The nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing a large tablet of a prescribed drug. What action should the nurse take first?

Consult with the client's health care provider.

Administer the liquid form of the drug.

Administer the parenteral form of the drug.

Crush the tablet before administration.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: Consulting ensures safety; not all drugs can be altered, and the provider adjusts the order, preventing errors in bioavailability or efficacy.

Choice B reason: Liquid may work, but without approval, it’s unauthorized; some drugs lack liquid forms, and this bypasses necessary prescriber oversight.

Choice C reason: Parenteral needs an order change; administering without it violates scope, and it’s invasive, escalating care unnecessarily as a first step.

Choice D reason: Crushing alters pharmacokinetics; many tablets (e.g., extended-release) can’t be crushed, and doing so without checking risks toxicity or inefficacy.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Bed rest increases clot risk and deconditioning; vasodilators lower pressure, but mobility is beneficial unless contraindicated, making this overly restrictive.

Choice B reason: Assisting ambulation helps, but it’s less proactive; it doesn’t address orthostatic hypotension risks at initiation of movement, where falls are most likely.

Choice C reason: Monitoring intake/output tracks fluid status, not directly addressing vasodilation’s hypotensive effects during position changes, missing the primary safety concern.

Choice D reason: Rising slowly counters orthostatic hypotension from vasodilation; it allows autoregulation to stabilize pressure, reducing fall risk in an active elderly patient.

A. Remove the syringe, discard the medication, and start over. B. Give the medication as ordered. C. Remove the syringe, change the needle, and give the medication. D. Omit the dose.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Blood indicates vascular entry; discarding prevents unintended IV delivery of an IM drug, avoiding rapid absorption risks and ensuring proper route administration.

Choice B reason: Giving with blood risks IV administration; IM drugs aren’t formulated for this, potentially causing embolism or toxicity, violating safety administration principles.

Choice C reason: Changing the needle leaves contaminated medication; blood-mixed drugs are unsafe, and this fails to address the compromised dose integrity fully.

Choice D reason: Omitting skips treatment needlessly; the issue is procedural, not the order, and restarting ensures the patient receives the intended therapy safely.

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The nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing a large tablet of a prescribed drug. What action should the nurse take first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Correct Answer is A

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