Administration Techniques

Question 1

Using eye drops

Answer 1

1. Wash hands and sit/stand in front of mirror.
2. Take off the top of the bottle.
3. Bend your head backwards and gently pull your lower eyelid down.
4. Hold dropper above one eye. Squeeze one drop into the pocket formed by gently pulling down the lower eyelid. Try not to touch your eye, eyelashes, or anything else with the dropper tip in order to keep it clean.
5. Let go of the eyelid and keep the eye closed for as long as possible (1 to 2 minutes at least) after application of the eye drop, with your head tilted down towards the floor.
6. Press gently on the tear duct (inner corner of eye) with one finger for a minute.
7. Repeat in the other eye if the drop is prescribed for both eyes.
8. When two different eye drop preparations are used at the same time of day, wait for at least 5 minutes before putting the second drop into an eye. This stops the first drop from being diluted or washed away.

Question 2

Using Eye Ointment

Answer 2

1. Wash hands
2. If both drop and ointment is being used, instill the drops TEN minutes before the ointment.
3. Tilt head back.
4. Gently grasp lower outer eyelid below lashes and pull eyelid away from eye.
5. Place ointment tube over eye by looking directly at it.
6. Sweeping motion, place 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ointment inside the lower eyelid. Avoid having the tube tip touch any tissue surface.
7. Release the eyelid slowly.
8. Close eyes gently for 1-2 minutes.
9. Blot excess ointment from around eye.
10. Vision may be temporarily blurred. Avoid activities.

Question 3

Pediatric Administration of Eye Drops

Answer 3

• Have the child lie down and close the eyes.
• Place the drop on the eyelid in the corner of the eye, then have the child open the eye so the drop falls in by gravity.
• Or – pull the lower lid down and instill the drop through the lashes, avoiding touching the bottle to the lashes.

Question 4

Ophthalmic Ointment

Answer 4

• Recommend to use eye ointments at bedtime.
• Hold the tube in your hand for a few minutes to warm the ointment and to help it flow better.
• Hold the tube almost horizontally and approach eye from side. This reduces the risk of accidentally hitting the eye with the tip of the tube.
• After the ointment is used, vision may be blurred for a few minutes.
• Shake well suspension eye drops before using.
• Administer eye drops 10 minutes before applying eye ointment.
• Instill eye drops only if NOT wearing contact lenses.
• If you wear contacts, remove the contacts and instill eye drop(s) and remember to use ointment at bedtime.

Question 5

Teaching Tips: EYE

Answer 5

• If you have difficulty telling whether eye drops touch the eye surface, refrigerate the solution before instilling it.
• If you have problems with balance or dizziness – sit or lie down to reduce the risk of falling.
• If you have tremors or arthritis, devices are available that can help you administer the eye drops.
• Eye drop bottles usually contain a preservative but a good rule of thumb is to throw out any bottles that have been open for a month or more.

Question 6

Otic Products

Answer 6

• Never recommend using cotton-tipped swab or other foreign objects to be inserted in the ear.

Question 7

Using Ear Drops

Answer 7

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Gently clean your ear with a damp facecloth and then dry your ear.
3. Warm the drops to near body temperature by holding the container in the palm of your hand for a few minutes.
4. If the drops are a cloudy suspension, shake the bottle well for 10 seconds.
5. Draw the medication into the dropper, or hold the dropper-top bottle with the dropper tip down.
6. Tilt the affected ear up or lie on your side.
7. Pull the ear backward and upward (or if giving to a child younger than 3 years of age, pull backward and downward) to open the ear canal.
8. Place the correct number of drops in your ear. Gently press on the small skin flap over the ear to help the drops to run into the ear canal.
9. Keep your ear tilted up for a few minutes.

Question 8

Ear: Teaching Tips

Answer 8

• If you must administer drops in both ears, wait about 10 min. before placing drops in the second ear.
• Ear drops usually contain a preservative but a good rule of thumb is to throw out any bottles that have been open for a month
or more.

Question 9

Nasal Spray Product

Answer 9

1. Shake the bottle thoroughly before each use and remove the cap.
2. If this is the first time you are using the bottle, you should “prime” the canister. This means that you will press down and actuate two to three doses into the air until you see a fine mist.
   - Note: If you do not use the bottle for 7 days or longer, prime it again by releasing 2 sprays.

Question 10

Using a Nasal Spray Product

Answer 10

1. Before using the spray, gently blow your nose to clear the nostrils.
2. Sit or stand up straight and tilt your head slightly forward. Insert the tip of the bottle into your right nostril (aim the nozzle slightly up and outward. Spray into your right nostril.
3. Breathe gently inward through the nostril and then breathe out through your mouth.
4. Spray into your left nostril the same way.
5. After using the spray, wipe the tip of the
   bottle with a clean tissue and put the cap back on.

Question 11

Droppers

Answer 11

• Uses

• Measure and administer small amounts of oral liquid medication.
• Units of measurement vary with dropper.
• Use dropper packaged with product.

Question 12

Calibrated Spoon

Answer 12

• Used with pediatric and elderly patients

Question 13

Oral Administration - Pediatrics

Answer 13

• For infants, when using an oral dropper or oral syringe, instill (squirt) the liquid into the far back side of the cheek
▫ Too much in the middle -> gag
▫ Too much towards the front of mouth -> drool or spit
• For toddlers, try a measuring spoon (included with the OTC product)
• For older toddlers and kids, use a measuring cup (included with the OTC product)

Question 14

ReliaDose©

Answer 14

• Provides accurate dosing
• Mask the taste of medication
• Check with pharmacist for potential drug-food interactions

Question 15

Oral Administration - Pediatrics

Answer 15

Use of appropriate flavoring agents (ex. FLAVORx)