Drug administration is one of the most important and most dangerous duties for a medical assistant. By following the procedures for proper drug administration, you can help restore patients to health. If you calculate dosages inaccurately, measure drugs incorrectly, or administer drugs improperly, patients' medications may have no therapeutic effect, may worsen their disease or abnormal condition, or may cause them to die.

• Routes of medication administration
• Dosage calculations
• Techniques involved with various types of parenteral injections
• Seven rights of drug administration
• Patient education

Because drug administration is a vital and common aspect of your job, you must familiarize yourself with the uses, contraindications, interactions, and adverse effects of common drugs. You should be familiar with the medications frequently prescribed in your practice. Furthermore, to be able to assume your role as educator, you must be comfortable with all aspects of drug administration so that you can instruct patients about the drugs prescribed to them.

Your responsibility in drug administration is great. Your critical thinking skills are important when performing this function. Self-directed lifelong learning is a key concept in direct patient care and drug administration.