Medication Administration and Nurses' Roles

This assignment provides an in-depth exploration of medication administration, highlighting the crucial role nurses play in this process. It discusses various methods for administering medications, emphasizing the importance of following established principles and standards set by medical professionals. The report also emphasizes the need for nurses to develop skills and competencies to support patients in delivering quality services. By understanding the complexities of medication administration, nurses can minimize errors and ensure safe patient care.

Pharmacology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Identifying three types of medication given in management of patient with cardiovascular
disorders......................................................................................................................................2
1.2 The actions of medications in the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease...........3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
1. Principles as well as method of drugs administration.............................................................5
2. Importance of nursing procedure in drug administration and consumer teaching regarding
medication...................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
1

INTRODUCTION
Pharmacology is defined as the branch of Biology that is concerned with identifying the
way human body handles a drug. Medicine is referred to as nature or man-made molecules which
utilise a physiological or biological impact on cell, organism and tissue. Pharmacology is
recognised as the study of interactions that takes place between chemical and organism. The
communication between these two factors has great and direct impact on abnormal as well as
normal functioning of biochemical. This study is important as it will help medical professional in
discovering new medicines. It will also help medical professional in identifying appropriate
solutions to the various issues related to medicines.
The purpose of the report is to recognise the impact of drugs on human body. It also aims
to develop the understanding about the relationship between chemicals and living organism.
Project also involves discussion on importance of nursing procedure in drug administration.
TASK 1
1.1 Identifying three types of medication given in management of patient with cardiovascular
disorders.
There are several medicines prescribed by medical professional to patient suffering from
heart disease. It is very much essential for heart patient to develop the understanding about
medication. Patient should follow the instruction provided by medical profession and should read
carefully the information provided on the label. As it will help patient in recognising the side
effect of medicines. Drugs or treatment prescribed by medical professional to patient suffering
from heart disease is based on determination or examination of the way heart disease impact
patient cardiovascular system. It means the effect of heart disease on heart as well as blood
vessels. This disease can lead to generation of various problems such as excessive blood clotting,
high blood pressure etc. (Henderson, M. & Henderson, B., PrimeWellness,2014) The patient
who is suffering from heart disease requires different types of treatment in order to control the
symptoms and manage disease. However, the medication or treatment which is provided by
medical professional to the patient suffering from heart disease includes:
ACE inhibitors also recognised as angiotensin-converting enzyme: This treatment is given to
individual suffering from heart disease for widening the arteries. It assists person in maintaining
blood pressure. It also allows heart an ease in order to pump blood. ACE inhibitors treatment
2

blocks some of the unpleasant things that might happen with heart failure. This treatment
prevents the development or building of angiotensin which is a hormone that can have adverse
effect on blood vessel. As this hormone can force blood vessel to constrict which may further
result into high blood pressure. ACE inhibitors treatment is suggested or prescribed by the
medical professional to heart patient those who are suffering from high blood pressure. This
treatment may also may be advised to patient who have undergone through continuous heart
attack. This treatment assist patient hurt muscle in recovering from lack of sufficient amount of
oxygen that might be happen due to heart attack. It acts as precaution for preventing further heart
stroke in the future.
Cholesterol lowering medicines: This type of medication helps human body in creation of new
cells, development of hormones and repairing insulate nerves. But overdose of these drugs can
increase the chances of heart attack. Cholesterol lowering medicines assist patient in lowering
the level of bad cholesterol and increasing the quantity of good cholesterol. These medicines or
drugs also aid in reducing the risk of building of plaque in body of patient suffering from heart
disease. It also assists in decreasing the threat of death from heart disease. Medicines that have
been prescribed in this treatment by medical professional to patient suffering from heart disease
include cholesterol absorption inhibitors etc.
Aldosterone inhibitors- Spironolactone as well as Eplerenone in medical science is considered to
be the components of medicine known as diuretics. This medication or treatment given to the
patient by medical professional in order to provide individual an ease or relief from swelling in
the body. It assists the kidney in delivering or supplying the salt as well as water from tissues and
blood in human body. This medicine is prescribed by medical professional to patient suffering
from heart disease, so that it can help in improving the functioning of kidney. These medicines or
drugs also assist in some symptoms, even while individual take other treatments. It also protects
heart by restricting or blocking unwanted chemicals in human body. These chemicals are
blocked from entering into human body as these may lead to creation of salt or fluid that may
further build blockage in the arteries.
1.2 The actions of medications in the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease
ACE inhibitors also recognised as angiotensin-converting enzyme: It assists patients in
preventing blood clotting. Angiotensin-converting enzyme reduces both macro vascular as well
3

as micro vascular complications. It also assists in improving glucose metabolism and sensitivity.
This treatment is prescribed by medical professional to those patients who have high risk of heart
failure. as Angiotensin-converting enzyme interference effectively with renin-angiotensin
system in order to generate several advantageous actions on vascular as well as cardiac structure
and functioning. This treatment has direct impact on blood pressure of patient. It leads to
lowering of blood pressure. The factors that contribute to enhancement function of endotherm
liar, remodelling of Vascular as well as cardiac system. This treatment assist patient in
minimising the risk of death, heart strokes, threat of myocardial infarction etc. This treatment has
been prescribed to patient those who have high risk of heart failure. Angiotensin-converting
enzyme is considered to be as good as well as effective treatment that can help heart patient in
maintaining blood pressure.
Cholesterol lowering medicines- There are several types of medicines that can be prescribed by
medical professional to heart patient for reducing or maintain the cholesterol level. These drugs
are Statins – It is also recognised as a reductive inhibitor. This medicine is prescribed by doctor
in order to assist patient in lowering the level of cholesterol level. It helps human body in
eliminating or restricting the formation of cholesterol’s formation of excessive cholesterol might
increases the chances of heart stroke and can have adverse effect on patient health.
Resins – this drug is also named as Bile acid. Such drugs is prescribed to heart patient for
improving the digestive system. Resins are made for liver which utilises cholesterol. When resins
bind to the bile, the body get the ability to remove unwanted fluids or enzymes. This factor helps
patient body in utilising excessive or extra cholesterol for building more bile acids. Resins drugs
help in excreting out of bad cholesterol and increasing the level of good one.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors-It helps in minimising the quantity of triglycerides which is
basically an extra amount of fat in patient body which is further absorbed by intestine. Statin is
the drugs which are suggested to be consume with Fibrates. It helps heart patient in generation of
good cholesterol in human body. If two or drugs are consumed at the same time and by way
patients body reaction can have great effect on the reaction of medicines. When fusion between
medicines takes place in such situation, there are high chances of side effects. In addition to this,
each medicine might not work the way it should. Herbal as well as vitamin supplement can also
have great impact on the way patient body processes medicine.
4

Aldosterone inhibitors-It is to be considered as the reason or cause of myocardial fibrosis,
coronary inflammation, ischemic, ventricular arrhythmias and necrotic lesions. Drugs such as
eplerenone and spironolactone are prescribed by medical professional to patients with heart
failure in order to assist them in enhancing mortality.Negative effects that can take place by
consuming or taking over dose of this drugs involve life threatening hyperkalaemia.
Spironolactone is considered to be as life saving for those people who are suffering from heart
disease. In this treatment, medical professional conduct routine examination of renal as well as
potassium function in heart patient body. This action is done by medical professional in order to
reduce or eliminate the risk of hyperkalaemia.
TASK 2
1. Principles as well as method of drugs administration
When nurses prescribed medicines to patient, it is required by medical staff to consider
the several factors such as person health, professional codes, principles as well as policies of
health care organisations. Nurses should also need to keep update themselves about the drugs
which are restricted to be consumed and cannot be prescribed to patient. As this activity will
assist nurses in helping patients in improving their health.
Duty of nurses in health care organisation is to administer the medicines. Nurse should have
knowledge about the ways drugs are administered. As this will assist nurses in reducing medical
errors and identification of appropriate methods for persevering as well as storing medicine.
When nurses prescribed medicines to patient, it is required by medical staff to consider the
several factors such as person health, professional codes, principles as well as policies of health
care organisations. Nurses should also need to keep update themselves about the drugs which are
restricted to be consumed and cannot be prescribed to patient. As this activity will assist nurses
in helping patients in improving their health. It is duty of nurses in hospital to provide complete
information about the treatment as well as medication to patients. The important principle of
medication is that medical staff is required to maintain hygiene at place where medicines are
stored and they need to wash their hands before handling drugs. As this activity will help them in
ensuring patient safety during the treatment (Grasso, M., 2016) Several principles related to
management of drugs states the following:
5

 Nurses are accountable for management of drugs within a scope of their practice within
an organisation.
 Medical staff is required to have in-depth knowledge about the impact as well as side
effect of medicine. It is required by them to take appropriate actions when drugs or
combination of medicine have adverse effect on patient health.
 Principal has provided nurses with certain rights which they can utilise when performing
their duty at workplace. Some of the rights are right documentation, right dose, right to
provide justifiable reason for consequences of mistakes done by them etc.
 Nurses have right to determine that orders of person are complete, clear and are suitable
for customer before administering any medication.
 Medical staff has the right to utilise Pharmacy dispensing label if in case, there is no
alternative option.
 It is essential for nurses to work according to pre-determined standards as well as norms.
 Nurses take action on telephone as well as verbal orders only when situation demands to
do so and if there are no other alternative options.
 It is required by medical staff to administer only those medicines or drugs that have been
ordered by them or pharmacist.
 Duty as well as responsibility of nurses is to provide complete instruction as well as
information to patients related to medications.
 It is required as well as essential for nurses to enhance their knowledge and develop
understanding about human and other significant or major factor that may lead to
increase in cause of medical errors.
 Role of nurses is to verify medication orders. It is their duty to ensure that all the
documentations as well as records related to medications are complete and contains all
the necessary information.
 It is essential for nurses to take suitable actions if in case, they have recognised any kind
of medical error which can cause adverse effect on patient health.
 Nurses should practice their right in order to provide safe drug administration (Dubel &
et.al., 2014).
6

Methods of medicines administration
Drug administration is defined as a way medicines enter into human body. There are
following methods of drug administration these are oral administration, sublingual, Rectal,
Topical, parental and intravenous injection.
Oral administration- This method can be utilised for drug administration. Oral administration is
considered to be as most economic as well as convenient method of drug administration. This
method does not create any problem because of nature of gastro-intestinal drug absorption which
cannot be practiced. The nurses who utilise this method of medicine administration is required to
seek advice from a medical professional or pharmacist if they are unaware about creation of solid
dose forms and whether or not they are suitable for crushing. This type of administration is in
form of capsules, tablets etc. The advantages using this method of medicines administration is
that, it is easily absorbed by patient body.
Sublingual administration-It offers a supply of blood vessels by which medicines can be
absorbed by human body. Sublingual administration provides rapid absorption into the systemic
circulation. The pharmaceutical industry has developed the innovative medicine which is
recognised as wafer’-based versions of tablets which allows patient to absorb the drugs easily.
Rectal administration-This method of medicine administration is considered to be as
ineffective as inacceptable by patient. It does not provide any benefit.
Topical administration-This method is adopted by nurses or other medical staff for managing
the common disease. Topical administration is effective medicine administration can be made
available directly at the intended site of action. It also helps in reducing the risk of side effects of
medicines of human body. It is also considered to be as appropriate way of supplying medicine
into the systemic circulation through the skin.
Parental administration-This is effective way of supplying medicine into the systemic
circulation by giving injection to patient. In this method, patient is given injection directly into
body by-passing mucous membranes and skin. Medicines that patient feel difficulty in taking or
absorbing medicine orally can be given drugs using this method. Parental administration is
considered as intravenous method which provides quick action (Lundgren & McMakin, 2013).
7

2. Importance of nursing procedure in drug administration and consumer teaching regarding
medication
Nurse role in medication of medicine is considered to be as complex. As role of medical
staff is to ensure safety and prevent medical errors. The process of medical administration
emphasizes on following rights that are provided to nurses these are dose, patient, drug, time and
route. Function of nurse is to administer the medicines that have been prescribed by medical
professional to patient. Other important role of nurses during medication is to recognise and
prevent errors as well as harm, promote therapeutic responses. It is the duty of nurses to record
as well as maintain documents and deliver essential information to medical professional during
the procedure (Sukhera & et.al., 2017).
Communication- Role of nurses is to gather and share essential information about the patient
health with medical professional or individual family member. Effective communication is
important for ensuring that medicines prescribed to patient is safe and there are no changes
required to be made in medication.
Dose time-It is the duty of nurse to provide medicines to patients on time. Function of medical
staff is to determine the timing of other medication that is to be provided to patient.
Checking-Role of nurses is to ensure the appropriateness as well correctness of a component of
the medication administration procedure.
Assessment-Duty of medical staff or nurses is to provide justifiable reason related to detection
and interpretation of patients’ signs and symptoms potentially associated to patients’ requirement
for specific medication.
Evaluation-Role of nurses is to determine whether the medication was achieving the desired
therapeutic effects. If in case drugs have adverse effect on patient health then in such situation, it
is required by nurses to take appropriate action or inform medical professional.
Teaching-It is the duty of nurse or medical staff to provide complete information about medicine
including the way it should be consumed.
Side effects- It is required by nurses to execute assessment of patient health in order to monitor,
prevent the negative impact of medication on patient health.
Work -It is essential for nurses to work within the scope of their practice and perform their
duties as per the prescribed standard (Eisenhauer L.A., Hurley A.C. & Dolan N, 2014)
8

Anticipating problem -role of nurses is to identified the problems faced by patients in absorbing
medicine. It is the duty of nurses or medical staff to use alternative option of medication
administration in order to supply drugs in patient body. Role of nurse is to review the profile of
drug. As this activity will help medical staff in determining the medicines contradictions and
deciding that whether it is suitable to be prescribed to patient. As this activity will help nurses in
eliminating or reducing medical errors. It is the duty of nurse to contact the prescriber in order to
advise on the patient’s condition or physical health. (Nurses’ Thought Processes During
Medication Administration, 2015)
Assessing the adverse effect of medicine on patient health-The nurse should alert the patient
to the possible side effects before administering the medication. In addition, the nurse can
prepare effective strategy or plan in order to deal with a possible negative reaction on the patient
health that might be caused due to medication (Colosio & et. al., 2017)
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the project that nurses have significant role to play in
medicine administration. Project has also explained the methods that can be utilised by medical
staff in order to administered medicines. It has also been concluded that nurses should follow the
principles as well as standards that has been developed by medical professionals. As this will
help nurses in eliminating medical errors. Report represents that actual activity of administering
a medication is only a minor part of the professional role in the medication administration
procedure. Assignment has successfully provided the detail explanation about the treatment as
well as medication given to patient suffering from heart disease. It has highlighted the role of
nurses in medical administration. Report has also concluded that function of nurses in medical
administration is very complex in nature.
It has been suggested to nurses that they should develop skills as well as competencies.
As this will assist them in supporting patient in delivering quality services to patient. Project has
also provided several standards that are to be considered when administering or handling
medicines.
9

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Henderson, M. & Henderson, B., PrimeWellness LLC, (2015). Exercise recommendation engine
with saftey-based risk value establishment. U.S. Patent Application 14/692,183.
Grasso, M., 2016. Work health and safety resources and advice.
Gunningham, N. & Sinclair, D., (2014). Regulation by stealth: Codes of practice under
harmonised Work Health and Safety legislation.
Dubel, G. & et. al., (2014). Percutaneous cutting balloon ureteroplasty (PCBU) for the treatment
of post-operative uretero-enteric strictures: early results and long-term follow-
up. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. 3(25). pp.S118-S119.
Colosio, C. & et. al., (2017). Workers’ health surveillance: implementation of the Directive
89/391/EEC in Europe. Occupational Medicine. 67(7). pp.574-578.
Lundgren, R. E. & McMakin, A. H., (2013). Risk communication: A handbook for
communicating environmental, safety, and health risks. John Wiley & Sons.
Sukhera J. & et.al., (2017). Labelling of mental illness in a paediatric emergency department and
its implications for stigma reduction education. Perspectives on Medical Education. pp.1-
8.
Eisenhauer L.A., Hurley A.C. & Dolan N. (2014). Nurses’ reported thinking during mediation
administration. Journal of Nursing Scholarship 39:1, 82-87.
Online:
Nurses’ Thought Processes During Medication Administration, 2015. [Online] Available
through: <https://online.sxu.edu/programs/masters-degree-nursing/resources/nurses-
thought-processes-during-medication-administration>.
10