• Clean & free from clutter;
• Well lit;
• Have adequate supplies available.

   B. Practice good hand hygiene and/or universal precautions:

• Wash your hands prior to preparing medications and anytime there has been any physical contact;
• Use gloves when instilling eye or ear medications;
• Be aware of allergies to latex;
• Wash your hands to remove powder from gloves.

   C. Educate Yourself on the Medication:

• Provide an adequate amount of water for easy swallowing;
• Review medicines that require checking of vital signs.

D. Follow the Six Client Rights When

• Removing the medication from storage;
• Removing the medication from its container;
• Returning the medication to storage.

   E. Identify yourself and what you are doing.

   F. When measuring liquid medications:

• Have available a medication dispensing device or oral syringe;
• Pour the medication away from the label;
• Have the container eye level when measuring;
• Pay close attention to the order and the measurement markings on the container.

   G. Give the medication and observe the client taking it:

• Monitor for choking.

   H. Document.

   I. Observe the client after they have taken the medication & report to the Nurse:

• As soon as possible, any change in the patient’s normal condition, call 911 and report to nurse if any emergency situation occurs (allergy reaction, shock, short of breathing, chocking, swollen face and neck.)