Medication Administration in Nursing Course

Lesson 1 • Legal and Ethical Frameworks

Examines regulatory standards, scope of practice, and ethical obligations in medication administration. Anchors all clinical decisions in professional accountability.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacology Basics for Nurses

Covers drug nomenclature, classification, and mechanism of action. Provides the vocabulary nurses need to interpret orders and communicate safely.

Lesson 3 • The Rights of Medication Administration

Introduces the ten rights framework as the primary safety checklist. Applies each right to real order scenarios to build consistent verification habits.

Lesson 1 • Parenteral Dose Calculations

Calculates doses for subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous injections using concentration and volume formulas. Builds precision required for high-alert parenteral medications.

Lesson 2 • Pediatric and Weight-Based Dosing

Applies body-weight and body-surface-area formulas to pediatric and specialized dosing scenarios. Addresses the heightened precision demands of vulnerable patient populations.

Lesson 3 • Measurement Systems and Conversions

Reviews metric, household, and apothecary systems and teaches reliable conversion methods. Accurate unit conversion underpins every dosage calculation performed in clinical practice.

Lesson 4 • Oral and Enteral Dose Calculations

Applies ratio-proportion and formula methods to tablets, capsules, and liquid medications. Reinforces calculation accuracy before progressing to parenteral routes.

Lesson 1 • Nasal and Inhalation Routes

Covers nasal spray technique and metered-dose inhaler and dry-powder inhaler use with and without spacers. Ensures correct drug deposition for respiratory and systemic effect.

Lesson 2 • Sublingual and Buccal Routes

Explains absorption differences between sublingual and buccal delivery and correct placement technique. Prepares nurses to manage rapid-onset medications such as nitroglycerin.

Lesson 3 • Oral Medication Preparation and Delivery

Covers tablet, capsule, and liquid preparation steps and patient positioning for safe swallowing. Establishes the procedural baseline for all subsequent route-specific chapters.

Lesson 4 • Ophthalmic and Otic Administration

Teaches instillation of eye drops, eye ointments, and ear drops with correct anatomical positioning. Prevents contamination and ensures therapeutic drug contact.

Lesson 1 • Aseptic Technique and Injection Safety

Establishes hand hygiene, sterile field maintenance, and sharps safety as prerequisites for all injections. Prevents healthcare-associated infections at the point of medication delivery.

Lesson 2 • Medication Preparation from Vials and Ampules

Demonstrates withdrawing medication from single-dose vials, multi-dose vials, and glass ampules without contamination. Accuracy in preparation directly reduces dosing errors.

Lesson 3 • Subcutaneous Injections

Teaches 45- to 90-degree angle technique, site rotation, and volume limits for subcutaneous delivery. Applies directly to insulin and anticoagulant administration.

Lesson 4 • Intradermal Injections

Covers site selection, 15-degree angle technique, and wheal formation for allergy testing and tuberculin skin tests. Correct technique ensures valid diagnostic results.

Lesson 1 • Peripheral IV Access and Insertion

Covers vein selection, catheter sizing, insertion technique, and securement for peripheral IV lines. Establishes vascular access required for all IV medication delivery.

Lesson 2 • IV Site Monitoring and Complication Management

Identifies infiltration, extravasation, phlebitis, and occlusion and applies evidence-based interventions. Protects patient tissue and maintains reliable vascular access.

Lesson 3 • Continuous and Intermittent IV Infusions

Demonstrates programming infusion pumps for continuous drips and secondary piggyback infusions. Connects flow rate calculations from Chapter 2 to hands-on pump operation.

Lesson 4 • IV Push Medication Administration

Teaches bolus injection technique, rate limits, and patient monitoring for direct IV push medications. Addresses the highest-risk route requiring the greatest precision.

Lesson 1 • Medication Error Recognition and Reporting

Distinguishes near-miss events from actual errors and outlines immediate response and reporting obligations. Builds a just-culture mindset that supports transparent error disclosure.

Lesson 2 • Technology-Assisted Safety Systems

Reviews barcode medication administration, smart pumps, and electronic medication administration records as error-reduction tools. Prepares nurses to use technology without bypassing safety alerts.

Lesson 3 • Independent Double-Check Procedures

Explains the independent double-check process and when it is required for high-alert medications. Reduces calculation and preparation errors through structured peer verification.

Lesson 4 • Identifying High-Alert Medications

Defines high-alert drug categories including anticoagulants, insulin, opioids, and concentrated electrolytes. Establishes why these drugs demand enhanced verification protocols.

Lesson 1 • Anti-Infective and Immunological Agents

Examines antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and immunosuppressants with allergy screening and culture protocols. Prepares nurses to support antimicrobial stewardship and monitor for resistance.

Lesson 2 • Endocrine and Metabolic Agents

Addresses insulin types, oral hypoglycemics, thyroid agents, and corticosteroids with glucose monitoring protocols. Emphasizes timing precision critical to endocrine drug safety.

Lesson 3 • Gastrointestinal and Renal Agents

Reviews antiemetics, laxatives, proton pump inhibitors, and diuretics with fluid and electrolyte monitoring. Connects drug effects to intake-output assessment and electrolyte balance.

Lesson 4 • Cardiovascular and Antihypertensive Agents

Examines antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, anticoagulants, and cardiac glycosides with nursing implications. Prepares nurses to monitor hemodynamic parameters and recognize toxicity.

Lesson 1 • Medication Safety in Pregnancy and Lactation

Reviews drug safety classification systems, teratogenic risks, and lactation transfer considerations. Guides nurses in supporting informed decisions for pregnant and breastfeeding patients.

Lesson 2 • Pediatric Medication Administration

Applies age-appropriate routes, volumes, and communication strategies for neonates through adolescents. Builds on weight-based dosing from Chapter 2 with developmental context.

Lesson 3 • Geriatric Medication Considerations

Addresses polypharmacy, altered pharmacokinetics, and swallowing difficulties common in older adults. Applies Beers Criteria concepts to identify potentially inappropriate medications.

Lesson 4 • Critical Care and Emergency Medications

Covers vasoactive drips, emergency drug protocols, and rapid titration in intensive and emergency settings. Prepares nurses to act decisively under time pressure with high-alert agents.