Responsibilities Following Drug Administration: Observation - Video Lesson

Hey, everybody. Welcome back to another lesson about medication administration. This lesson focuses on post medication administration responsibilities and the crucial aspect of patient monitoring post medication administration. Following the administration of any medication, it is critical to observe the patient to ensure the drug is having its intended effect and to detect any side effects or allergic or toxic reactions. Monitoring for the drug's intended effects not only confirms the effectiveness of the treatment, but also indicates that the dosage is appropriate. For example, if a patient is receiving ibuprofen for pain management of rheumatoid arthritis, they should report a slight decrease in pain at thirty minutes post administration and a significant decrease in pain two hours post administration. It is also important to monitor the patient for any side effects, allergic reactions, or toxic reactions. Let's look at the definitions of each.