A nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing medications and is prescribed enteric-coated aspirin PO once daily. The client asks if the medication can be crushed to make it easier to swallow. Which of the following responses should the nurse provide?
Crushing the medication would release all the medication at once, rather than over time.
Crushing the medication is a good idea and I can mix it in some soft cream for you.
Crushing the medication might cause you to have stomach-ache or indigestion.
Crushing is unsafe as it destroys the ingredients in the medication.
The Correct Answer is C
Enteric-coated aspirin is designed to release slowly over time to protect the stomach lining from irritation. Crushing the medication would defeat this purpose and could cause stomach irritation or other side effects.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is choicec. Administer the medication under the client’s tongue.
Choice A rationale:
Administering the crushed medication through the NG tube is inappropriate because sublingual medications are designed to be absorbed through the tissues under the tongue, not the gastrointestinal tract. Crushing and administering it through the NG tube would alter its intended absorption and effectiveness.
Choice B rationale:
Dissolving the medication in water and giving it through the NG tube is also incorrect for the same reasons as Choice A. Sublingual medications are specifically formulated to be absorbed through the mucous membranes under the tongue, and changing the route of administration can affect the drug’s efficacy.
Choice C rationale:
Administering the medication under the client’s tongue is the correct action. Sublingual medications are designed to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the tissues under the tongue, bypassing the digestive system and providing rapid onset of action.
Choice D rationale:
While some medications can be safely switched to oral formulations for NG tube administration, such a change is only necessary when the prescribed route (in this case, sublingual) cannot be used. Without contraindications (e.g., inability to hold the medication under the tongue or mucosal issues), the original sublingual route should be followed.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rifampin and pyrazinamide can cause liver toxicity, so liver function tests should be monitored regularly while on this medication regimen to ensure that the liver is functioning properly and to detect any potential liver damage early.
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