A nurse is preparing to administer enteric-coated aspirin to an older adult client who had a cerebrovascular accident and has difficulty swallowing medications. The client asks the nurse if she will crush the medication to make it easier to swallow. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
"Stomach acid will inactivate some of the medication if I crush the medication."
"If I crush it you might experience a stomach ache or indigestion."
"That would release all the medication at once, rather than over time."
"I will crush it and mix it in some ice cream for you."
The Correct Answer is B
A. "Stomach acid will inactivate some of the medication if I crush the medication." The purpose of the enteric coating is to protect the stomach lining from irritation, not to prevent inactivation by stomach acid.
B. "If I crush it you might experience a stomach ache or indigestion." Enteric-coated (EC) medications are designed with a special outer layer that resists dissolving in the highly acidic environment of the stomach. Instead, they are meant to dissolve in the more alkaline environment of the small intestine. Aspirin is a gastric irritant; crushing the enteric coating exposes the stomach lining directly to the medication, significantly increasing the risk of gastric irritation or even GI bleeding.
C. "That would release all the medication at once, rather than over time." This describes extended-release (ER/XR/SR) or sustained-release medications. While some enteric-coated pills may have delayed absorption, the primary purpose of an enteric coating is site-specific dissolution (intestine vs. stomach) rather than controlled release over a specific number of hours.
D. "I will crush it and mix it in some ice cream for you." Crushing enteric-coated medications is contraindicated, and it could cause harm.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Notify the charge nurse. After ensuring the client’s safety, the nurse should then notify the charge nurseto inform them of the situation and seek guidance.
B. Fill out an incident report. While an incident report is necessary, it should be completed after ensuring the client's safety.
C. Document the client's condition in the electronic medical record. Documentation should follow assessment and intervention to address the error.
D. Check the client's vital signs. This immediate assessment helps determine if the client is experiencing any negative effects from the medication error.
Correct Answer is ["0.6"]
Explanation
- Amount prescribed: 3 mg
- Amount available: 5 mg/mL
- mL needed = Amount prescribed / Amount available = 3 mg / 5 mg/mL = 0.6 mL.
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