Giving Medications

Often, part of a caregiver's role is to give medications. These can be over-the-counter medications, such as laxatives, or prescription medications for pain or disease symptoms and management. 

Medication safety 

Giving medications is a big responsibility but can be done very safely if you follow a few basic rules. When giving medications, be sure you know what you are giving and why. You can ask the doctor or your pharmacist about the medications. 

You should know: 

• Why is your loved one taking this medication? 
• How much should you give? 
• How should you give it (by mouth, with food, etc.)? 
• How often should it be taken? 
• What should you do if a dose is missed or if your loved one can't take it? 
• Is it available in other forms if your loved one can't take it as originally prescribed? 
• What are the side effects? 
• How long should your loved one be taking the medication? 
• Are there any foods, drinks, or other medications that should be avoided while taking this medication? 

Keeping track 

There are techniques you can use to make giving medications and remembering to give the medications easier. Preparing medication dosettes ahead of time helps keep the medications organized and you can tell at a glance if the medication has been given.

          A dosette:  

If keeping track of the time to give the medications is a problem, perhaps a computer program or a personal organizer with multiple appointment entries may be helpful. 

Safety rules 

When giving more than one medication, it can be easy to make a mistake, giving the wrong medication or giving the medication at the wrong time. To help you avoid making mistakes, there are five rules or "rights" that nurses follow in the hospital that can be useful for you too. 

The first "right" is "do you have the right patient?", so the remaining four rights are: 

1. Right medication? 
2. Right dose? 
3. Right route (by mouth, rectal)? 
4. Right Time?