15.1: Administration of Enteral Medications Introduction

Learning Objectives

• Safely administer medication orally, rectally, and via enteral tubes
• Accurately check medication administration rights three times
• Calculate correct amount of medication to administer
• Explain medication information to patient
• Collect appropriate assessment data prior to and after medication administration
• Modify procedure to reflect variations across the life span
• Document actions and observations

“Enteral” means related to the intestines. The term enteral medication describes medications that are administered into the gastrointestinal tract including orally (PO), rectally (PR), or through a tube such as a nasogastric (NG) tube, nasointestinal (NI) tube, or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube.

This chapter will review overall concepts related to safe medication administration, as well as specific information regarding the administration of oral medication, rectal medication, and medication via a gastric tube. Information regarding administering injections and intravenous medications can be found in “Administration of Parenteral Medications” and additional information about administering medications via other routes can be found in “Administration of Medications via Other Routes.”

---