Pharmacology: Parenteral and Enteral Administration

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers parenteral and enteral routes of administration, needle and syringe specifications, dosage forms such as ampules and elixirs, and specific clinical procedures for injections and GI tubes.

Parenteral Administration

Any route of drug administration other than the GI tract.

Intradermal Route preferred sites

The upper chest, inner aspect of forearm, and scapular area of the back.

Allergy test methods

Intradermal injection and Skin Prick Test (SPT).

Intradermal injection angle

$15\%$ angle with the bevel up.

Subcutaneous Route

Medication deposited in the loose connective tissue between the dermis and muscle layer.

Typical IM medication volume

$0.5-2\,mL$.

Pediatric IM medication volume

$1\,mL$ or less.

IM needle length

$1$ to $1 1/2\,in$ long.

IM needle Gouge

Commonly used sizes are $20-22$.

Infant IM injection site

Vastus lateralis muscle.

Adult IM injection sites

Gluteal area, deltoid, and vastus lateralis.

Deltoid muscle IM volume limit

Do not exceed $1\,mL$ in volume.

IM injection site muscles

Vastus lateralis muscle, Rectus femoris muscle, ventrogluteal area, Dorsogluteal area, and Deltoid muscle.

Syringe parts

1. Barrel, 2. Plunger, and 3. Tip.

Tuberculin syringes

$1\,mL$ syringe calibrated in $mL$.

Needle parts

1. Hub, 2. Shaft, and 3. Beveled Tip.

Needle gauge

The diameter of the hole inside the needle.

18 gauge

The largest needle size.

Ampules

Glass container usually with a single dose; require a filter when using.

Vials

Glass containers that contain $1$ or more doses.

Mix-O-Vials

Glass container with $1$ dose having an upper chamber containing the solvent and a lower chamber containing the dry solution.

Insulin mixing order

Dose the acting 1st (Clear) then long acting 2nd (Cloudy).

Capsules

Small, cylinder-shaped gelatin containers used to administer unpleasant-tasting medications.

Timed-release capsule

Provide gradual and continuous release of drug.

Lozenges

Flat disks in a flavored base.

Tablets

Powdered drugs that have been compressed.

Orally disintegrating tablets

Rapidly dissolve on the tongue within seconds.

Elixirs

Drugs dissolved in water and alcohol.

Emulsions

Dispersions of small droplets of water in oil or small droplets of oil in water.

Suspensions

Liquid dose forms containing solid, insoluble drug particles dispersed in a liquid base.

GI Tube flush procedure

Verify placement, assess for residual, initiate feeding, then flush with $30\,mL$ of water and clamp the tube.