A patient is prescribed omeprazole (Prilosec) 60 mg once a day orally. The patient is having difficulty with swallowing and has a feeding tube in place. What is the nurse's best action?
a. Open the capsule and mix the contents with water, then give the drug through the feeding tube.
b. Raise the head of the bed 90 degrees and mix the capsule in applesauce for easier swallowing.
c. Contact the prescriber and pharmacist about using another drug or another form of the drug.
d. Hold the tube feeding for at least 30 minutes before giving the drug.
C
Omeprazole comes in time-released capsules, which should not be opened to prevent rapid ab-sorption of the drug and consequent side effects or adverse effects. Mixing the drug with apple-sauce and asking the patient to swallow it when the patient has difficulty swallowing puts the patient at high risk for aspiration.
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