What precaution need to be taken into consideration when administering parenteral medications?

Answer 1

This is quite a loaded question. There are many precautions you need to take.

1. Ensure proper administration
2. Use at least 2 patient identifiers to check for the correct patient
3. Use technology to decrease errors (i.e. bar-code scanning)
4. Be aware of high-alert meds and look-alike, sound-alike drugs
5. Double check for allergies
6. Double check dosage calculations
7. Use the correct needle at the proper angle, ensure correct admin route, and admin rate, patient is in proper position
8. Prevent infection
9. Use aseptic technique and perform hand hygiene. Keep sterile parts of needle sterile
10. Use single-dose vials whenever possible. Do not leave multi-dose vials in pt treatment area
11. Use new and sterile equipment with each new patient
12. Prevent needle stick injuries
13. Always have a sharps container right next to you.
14. Dispose of syringe immediately
15. Do not recap needle.

Answer 2

Parenteral medications are medications that are not delivered by mouth. Examples of parental routes of medication administration include subcutaneously (SQ), intramuscularly (IM), and intravenously (IV). However, every medication administration should follow the 5 Rights of Administration:

1. Right Patient: Verify that the medication you are going to administer is for the right patient. This can be verified by double checking the patient name listed on the medication label (or chart or patient wristband) while the actual patient states their name and date of birth.
2. Right Drug: Make sure you grabbed the vial or pill that you intended to. Double check this by looking at the drug compared to the MAR.
3. Right Dose: Medications can come in a variety of doses- make sure you are giving the appropriate amount to the patient!
4. Right Route: Make sure the medication is going into the patient the way that it was intended. For example, make sure the SQ heparin is given SQ and not IV.
5. Right Time: Typically, medications can be given one hour before or one hour after the scheduled time