The nurse prepares to administer a plain tablet through a client's small-bore nasogastric tube. Which does the nurse implement to maintain tube patency?

Question

1. Ask pharmacy to deliver the agent as an elixir.
2. Crush tablet to fine powder and mix with water.
3. Assist the client to upright to swallow the tablet.
4. Confirm drug is suitable to crush with pharmacy.

Answer 1

2
2. A plain tablet is suitable for crushing into a fine powder, mixing with water, and administering through the nasogastric tube. Pulverizing the tablet to a fine powder, mixing it in water, and instilling the mixture help to maintain tube patency because the fine powder in unlikely to lodge in the tube. As well, the nurse flushes before and after each medication to ensure tube patency.
1. Asking for an elixir is unnecessary because the tablet is crushable; besides, the elixir can be more expensive.
3. Because the prescription states the nurse should administer the medication through the nasogastric tube and no contraindications exist for administering the medication in that manner, the nurse avoids administering the medication by mouth.
4. Usually the form of the medication and not the medication itself is the determining factor for crushing.