1.a. Describe the differences between local and systemic routes of drug administration,
giving examples of each. (7)
b. Outline the actions a nurse can take to minimise the occurrence of side effects of drugs.
(7)
1a
...
1.a. Describe the differences between local and systemic routes of drug administration,
giving examples of each. (7)
b. Outline the actions a nurse can take to minimise the occurrence of side effects of drugs.
(7)
1a) Local routes of administration will result in an effect to the area where the drug has been
administered, whereas systemic routes of administration result in absorption into the
circulatory system and so can affect the entire body. For example, local routes of
administration include eye drops and ear drops, these medications will only have an effect
on the eyes and ears respectively and will not enter the circulatory system to have an effect
elsewhere. Additionally, this is also true of drugs administered by inhalation (nebulisers,
inhalers) as they well only have an effect on the respiratory system and not elsewhere.
Conversely medication administered orally will be absorbed at some point in the digestive
system and so enter the circulatory system, an example of systemic administration. A further
example of this route of administration is injection, as the drug is injected directly into bodily
tissue it can take an effect on the entire body as it will be absorbed into the circulatory
system quickly (or immediately in the case of intravenous administration).
b) One of the most important actions a nurse can take in order to minimise the effects of
drugs is to take observations following administration, such as blood pressure, for example
tricylic antidepressants can cause orthostatic hypotension. Observing respiratory rate can
also be useful if a patient has been administered an opioid analgesic. A nurse can also
ensure that the patient receives a drug to reduce the side effects of another drug, for
example giving cyclazine to combat the nausea effects of morphine.
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