a 90 is used
Verbalizes appropriate administration of
subcutaneous anticoagulants (does not
aspirate or massage)
Injects med slow and wait 10 seconds
before withdrawing needle
Discard needle appropriately
Administering
Intramuscular
Injections
Conclusion
Hand hygiene AND don gloves
Selects the appropriate site for injection
(show ventrogluteal, dorsogluteal, vastus
lateralis and deltoid locations
Cleansed area with antimicrobial
Performs appropriate procedure for
administration of Intramuscular Injection
including using darting motion and
aspiration. Disposes of needle properly.
Wash hands
Ensure patient safety
Inform patient that you will be
checking response to meds if
necessary within 30 minutes
Record administration on MAR
Adapted from NCCLEB, Nursing: A Concept-Based Approach to Learning, 1 e, Copyright 2011 by Pearson Education
Faculty Signature_______________________________
Date ___________________
Additional Comments _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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