How to give a nasal spray
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Nasal sprays treat congestion and allergies, and some deliver rescue drugs. Aiming and breathing technique decide whether the dose reaches the nose or ends up in the throat.
What you need
- Nasal spray
- Tissues
- Gloves
Step by step
Identify and check
Use two identifiers and compare the drug, dose and nostril with the order. [1]
Clear the nose
Ask the patient to blow the nose gently. Clean your hands and put on gloves. [2]
Shake and prime
Shake the bottle if the label says so. Prime a new or unused bottle by spraying into the air until a fine mist appears. [3]
Position the head
Have the patient tilt the head slightly forward. Close the other nostril with a finger. [2]
Aim and spray
Place the tip just inside the nostril and point it toward the outer wall, away from the middle wall (septum). Spray while the patient breathes in gently. [3]
After the dose
Ask the patient not to blow the nose for several minutes. Wipe the tip and replace the cap. [3]
Document and teach
Record the dose and nostril. Teach that overusing decongestant sprays can cause rebound congestion after a few days. [3]
Common errors
- Aiming at the septum, which can cause irritation and nosebleeds.
- Sniffing hard so the drug runs into the throat.
- Sharing one bottle between patients.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
- Open RN, Nursing Pharmacology 2e (CC BY 4.0)
Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Pharmacology 2e and Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College), licensed under CC BY 4.0. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.