Oral liquid medication administration is one medication route that nurses use when administering medications to patients. In addition, nursing schools may require nursing students to perform a skills check-off on this technique.
While you should always verify the specific protocols for your facility or nursing school before administering medications, these general tips can help you learn some of the key concepts on how to pour medication into a medicine cup for oral liquid medication administration.
How to Administer a Liquid Medication in a Measurement Cup
1. Gather your supplies, perform the medication rights/checks, and perform hand hygiene.
2. Confirm the ordered dose with what you are supplied with from pharmacy. In our example, the order says to administer: Fakelixir 700 mg PO Daily. Our sample medication label below reads: Fakelixir oral solution with a dosage amount of 350 mg/5mL. Calculate the dose based on what is ordered and what is supplied.
In this case, the nurse will administer 10 mL to equal the 700 mg dose.
3. When administering oral liquid medications, always use the appropriate measuring cup or device that the medication came with or what was supplied by pharmacy. When you are teaching a parent or patient on how to administer the medication at home, stress the importance of using the medication device that came with the medication. Avoid using measuring devices that are household measurement tools like teaspoons and tablespoons spoons, as these items may inaccurately measure the medication.
4. Assess the medicine cup’s markings that indicate the measurements, and find the measurement you need to pour to.
5. Prior to pouring the medication, read the label for preparation instructions. For example, it may instruct you to shake it, which is common with suspensions. This helps the medication mix evenly before pouring.
6. Remove the cap from the bottle and place it in a secure location with the cap opening pointing up so that the inside doesn’t become contaminated with the surrounding surface.
7. Before filling the medication cup, place it on a flat, level, sturdy surface and position yourself in a bent down position so you can easily see the measuring lines as you pour. Avoid holding the cup in the air as you pour, as you might hold the cup at an angle and get an inaccurate reading. In addition, avoid placing yourself above the cup as you pour because your angle of view might distort the reading. Instead, view the cup directly as you pour.
8. As you start to pour the medication in the cup, hold the bottle of medication in a way that protects the label from medication spillage. To do this, hold the bottle so that the medication label is facing up and the inside of your hand is covering the label.
9. Pour the liquid medication slowly until the liquid reaches the measurement line.
NOTE: Some measuring devices may cause the liquid to curve upward or downward on the sides due to surface tension, and this can make it difficult to determine if the liquid has reached the appropriate measurement line. If this occurs, measure the liquid at the bottom of its curve (meniscus) if it is concave, and at the top if it is convex (see picture), unless instructed otherwise.
If the cup is overfilled with medication, discard the excess medication per facility’s protocols. Don’t attempt to add it back to the bottle because this could cause contamination of the medication in the bottle.
10. Once you are done pouring, use a clean, dry napkin to remove any excessive medication around the opening of the bottle. This prevents the buildup of medication layers and leakage of medication onto its label.
11. Secure the cap back onto the medication bottle. Store the medication as directed (example: refrigerator or room temperature).
12. Before administering: confirm medication checks, perform hand hygiene, don gloves, and assist the patient into an upright position to swallow the medication.
13. Dispose of the medication cup, or if you’re required to keep the cup because it’s for multiple doses, clean it thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Then let it dry, and return it back to the medication bottle for future use.
14. Doff gloves, perform hand hygiene, and document.