PROCEDURE CHECKLIST

Chapter 23: Administering Oral Medications

Check () Yes or No
PROCEDURE STEPS
Before, during, and after the procedure, follows
Principles-Based Checklist to Use with All Procedures,
including: Identifies the patient according to agency
policy; attends appropriately to standard precautions, hand
hygiene, safety, privacy, body mechanics, and
documentation.
1. Prepares and administers medications according to
Medication Guidelines: Steps to Follow for All
Medications.
Tablets and Capsules:
2. If pouring from a multidose container, does not touch
the medication. Pours the tablet into the cap of the bottle,
then into the medication cup.
3. Pours the correct number of tablets into the
medication cup.
4. If necessary to give less than a whole tablet, breaks a
scored tablet with gloved hands; uses a pill cutter if
necessary. Does not break an unscored tablet.
5. If the drug is unit-dose, does not open package; places
the entire package in paper (souffl) cup.
6. If patient has difficulty swallowing, checks to see if
the pill can be crushed. If so, mixes with soft food.
7. Pours all medications scheduled at the same time into
the same cup, except uses a separate cup for any
medications requiring preadministration assessment
8. Completes preadministration assessments if needed.
9. If patient is able to hold it, places the tablet or
medication cup in her hand. If unable to hold it, places the
medication cup to her lips and tips the pill(s) into her mouth.
10. Provides a liquid to swallow the pills.
Sublingual Medications:
11. Places, or asks patient to place, the tablet under the
tongue and hold there until completely dissolved.
Buccal Medications:
12. Places, or asks patient to place, the tablet between the
cheek and teeth and hold there until completely dissolved.

Yes

No

COMMENTS

Copyright 2011, F. A. Davis Company, Wilkinson & Treas/Procedure Checklists for Fundamentals of Nursing, 2e

Chapter 23: Administering Oral Medications (continued)

PROCEDURE STEPS

Yes

No

COMMENTS

Liquids:
13. Shakes the liquid, if necessary, before opening the
container.
14. Places the bottle lid upside down on the counter.
15. Holds the bottle with the label in the palm of the hand.
16. Pours the medication, and slightly twists the bottle
when finished to prevent dripping.
17. If medication drips over bottle lip when pouring,
wipes with a clean tissue or paper towelonly the outside
lip of the bottle.
18. Holds the medication cup at eye level to measure the
dosage.
19. Positions patient in a high-Fowlers position if
possible; or raises the head of the bed as much as allowed;
or uses side-lying position for administration.

Recommendation: Pass _____ Needs more practice _____

Student:

Date:

Instructor:

Date:

Copyright 2011, F. A. Davis Company, Wilkinson & Treas/Procedure Checklists for Fundamentals of Nursing, 2e