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Skill Checklists to Accompany Taylors Clinical Nursing Skills:

A Nursing Process Approach, 2nd Edition
Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Name:

Date:

Unit:

Position:

Instructor/Evaluator:

Position:

Met

Unmet

Administering Medication via a

Small-Volume Nebulizer

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1.

Gather equipment. Check medication order against the original

physicians order according to agency policy.
Clarify any
inconsistencies. Check the residents chart for allergies.

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2.

Know the actions, special nursing considerations, safe dose ranges,

purpose of administration, and adverse effects of the medications to be
administered. Consider the appropriateness of the medication for this
resident.

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3.

Perform hand hygiene.

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4.

Move the medication cart to the outside of the residents room or

prepare for administration in the medication area.

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5.

Unlock the medication cart or drawer.

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6.

Prepare medications for one resident at a time.

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7.

Read the MAR and select the proper medication from the residents
medication drawer or unit stock.

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8.

Compare the label with the MAR. Check expiration dates and perform
calculations, if necessary.

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9.

When all medications for one resident have been prepared,

recheck the label with the MAR before taking them to the
resident. Lock the medication cart before leaving it.

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10. Transport medications to the residents bedside carefully, and keep the
medications in sight at all times.

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11. Ensure that the resident receives the medications at the correct
time.

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12. Identify the resident.

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13. Complete
necessary
assessments
before
administering
medications. Check allergy records or ask resident about
allergies. Explain what you are going to do and the reason to the
resident.

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14. Perform hand hygiene.

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15. Remove the nebulizer cup from the device and open it. Place
premeasured unit-dose medication in the bottom section of the cup or
use a dropper to place concentrated dose of medication in cup and add
prescribed diluent, if required.

Goal: The resident receives the medication.

COMPETENCY TRAINING: Clinical Nursing Skills

Administering Medication via a Small-Volume Nebulizer Created 07/09/2010

Comments

Met

Unmet

Administering Medication via a

Small-Volume Nebulizer (Continued)

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16. Screw the top portion of the nebulizer cup back in place and attach the
cup to the nebulizer. Attach one end of tubing to the stem on the
bottom of the nebulizer cuff and the other end to the air compressor or
oxygen source.

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17. Turn on the air compressor or oxygen. Check that a fine medication
mist is produced by opening the valve. Have resident place
mouthpiece into mouth and grasp securely with teeth and lips.

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18. Instruct resident to inhale slowly and deeply through the mouth.
A nose clip may be necessary if resident is also breathing through
nose. Hold each breath for a slight pause, before exhaling.

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19. Continue this inhalation technique until all medication in the

nebulizer cup has been aerosolized (usually about 15 minutes).
Once the fine mist decreases in amount, gently flick the sides of
the nebulizer cup.

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20. If steroids were used, have the resident rinse mouth with tap water
after using nebulizer.
Clean the nebulizer according to the
manufacturers directions.
[Reference: Perry & Potter].

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21. Reassess lung sounds, oxygenation saturation if ordered, pulse,

and respirations.

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22. Perform hand hygiene.

Comments

COMPETENCY TRAINING: Clinical Nursing Skills

Administering Medication via a Small-Volume Nebulizer Created 07/09/2010