When administering medications, a nurse must know a client's medical history and pharmacokinetics of prescribed medications because most drugs are metabolized in the:

Choice A reason: While reliability exists, the oral route is less predictable than IV administration due to variability in absorption caused by digestive factors, making it less reliable for rapid or consistent onset.

Choice B reason: Convenience is the primary advantage of oral administration. It allows ease of self-administration, enabling clients to manage their medications without healthcare provider intervention, making it the most frequently used route.

Choice C reason: While many clients tolerate oral medications well, others may face challenges, such as difficulty swallowing or gastric irritation, meaning tolerability varies and is not a universal advantage of this route.

Choice D reason: The oral route does not ensure fast action due to time required for digestion, absorption, and metabolism, making it slower compared to routes like IV or sublingual administration.

Choice A reason: Body fat levels influence subcutaneous absorption but are not the primary reason for choosing IM over SC injection in this scenario.

Choice B reason: Needle size varies by medication and patient factors, but this is not the defining reason for selecting IM over SC injection.

Choice C reason: IM injections deliver medication directly to muscle tissue with a rich vascular supply, ensuring faster absorption and onset compared to subcutaneous administration.

Choice D reason: IM injections are not inherently safer for patients at risk of bleeding; they carry similar risks and require proper assessment before administration.