The nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing a large tablet of a prescribed drug. What action should the nurse take first?

Consult with the client's health care provider.

Administer the liquid form of the drug.

Administer the parenteral form of the drug.

Crush the tablet before administration.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: Consulting ensures safety; not all drugs can be altered, and the provider adjusts the order, preventing errors in bioavailability or efficacy.

Choice B reason: Liquid may work, but without approval, it’s unauthorized; some drugs lack liquid forms, and this bypasses necessary prescriber oversight.

Choice C reason: Parenteral needs an order change; administering without it violates scope, and it’s invasive, escalating care unnecessarily as a first step.

Choice D reason: Crushing alters pharmacokinetics; many tablets (e.g., extended-release) can’t be crushed, and doing so without checking risks toxicity or inefficacy.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Calling the name relies on response accuracy; confused or hearing-impaired patients may not answer correctly, risking misidentification and medication errors.

Choice B reason: Verbal confirmation plus armband verification against the MAR ensures identity via two identifiers, aligning with safety protocols to prevent administration errors scientifically.

Choice C reason: Family or visitors may misidentify due to stress or error; this lacks direct patient verification, increasing risk of giving medication to the wrong individual.

Choice D reason: Bed or door labels can be outdated or misplaced; this indirect method fails to confirm identity actively, heightening the chance of medication misadministration.

A. Crush the pills and mix them with applesauce. B. Have the primary health provider prescribe the liquid form of this drug. C. Use the paper cup to introduce the pills into the patient's mouth. D. Put the pills in the patient’s hand and have the patient self-administer the pills.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Crushing pills can alter drug efficacy and safety, especially for medications with controlled-release properties, making this inappropriate without specific provider instructions.

Choice B reason: Requesting a liquid form accommodates the patient’s physical limitations, maintaining therapeutic integrity and ensuring safe and effective medication administration.

Choice C reason: Introducing pills directly into the patient’s mouth risks aspiration and violates safe administration practices, emphasizing the need for alternative methods.

Choice D reason: If the patient struggles to hold the cup, self-administration becomes impractical. Assistance through appropriate alternative forms ensures compliance and safety.

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The nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing a large tablet of a prescribed drug. What action should the nurse take first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

To ensure the nurse administers medications to the right client, which method of identification is most appropriate?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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