The nurse is preparing several topical medications for a patient. The nurse identifies which of the following as ways to administer a topical medication? (Select all that apply.)

Question

a. Administering through an enteral tube placed in the jejunum
b. Inhaling an aerosol spray into the lungs
c. Spraying a mist into the nose
d. Dissolving a medication under the tongue

Answer 1

B, C, D
Topical medications can be applied by direct application of liquid (eyedrops, gargling, swabbing the throat), insertion of a drug into a body cavity (rectal or vaginal suppositories, vaginal creams or foams), instillation of fluid into a body cavity (fluid is retained) (eardrops, nose drops, bladder and rectal instillation), irrigation of a body cavity (fluid is not retained) (flushing eye, ear, vagina, bladder, or rectum with medicated fluid), spraying (instillation into nose or throat or under the tongue), and inhalation of medicated aerosol spray or dry powder medication (distributes medication throughout the nasal passages and the tracheobronchial airway). Medication may be directly applied to the skin or mucosa (lotion, ointment, cream, powder, foam, spray, patch, and disc), or it may be given by the sublingual (medication placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve) or buccal (medication placed between the upper or lower molar teeth and cheek area and allowed to dissolve) route. Medications placed in the gastrointestinal tract via an enteral tube are not topical medications.