Medication Administration Routes and Abbreviations

Introduction

• Understanding medication administration routes and their abbreviations is crucial for nursing students and new nurses.
• Use employer-approved abbreviations to prevent medical errors.
• When in doubt, write out the full term.

Oral Routes

PO (Per Os)

• Means "by mouth."
• Common for tablets, capsules, and liquids.

SL (Sublingual)

• Means "under the tongue."
• Example: Nitroglycerin for chest pain.

Buccal

• Abbreviated as BUCC.
• Placing medication between cheek and gum.
• Used for opioid pain meds, smoking cessation products.

NPO

• Means "nothing by mouth."

Intravenous Routes

IV (Intravenous)

• Directly into the vein.

IV Piggyback (IV PB)

• Hanging additional medication to a main line.
• Used for antibiotics.

IV Push (IVP)

• Medication is pushed through a syringe into IV access.

Injection and Skin Routes

IM (Intramuscular)

• Involves injecting directly into muscle.
• Used for vaccines, antibiotics, hormone therapy.

Subcutaneous (Sub-Q)

• Injected into the fat layer of the skin.
• Common for insulin, anticoagulants like Heparin.

Intradermal (ID)

• Injection into the dermis.
• Used for allergy and TB tests.

Transdermal (TD)

• Medication placed on skin surface.
• Examples: Fentanyl patches, nitro cream.

Miscellaneous Routes

Inhalation (INH)

• Enters via respiratory tract.
• Includes inhalers, nebulizers.

Intraosseous (IO)

• Access in bone marrow for emergencies.

Endotracheal Tube (ETT)

• Used in emergency situations.
• Administers emergency drugs like lidocaine, naloxone.

Eye and Ear Routes

Eye

• Write out "eye" instead of abbreviations.
• Designate right, left, or both.

Ear

• Write out "ear" and specify right, left, or both.

Rectal and Vaginal Routes

Rectal (RECT or PR)

Vaginal (VAG or PV)

Nasal Route

• Administered through nasal passages.

Tube Routes

Nasogastric Tube (NGT)

• Through nose to stomach.

PEG Tube

• Surgically inserted tube into the stomach.

Conclusion

• Review these routes and abbreviations for safe and effective nursing practices.
• Access the free quiz for additional practice.