ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION

Route chosen for administering drugs

depends on:
1. Drug properties
2. Desired effect
3. Clients physical & emotional
response
Nurse must be involved in judging the
best route for a medication 1
Situation:
The client, Mr. Tan, has progressively
worsened physically. His temperature is
39.2C. He complains of nausea and his
unable to tolerate oral fluids. The nurse
checks Mr. Tans order; which reads,Aspirin
600 mg orally for temperature above 38.5C.
On the basis of the assessment, the nurse
believes Mr. Tan will not be able to tolerate
an oral dose of aspirin.

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 I. ENTERAL ADMINISTRATION
Oral route
Drugs taken orally are intended for
absorption in the stomach & small
intestine
It may not be used because of the
following situations:
1. Client has impaired swallowing
2. Client is unconscious 3
 3. Client is to receive nothing by
mouth
4. Client is vomiting

Oral meds should be swallowed &

administered with adequate amount of
fluid
Nurse must protect the client from
possible aspiration

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 Sublingual
route
Some drugs are designed to be readily
absorbed after being placed under the
tongue to dissolve
The drug is placed under the tongue, &
ask client to leave it there until it dissolved
The drug should not be swallowed or
else the desired effect will not be achieve
Drink should not be taken until the drug
is completely dissolved
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 Buccal route
It involves placing solid medication in
the mouth & against the mucous
membrane of the cheek until the drug
dissolves
Insert the drug between the clients
cheek & teeth, & ask him to close his
mouth & hold the tablet against his cheek
until it is absorbed
Teach client to alternate cheeks with
each subsequent dose to avoid mucosal
irritation
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 Instillation of Drugs through NGT

II. PARENTERAL ROUTES

Giving a drug by a route other than the
GIT

An invasive procedure, therefore use

strict aseptic technique
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It maybe used when:
1. No other form is available
2. Client is irrational
3. Client is unconscious
4. Client is having GIT disturbances
5. For emergencies because
absorption & desired effect occur
rapidly
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Intradermal (ID) route

Used
Site primarily
should be for
lightlydiagnostic
pigmented,
Equipment: Tuberculin syringe
Free of lession,
purposes like&tuberculin
hairless, such
test, as:
Guage
*Inner 25-27
surface needle
of the forearm
test to determine
*Dorsal aspect of sensitivity
the upper to
arm
Angle of insertion: 5 to 15 degrees
*Upper back
various substances (allergic test)
small blades
*Shoulder
Output: bleb/wheal
& vaccination
*Upperchest

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Subcutaneous (SQ) route
SQ
Drugstissue lies between
recommended: the epidermis
non-irritating solution
& the muscle
& suspensions contained .5 ml to 2 ml of fluid
Angle of insertion:
45-60 degrees for thin patient
90 degrees
Site: -if sufficient
outer aspect SQ tissues
of the upper arm
anteriorpresent
Equipment: 2-3 ml syringe,
thigh
guage
loose tissue24-26 needle
of lower abdomen
upper back & buttocks

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Intramuscular (IM) route

Site must be chosen carefully,

taking into account the general
SITES:
physical status
1. Vastus
Provides of
faster the client
Lateralis & the
drug absorption
purpose of injection
than 2. SQ
Ventrogluteal
Site should not inflamed,
3.
Danger Dorsogluteal
of causing tissue
edematous or irritated sites, or damage
is less
those4. containing
Deltiod moles,
birth5.marks,
Rectus Femoris
scar tissues or
other lessions
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 Z TRACK Technique

An IM route that is used when the

drug stains the tissues
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Intravenous route

3 methods of admin. drugs IV:

1. Largedangerous
Most volume ofroute
infusion
2.of administration
Intravenous Bolus
3. PiggyBack

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III. TOPICAL ROUTE
Skin Applications

When
On a normal
drug is skin,
Absorption incorporated
isdrugs arein by:
enhanced
an agent & - is rubbed
Absorption
absorbed cleaning the
into the islining
into hindered
thewell
skin skin
of with
the
when
for absorption, the protective
the procedure isouter
sebaceous soapglands
layer of the skin is
referred -torubbing
as an INUNCTION
the medicated
uncleaned
preparation into the skin

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Vaginal medication It is used to treat
include creams, gels, infection, relieve
suppositories & discomfort or alter
douches pH

VAGINAL INSTILLATIONS
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Used primarily for
their local action such Nurse must place
as laxative & fecal the suppository
softener
past the internal
sphincter against
the rectal mucosa

RECTAL INSTILLATIONS
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