Nursing Essentials: Medication and Care Practices

Injecting medication into the body, not through the digestive system.

A time of medication administration that refers to taking it before a meal.

Checking the inside of the person's mouth to be sure it's clear and healthy before administering a buccal medication.

A large muscle in the thigh used for injecting medications.

The correct order to draw up different types of insulin—clear insulin first, then cloudy insulin second.

A saline solution with a lower concentration of salt than blood, which causes water to move into the cells from the blood.

IV fluids that have the same salt concentration as blood—e.g., Lactated Ringers and Normal Saline.

Do not administer sedatives or hypnotics to a client if one or more of their vital signs are outside of the normal range

A route of medication administration that bypasses the digestive system, often involving injections or infusions.

AC stands for 'Ante Cibum', Latin for 'before food', indicating medication administration before meals.

Always inspect the oral mucous membrane for any signs of irritation, ulcers, or infection.

A large muscle in the thigh, commonly used for intramuscular injections.

Draw up the clear insulin first, then the cloudy insulin.

Alcohol disrupts sleep cycles and often leads to poor quality sleep.

Respiratory distress or depressed breathing, as these medications can suppress the respiratory system.

It's recommended to use sleep medications for short periods, typically less than two weeks.

Older adults are more sensitive to sedatives/hypnotics and prone to over-sedation.

Hold the medication if you notice one or more vital signs outside of the normal range, like low heart rate, low blood pressure, or shallow breathing.

Active drains utilize suction to remove fluid from wounds.

Passive drains rely on gravity to remove fluid.

Wound healing progresses through three distinct stages: 1. Inflammatory, 2. Proliferation, and 3. Maturation.

Immediately lay the client flat on their back in a supine position to prevent further injury.

A painful procedure where a provider removes dead tissue from a wound, potentially causing bleeding.

Avoid hydrocolloid dressings for draining wounds, as they can trap moisture and increase the risk of infection.

0.45 saline is considered a hypotonic solution.

Flushing ensures the catheter is patent (open and free of obstruction), maintaining its function.

Lactated Ringer's and Normal Saline are considered isotonic solutions.

Signs include swelling, edema, cool skin around the site, and possible leaking of fluids.

Fluid overload manifests as rapid heart rate, crackling lung sounds, shortness of breath, moist cough, increased blood pressure, distended neck veins, and swelling in the lower extremities.

A healthy adult should aim for 1500-2000 ml of fluids per day.

Listen to the client's lung sounds for signs of congestion, gurgling, or wheezing. This indicates a need for suctioning.

Use half-strength peroxide and saline to clean the inner cannula, followed by rinsing with saline only.

Shake the inhaler, exhale completely, inhale slowly, press down and breathe in the medication, hold your breath for 10 seconds.

An endotracheal tube should be replaced with a tracheostomy tube after 10 days.