Medication Administration Step-by-Step

Administering Eye Drops

Medical Equipments:

Medication Administration Record (MAR)

Tissue or cotton ball

Eye Medication (drops)

Nonsterile gloves

Nursing Procedures:

Assess the patient and the cart for any allergies

Check the written orders on MAR

Obtains the necessary equipments

Follow the five rights of drug administration

Determine the identification armband

Explain the procedure to the patient and ask if he or she wants to instill his or her own eye drops

Wash hand and don non-sterile gloves

Gently wash the eye if there is crust or drainage along the margins of inner canthus. (always wipe from the innter canthus to the outer and use warm soaks to soften material if necessary)

Position patient in a supine position with the head slightly hyperextented

Remove cap from eye bottle and place cap on its side

Squeeze the amount of medication as prescribed into the eyedropper

Put a tissue below the lower lid

With dominant hand, hold eyedropper ½ to ¾ inch above the eyeball, the rest hand is on patient forehead to stabilize

Place nondominant hand on cheekbone and expose lower conjunctival sac by pulling on cheek while applying slight pressure to the inner chantus

Instruct the patient to look up and drop the drops into center of conjunctival sac

Do not instill medication drops directly into the cornea

If the patient blinks and the drops land on the outer lid or eyelash, repeat the procedure

Instruct patient to close and move eyes gently

Remove gloves and wash hands

Record the route, site, and time administered on the MAR

Administering Eye Medication Disk

Medical Equipments:

Medication Administration Record (MAR)

Tissue or cotton ball

Eye Medication (medication disk)

Nonsterile gloves

Nursing Procedures:

Assess the patient and the cart for any allergies

Check the written orders on MAR

Obtains the necessary equipments

Follow the five rights of drug administration

Determine the identification armband

Explain the procedure to the patient and ask if he or she wants to instill his or her own eye drops

Wash hand and don non-sterile gloves

Gently wash the eye if there is crust or drainage along the margins of inner canthus. (always wipe from the innter canthus to the outer and use warm soaks to soften material if necessary)

Position patient in a supine position with the head slightly hyperextented

To Insert Medication Disk:

Open sterile package and pres dominant, gloved finger against the oval disk so it lies lengthwise across fingertip

Instruct patient to look up

With non-dominant hand, gently pull the lower eyelid down and place the disk horizontally in the conjunctival sac. The disk should float on the sclera between the iris and the lower eyelid

Pull the lower eyelid out, up and over the disk

Instruct patient to blink several times

If disk is still visible, repeat the steps

When the disk is in place, instruct patient to press his fingers against his closed lid but do not rub eyes or move the disk across the cornea

If the disk falls out, rinse it under cool water and reinsert it

To Remove Medication Disk:

With non-dominant hand, invert the lower eyelid and identify the disk

If the disk is located in the upper eye, instruct patient to close the eye and place your finger on closed eyelid. Apply gentle, long, circular strokes and instruct patient to open the eye. Disk then should be located in the corner of eye. With your fingertip, slide the disk to the lower lid, then proceed

With dominant hand, use the forefinger to slide the disk onto the lid and out the patient’s eye

Remove gloves and wash hands

Record it on the MAR

Administering Eye Ointment

Medical Equipments:

Medication Administration Record (MAR)

Tissue or cotton ball

Eye Medication (ointment)

Nonsterile gloves

Nursing Procedures:

Assess the patient and the cart for any allergies

Check the written orders on MAR

Obtains the necessary equipments

Follow the five rights of drug administration

Determine the identification armband

Explain the procedure to the patient and ask if he or she wants to instill his or her own eye drops

Wash hand and don non-sterile gloves

Gently wash the eye if there is crust or drainage along the margins of inner canthus. (always wipe from the innter canthus to the outer and use warm soaks to soften material if necessary)

Position patient in a supine position with the head slightly hyperextented

For Lower Lid:

With non-dominant hand, separate eyelids with thumb and finger, and grasp lower lid near margin immediately below the lashes, exert pressure downward over the bony prominence of the cheek

Instruct the patient to look up

Apply eye ointment along inside edge of the entire lower eyelid, from inner to outer canthus

For Upper Lid:

Instruct patient to look down

With non-dominant hand, gently grasp patient’s lashes near center of upper lid with thum and index finger, and draw lid up and away from eyeball

Apply ointment along upper lid starting at inner chantus

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 2240