Nurses consider age as an essential factor when administering medication. Patients physiological and psychological needs differ depending on their level of development and maturity. By understanding these factors, nurses can cater to the needs of patient accordingly. In the world of pediatric medicine, it is wrong to consider small infants as small adults. For instance, children have different pharmacokinetics than the elderly. Pharmacokinetics is the study of how drugs administered interact in a patient's body. These interactions involve absorption rate, metabolic rate, distribution of the drug in the body and its elimination (RN.com, 2004). Since there are only a few clinical studies done in children, there is insufficient data, and therefore nurses are cautious when calculating and giving medicine to children. Pharmacokinetics in children varies depending on factors like health, age, weight and route of administration. Their GI tracts also need to be well hydrated to facilitate absorption of the medication. Children's absorption rate is not properly developed; hence their medications are modified. Drug administration using IVs in children can also be difficult because their veins are weak and unstable (RN.com, 2004). Furthermore, children can also try to remove the IV and therefore need close monitoring. Drug administration among the very old requires a lot of precaution as well this is because at this stage of their lives their bodies have undergone many changes such as fragile bones, fat accumulation among others (RN.com, 2004). Administration of drugs using IVs should be approached with care because their blood vessels can be damaged due to their fragility. Adults have low metabolism, and therefore nurses should administer minimal doses (RN.com, 2004). Death caused by drug misuse is common among older patients and thus while discharging these patients’ nurses should adequately explain to the patient and the caregiver the right time and how to take medication given.
When administering medication, nurses also put into considerations common guidelines that apply to all patients regardless of age. They have to make sure and crosscheck that they are attending to the right patient, they have to administer the proper dosage by confirming with current drug references and also administer the drugs at the right time. The route of administration should be fit for the patient (Kluwer, 2018). After giving the medicine, the nurse is required to write all the details on record and monitor the patient to make sure the desired response is achieved.
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References
Kluwer, W. (2018). 8 rights of medication administration. Lippincott Nursingcenter® . Retrieved from https://www.nursingcenter.com/ncblog/may-2011/8-rights-of-medication-administration
RN.com. (2004). Age-Specific Considerations in Patient Care (1st ed.). San Diego: RN.com. Retrievedfrom http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/Promotion_safe_med_childrens.pdf
