Return to Program Policy Page

Return to Nursing Weblink

Prior to administering a medication to a patient, the student must be prepared to:

1. Discuss with the instructor the classification, indication (based on their pts specific medical history), mechanism of action, and pertinent nursing assessments associated with all scheduled and PRN medications on the patients MAR for a 24-hour period based.

1. Students must demonstrate the ability to apply the appropriate assessments associated with each medication with in the PN scope of practice which include:
2. Assessment of vital signs and an evaluation of their correlation to safe medication administration.
3. Identification and management of therapeutic levels
4. Evaluation of laboratory data linked to each medication (when applicable)

1. The nursing instructor must directly supervise:
2. The set-up and administration of all oral, enteral and alternate routes of medication administration
3. All injections, peripheral IV maintenance fluids
4. IV piggyback and capped IV flushes.

1. Once safe administration is determined, the instructor may allow the student to administer routine oral medications without direct supervision.

Medication Administration Guidelines

Semester 1

The nursing instructor must directly supervise the set up and administration of all oral, enteral and alternate routes of medication administration as well as all injections, peripheral IV maintenance, piggyback and capped IV flushes.

Students are to discuss with the instructor the classification, indication, mechanism of action, pertinent nursing assessments needed prior to administration and the data collection required to monitor medication effectiveness for each medication being administered.

Semester 2

The nursing instructor must directly supervise the set up and administration of all oral, enteral and alternate routes of medication administration as well as all injections, peripheral IV maintenance, piggyback and capped IV flushes. Once safe administration is determined, the instructor may allow the student to administer routine oral medications without direct supervision.

Students are to discuss with the instructor the classification, indication, mechanism of action, pertinent nursing assessments needed prior to administration and the data collection required to monitor medication effectiveness for each medication being administered.