Deck 8: Administration by the Gastrointestinal Route

Question 1

Ms.Chorba,age 93,is usually a pleasant and cooperative woman.This evening,however,she is refusing to take her medication.What should you do?

A)Determine why she refused to take her medication,report it to the person in charge,and document the incident.
B)Give the medication by injection,and then explain why you needed to do so.
C)Remind her that she must take the medication and may have an emergency if she refuses.
D)Arrange for a neurological examination as this behavior is so unusual for her.

Answer 1

Determine why she refused to take her medication,report it to the person in charge,and document the incident.

Question 2

Your patient confesses that he can't swallow pills and usually crushes and mixes them in his coffee.He has been prescribed a sustained release analgesic.Is it safe for him to crush the pill and add it to his coffee?

A)Maybe,depending on whether the medication has an interaction with coffee.
B)No,sustained release formulations should not be crushed.
C)Yes,although he may experience gastrointestinal discomfort.
D)Yes;crushing the pill is fine,although it may taste bitter.

Answer 2

No,sustained release formulations should not be crushed.

Question 3

What administration route tends to be least expensive because of its availability for most medications and the lack of need for special equipment?

A)G tube
B)rectal
C)oral
D)NG tube

Answer 3

oral

Question 4

Seven-year-old Dani has been prescribed an analgesic in pill form.Her father asks whether the pill can be crushed and mixed in a chocolate milk shake for a more pleasant experience.You know that it is safe to crush the pill (it is neither enteric-coated nor sustained release).Is it safe to give Dani the crushed pill in her milk shake?

A)Possibly,but you would have to know whether it can be safely administered with dairy before deciding.
B)No,because if Dani cannot swallow a pill,she cannot safely swallow a milk shake.
C)Yes,because the only concern is whether it is safe to crush the pills.
D)No,because medication should not be mixed with children's food.

Question 5

When administering liquid medication using an oral syringe,you should .

A)pour the medication into a medicine cup and then pour the correct amount into the syringe
B)pour the medication into a medicine cup and withdraw the correct amount into the syringe
C)withdraw the correct amount into the syringe by inserting the tip of the syringe into the medicine bottle
D)pour the medication directly into the syringe

Question 6

Newborn Lars has a mitochondrial disorder that causes lack of muscle tone,the inability to nurse,and the potential of not being able to safely eat or drink by mouth long-term.What is the approach of choice for nutrition when a patient will be unable to eat for a prolonged period of time?

A)IV nutrition
B)nasogastric tube
C)gastric tube
D)total parenteral nutrition

Question 7

What is the term for medication in liquid form that is administered rectally?

A)retention enema
B)rectal suspension
C)enteric enema
D)suppository

Question 8

An advantage of the rectal route is that it .

A)bypasses digestive enzymes
B)is possible for nearly all important medications
C)provides consistent and complete absorption
D)is especially easy for children and the elderly

Question 9

Gastric tubes are sometimes called .

A)peg tubes
B)NG tubes
C)PICC lines
D)ports

Question 10

Administration by NG tube is preferable to intravenous administration when a patient is .

A)unable to swallow for prolonged periods of time because of illness,trauma,surgery,or unconsciousness
B)unable to lie down for long periods of time and appears to be emotionally distraught
C)is unlikely to ever regain the ability to swallow
D)is unlikely to live much longer

Question 11

How should a suppository be prepared for insertion?

A)The suppository should be warmed to body temperature.
B)The tapered end should be lubricated with a water-soluble lubricant.
C)The suppository should be inserted exactly as supplied.
D)The tapered end should be lubricated with an oil-based lubricant.

Question 12

The medication you are to administer via a nasogastric tube must be taken on an empty stomach.You know that your patient is receiving feedings as well as medication through his nasogastric tube.What should you do?

A)Stop the tube feeding for 30 to 60 minutes,depending on the medication.
B)Stop the tube feeding and periodically aspirate stomach contents until you know the stomach is empty.
C)Contact the physician and request a different medication that does not require an empty stomach.
D)Go ahead with the medication administration without stopping the tube feeding.

Question 13

A physician is most likely to order a gastric tube when a patient .

A)is extremely frightened of injections
B)is expected to be in ICU for several days following surgery
C)has difficulty swallowing pills
D)will be unable to take nourishment by mouth for a very extended period of time

Question 14

Suppositories are especially useful .

A)when patients are reluctant to take medication
B)because they release medication at a consistent rate
C)when patients have dysphagia
D)because they ensure complete absorption

Question 15

Your patient vomits administered medication whole less than a minute later after taking it.What should you do?

A)Report the incident to the person in charge.
B)Administer an antiemetic.
C)Administer another dose in a soothing food such as pudding.
D)Skip the dose until the patient feels better.

Question 16

Four-year-old Tasmin is receiving chemotherapy for neuroblastoma and her doctors have decided to place a nasogastric tube.What is an advantage of such a tube?

A)avoidance of multiple injections
B)slower onset of absorption and action
C)ease of retrieving accidental overdoses
D)economy because most medications are formulated for it

Question 17

A nasogastric tube that is used for medication administration should be flushed .

A)through the secondary port during administration by instilling 60-100 mL (or the amount ordered)of water
B)before the syringe empties completely by adding 60-100 mL (or the amount ordered)of water to the syringe
C)after the syringe has emptied completely by adding 60-100 mL (or the amount ordered)of water to the
Syringe
D)at least an hour after the medication is administered by adding 60-100 mL (or the amount ordered)of water
To the syringe

Question 18

Melinda begins coughing while swallowing a liquid medication and inhales some of the medication into her lungs.What is this called?

A)inspiration
B)respiration
C)aspiration
D)expiration

Question 19

Your friend Leila has had several miscarriages;therefore,her doctor has prescribed daily heparin injections to reduce the risk of miscarriage with her current pregnancy.Leila dislikes self-administered injections and asks you if heparin pills might be available instead.What should you tell her?

A)Yes,heparin is available in pill form and easily obtainable.
B)No,heparin is destroyed by stomach acids.
C)Yes,heparin pills are available but very expensive and not covered by most insurance.
D)No,not enough people take it daily to make it cost-effective.

Question 20

The medication you are administering to Mr.LaFonte is supplied in a unit dose container.You are at his bedside and he is ready to take the medication,so you have opened the unit dose.What should you do next?

A)Verify his name by looking at his wrist band and asking him what his name is.
B)Place the unit dose container into his hand for him to take the medication.
C)Empty the unit dose container directly into his hand so he can take the medication.
D)Empty the medication into a medication cup and give him the cup.

Question 21

You are administering several oral medications to your patient.In what order should they be given?

A)in the order that the patient requests
B)from thinnest to thickest consistency
C)from best-tasting to worst-tasting
D)in order of priority,starting with the most important

Question 22

Liquid medication administered by oral syringe should be deposited .

A)just behind the lips
B)in the middle of the tongue
C)as far back in the mouth as possible
D)into the cheek pocket

Question 23

Medication administered by nasogastric tube should be .

A)administered for at least 30 minutes
B)allowed to flow in through gravity
C)pushed in using the syringe plunger
D)injected in the tube as quickly as possible

Question 24

Rhonda has severe thrush,a fungal infection of her mouth and throat.How should the fungicide be administered?

A)with a thin liquid such as water
B)with a high fat food
C)with neither food nor liquids
D)with a thick liquid such as a milkshake

Question 25

If any unusual circumstances or adverse side effects are associated with medication administration,the health care practitioner should .

A)report the incident and ask your supervisor to record it
B)record the incident but only report it if the incident is potentially life-threatening
C)only record and report if the incident is is potentially life-threatening
D)record and report the incident