The nurse is administering an injectable medication for a client who is unconscious and unable to swallow oral medications. What are other reasons that injectable medications may be ordered? Select all answers that apply

Question

A) The medication is more effective by injection.
B) The client needs the desired action slowly.
C) The medication is not available by any other route.
D) The client must obtain the entire dose.
E) The digestive system absorbs the drug too quickly.
F) The client is nauseated or vomiting.

Answer 1

A, C, D, F
Feedback:
A medication may be administered by injection for the following reasons: the medication is most effective by injection, the medication is unavailable in any other form of administration, the client needs the desired action quickly, dosage accuracy is critical; the client must obtain the entire dose, the client is nauseated or vomiting and cannot retain oral medications, the client's mental or physical condition renders him or her unable or unwilling to swallow oral medications, or the digestive system cannot absorb the drug.