SPECIFIC CONTENT TEACHERS LEARNERS AV AIDS EVALUATION

S.N TIME OBJECTIVES ACTIVITY ACTIVITY

O
ADMINISTRATION OF PSYCHOTROPIC
DRUGS

INTRODUCTION

The administration of medication is an important

aspect of professional nursing practice. It involves
a complex process fro1n initial assessment, and the
ad1ninistration of medication to the collection of
essential inforn1ation for subsequent evaluation of
client's responses, appropriate doctunentation, and
follow-up comn1unication with the health care
team as deetned necessary . The purpose of this
guideline is to establish principles in the
administration of medication. It is not intended to
cover every situation that nurses may encounter,
but sets out principles to assist nurses in the
application of professional expertise and
judgement in the best interest oftheir clients. We
take medications to diagnose, treat, or prevent
illness. They come in lots of different forms and
we take them in many different ways. You may
take a drug yourself, or a healthcare provider may
give it to you. Drugs can be dangerous, though,
even when they’re meant to improve our health.
Taking them correctly and understanding the right
way to administer them can reduce the risks. Read
on to learn the importance of using medication as
directed.

DEFINITION

'Administration of medication' is the process of

identifying the correct n1edication, delivering it to
the correct client by the correct route and correct
dosage at the time prescribed .

PRINCIPLES IN THE PROCESS OF

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION, THE
NURSE NEEDS TO CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING:

1.Enforce local policies and procedures or

protocols of ad1ninistration of medication at
practice setting and that nurse follows these at all
times.

2.Prepare the 1nedication safely as prescribed by

the appropriate authority.

3.Ensure safe and effective administration of

medication in all practice settings.

4.Exercise professional judgn1ent and apply

knowledge and skills in the given situation.

TRAINING IN MEDICATION
ADMINISTRATION

Not all types of medications can be administered at

home or by someone without special training.
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers are
trained in how to give you medication safely.
Administration of medication requires thorough
understanding the drug, including:

 how it moves through your body

 when it needs to be administered

 possible side effects and dangerous reactions

 proper storage, handling, and disposal

Healthcare providers are trained in all of these

issues. In fact, many healthcare providers keep in
mind the “five rights” when they administer drugs:

 the right patient

 the right drug

 the right time

 the right dose

 the right route

SIX MAJOR CLASSES OF PSYCHIATRIC

MEDICATIONS AND THAT INDICATIONS

 Antidepressants treat disorders such

as clinical
depression, dysthymia, anxiety, eating
disorders and borderline personality disorder.

 Stimulants, used to treat disorders such

as attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder and narcolepsy, and for weight
reduction.

 Antipsychotics, used to treat psychotic

symptoms, such as those associated
with schizophrenia or severe mania, or as
adjuncts to relieve clinical depression.
 Mood stabilizers, used to treat bipolar
disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

 Anxiolytics, used to treat anxiety disorders.

 Depressants, used as hypnotics, sedatives,

and anesthetics, depending upon dosage.

CONTRA- INDICATION

1.History of allergy or hypersensitivity to the drug

2 Myocardial infarction within 6 weeks

3 History of tardive dykinesia

4 Age less than 12 years

5 History of agranulocytosis

6 History of neuroleptic malignant syndrome

7 Pregnancy or breast feeding

COMMON ROUTES
  Oral

 Sublingual route

 Parentral route

 Intravenous route.IV

 Intramuscular.IM

 Intradermal.ID

 Subcutaneous.SQ

GENERAL GUIDELINES REGARDING

DRUG ADMINISTRATION IN PSYCHIATRY

1.The nurse should not administer any drug unless

there is a written order. Do not hesitate to consult
the doctor when in doubt about any medication.

2.All medication given must be charted on the

patients case sheet.
3.While giving medication:

 Always address the patient by name and

make certain of his identification

 Do not leave the patient until the drug is

swallowed

 Do not permit the patient to go to the

bathroom to take the medicine

 Do not allow the patient to carry medicine to

another

 If it is necessary to leave the patient to get

water, do not leave the tray within the reach
of the patient

 Do not force oral medication because of the

danger of aspiration. This is specially
important in stuporous patients

4.Check drugs daily for any change in colour, odor

and number

5.Bottles should be tightly closed and labeled

.labels should be written legibily and in bold
lettering. Poison drugs are to be legibly labeled and
kept in separate cupboard

6.Make sure that an adequate supply of drugs is on

hand, but do not overstock

7.Make sure no patient has access to the drug

cupboard

8.Drug cupboards should always be kept locked

when not in use. Never allow a patient or worker to
clean the drug cupboard. The drug cupboard keys
should not be given to patients 

PATIENT EDUCATION RELATED TO

PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

Nurses assess for drug side effects, evaluate

desired effects, and make decisions about prn [pro
re neta] medication. Thus, nurses must understand
general principles of psychopharmacology and
have specific knowledge related to psychotropic
drugs.

Teaching patients can decrease the incidence of

side effects while increasing compliance with the
drug regimen.

Specific areas of education include the

following;

1.Discussion of side effects;

Side effects can directly affect the patient`s

willingness to adhere to the drug regimen . the
nurses should always inquire about the patient`s
response to drug, both therapeutic responses and
adverse responses.

2.Discussion of safety issues;

Because some drugs, such as tricyclic

antidepressants, have a narrow therapeutic index,
thoughts of self harm must be discussed.

 Discuss on abruptly discontinued effects.

 Many psychotropic drugs cause sedation or

drowsiness, discussions concerning use of
hazardous machinery, driving must be
reviewed.
3.Drug interactions;

Patients and families must be taught to discuss the

effects of the addition of over –the-counter drugs,
alcohol and illegal drugs to currently prescribed
drugs.

4.Instructions for older adult patients:

Because older individuals have a different

pharmacokinetic profile than younger adults,
special instructions concerning side effects and
drug interactions should be explained

5.Instructions for pregnant or breastfeeding

patients:

As pregnant or breastfeeding patients have special

risks associated with psychotropic drug therapy,
special instructions should be tailored for these
individuals. Teaching patients about their
medications enables them to be mature participants
in their own care and decreases undesirable side
effects.

SIDE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOTROPHIC

DRUGS

 Insomnia
 Delirium
 Sweating
 Headaches
 Agitation
 Dry mouth
 Drowsiness
 Disorientation
 Loss of sex drive
 Fluctuation in weight
 Delirium
 Paranoia
 Seizures
 Migraines
 Aggression
 High anxiety
 Panicked feeling
 Hallucinations
 Depersonalization
 suicidal ideation

COMPONENTS OF A MEDICATION
ORDER

o Client’s name
o Date and time the order is written
o Drug name
 o Dose to be administered
o Route of administration
o Frequency of administration
o Signature of the person ordering

BASIC GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTERING

DRUGS
 Assess the patient's history for allergies,or
drug-food interactions, and drug
contraindications, and notify the physician if
any exists.

 Follow Infection Control Policy during the

entire process of Medication
Administration.

 Patients must be correctly identified by

using 2 identifiers; complete name and file
number checked against the ID band. Do not
identify patient using room or bed number.
 Gather or review assessment data that may
influence drug administration. This may
include vital signs, lab data, drug serum
levels, or patient's behavior. If any patient
data indicates that a medication should not
be administered, or if the patient no longer
requires the medication, notify the physician
before administering the drug.

 To the maximum extent possible, only

administer medications you have personally
prepared, unless the medication has been
supplied in a unit of use package.

 Do not administer medications from

containers that are unmarked or illegible.

 Do not give medications that have changed

color, appearance, or from which the
container is broken or crusted.
 Always check medication expiration dates

 Tablets and capsules should be maintained

in their wrappers and opened at the bedside
immediately prior to use.
 With each drug, inform the patient of the
drugs name, purpose, action, and potential
side effects

 The medication order shall be written in the

physician order sheet and transcribe in the
Medication Sheet.

 Medications shall be double checked by a

witness during preparation and
administration

 The nurse and the witness sign the

medication sheet after administration.

 Any order that is incomplete, illegible, or of

any concern should be clarified prior to
administration

 In situations such as

• Not given-
• Not tolerated-
• Refused- Notify the physician and justify the
reason in the Interdisciplinary Progress
Notes.
  Do not leave medications unattended and
accessible to patients, family or visitors

 Remain with the patient while they take

medications. Inhalers are to be used while
the nurse is observing for proper technique,
unless an order exists for patient to take their
own medication.

ALWAYS CHECK FOR;

1.The indication of the drug before administering

2. The medication sheet is up to date.

3. For allergies and assess for reactions to drugs

not previously taken by the pt.

4.Check label when obtaining medication from

storage.

5.Do side-by-side comparison of the medication

with the written order and the
medication sheet
.
6.Recheck one last time after preparation with a
witness, just before administration..

GENERAL PREPARATION FOR ALL

INJECTIONS

o Hand washing.
o Prepare the medication.
o Prepare the client.
o Explain the procedure
o Provide privacy.
o Select and clean the site.
o Prepare syringe for injection.
o Inject.

GENERAL STEPS FOR ALL DIFFERENT

TYPE OF INJECTION

• Apply medication rights

• Explain the procedure to the patient

• Keep privacy.

• Hand washing.

• Prepare necessary equipments &injection.

• Drape the patient, only expose wanted area .

• Place patient in suitable and comfort

position.

• Wear gloves.

• Locate site by identify anatomical land

mark.

• Clean skin in circular motion outward &

hold swab between fingers of non dominant
hand.

• Pull cap of needle without cause finger

injury.

• Hold syringe with dominant hand, with

bevel point upward .

• Inject needle at suitable degree for I.M, I.D,

S.C or I.V

• Administer medication slowly

• Wait 10 sec then withdraw needle

• Assists patient to comfort position

 • Remove disposable gloves & wash hands

• Return to evaluate pt response in 10 to 30

Minutes

• Recording & reporting

SUMMARY :
Here by we discuss about administration of
psychoactive drugs definition, guidelines and
common sites , psychoeducation about drug
administration.
CONCLUSION:
As a psychiatric nurse should know about the
guidelines of while administering psychoactive
drugs.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. MARRY.C.TOWNSENT, 2015, psychiatric
mental health nursing concepts of care in
evidence based practice, 8th edition , jaypee
brothers medical publishers.

2. DR.BIMLA KAPOOR, 2007, Psychiatric

nursing, 2 nd edition, published by kumar
publishing house.

3. R.SREEVANI, 2016, A guide to mental

health and psychiatric nursing, 4 th edition,
jaypee brothers medical publishers

4. K.P .Neeraja, 2008, essentials of mental

health and psychiatric nursing, 1 st edition,
jaypee brothers publishers.

5. Lalitha, 2011, mental health and psychiatric

nursing, 1 st edition, published by vmg
house.
 DEMONSTRATION ON
ADMINISTRATION OF
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY

MRS.PRABAVATHY.S T.SUGANYA

HOD, DEPT.OF. MHN MSC (NSG)II YR

KGNC KGNC
 GENERAL INFORMATION

NAME OF THE STUDENT TEACHER : T.SUGANYA

SUBJECT : MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

TOPIC : ADMINISTRATION OF PSYCHOTROPIC

DRUGS

DATE : .6.2018

TIME :

VENUE :

METHOD OF TEACHING : LECTURE CUM DISCUSSION

 NAME OF THE EVALUATER : MRS.PRABAVATHY . S

TEACHING AV AIDS : CHART, PPT,PAMLET, LEAFLET

CENTRAL OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the teaching students will understand and gain in depth knowledge regarding administration of
psychotropic drugs and develop desirable attitude and skills in the identification and managing the side effects and
apply these knowledge and skills in their day to day practice in health care settings.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

At the end of teaching, the students will be able to;