The nurse is preparing to administer 12.4 mL of liquid medication via oral syringe. Which of the following actions by the nurse indicate an understanding of how to give oral medications via syringe?
The nurse uses either an oral or parenteral syringe to administer the medication.
The nurse pours 10 mL of the medication into a 30 mL medicine cup, then adds 2.4 mL with a 3 mL syringe.
The nurse pours 10 mL of the medication into a 30 mL medicine cup, then adds 2.4 mL with a 5 mL syringe.
The nurse pours 10 mL of the medication into a 30 mL medicine cup, then slowly adds the remainder until it is almost halfway between the 10 mL mark and 15 mL mark.
Number 2 is correct.
Administering 12.4 mL of liquid medication requires using a 3 mL syringe to most accurately draw up the 2.4 mL to add to the 10 mL in the medicine cup. A 5 mL syringe is less accurate and increases the risk of an incorrect dosage. Only oral syringes should be used to administer oral medications. In option 4, the nurse is essentially estimating the amount to add to the cup, increasing the risk of an incorrect dosage.
