When assessing a patient after administering an antihypertensive, which of the following would you report to the physician as an adverse reaction?

A. Having up-to-date knowledge about medications.: Nurses must maintain current knowledge of pharmacologic principles, including indications, contraindications, side effects, and interactions, to ensure safe and effective medication administration.

B. Administering medications.: Administering medications is a core nursing responsibility in the acute care setting. The nurse ensures the right drug, dose, route, time, and patient, while also monitoring for therapeutic effects and adverse reactions.

C. Prescribing medications.: Nurses generally do not prescribe medications unless they hold advanced practice roles with prescriptive authority, such as nurse practitioners. In most settings, prescribing is the responsibility of physicians or qualified prescribers.

D. Preparing medications.: Preparing medications accurately is part of the nurse’s role to ensure proper dosing and prevent administration errors. This includes verifying orders, calculating doses, and maintaining aseptic technique during preparation.

A. A tablet given orally.: Oral administration is considered an enteral route because the drug passes through the gastrointestinal tract for absorption. It is convenient and noninvasive but not classified as parenteral since it does not involve injection.

B. A tablet given sublingually.: The sublingual route allows for rapid absorption through the mucous membranes under the tongue, bypassing first-pass metabolism. However, it is still classified as an enteral route because it involves absorption through the alimentary canal.

C. A subcutaneous injection.: Parenteral administration involves delivering medication by injection through the skin or directly into body tissues. A subcutaneous injection is a parenteral route because it bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and allows for rapid systemic absorption.

D. A liquid medication given orally.: Like oral tablets, oral liquids are administered enterally because they enter the digestive system for absorption. They are suitable for clients who have difficulty swallowing but do not qualify as parenteral medications.