An older patient has difficulty swallowing oral medicines and sometimes spits them out after the nurse leaves the hospital room. Which action should the nurse take to ensure the patient swallows the medications?
A) Crushing any large or enteric-coated tablets
B) Prescribing liquid or suppository forms of the medicines
C) Giving the patient ample fluids to make swallowing easier
D) Having the patient hold the medicine in the mouth until being able to swallow
C
Feedback:
Ample fluids assist with swallowing. The nurse may consult with the patient's health care provider about alternative forms of the drug but cannot prescribe drugs. If the patient's mouth is dry, the patient may not need to swallow for a long time, and some medicines will disintegrate in the mouth and cause an unpleasant taste unless they are swallowed immediately. Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed.
You might also like to view...
The median of the following set of numbers (12, 4, 13, 20, 4, 10, 14) is:
a. 4. b. 11. c. 12. d. 17.
It is important to observe for cyanosis as a sign of hypoxemia. Which of the following choices provides the most useful description of this condition? Cyanosis is:
1. produced by low oxygen levels in the blood. 2. often seen as circumoral bluish discoloration of the skin. 3. directly related to the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, in the presence of oxygen deficit. 4. generally associated with other signs of oxygen deficit.
The nurse is explaining to a client about foods that are low in cholesterol and foods that are cholesterol-free. Which of the following would the nurse explain is cholesterol-free?
1. Skinless chicken 2. Eggs 3. Peanut butter 4. All-beef hot dogs
The nurse is hired to provide care in a hospital that offers services in all specialty areas. How should the nurse categorize this type of health care facility?
1. General hospital 2. Specialty hospital 3. Long-term care hospital 4. Short-term hospital