Deck 8: Administration by the Gastrointestinal Route

Question 1

A physician's order is not required to crush pills for administration.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Aspiration is defined as the inhalation of a foreign substance or regurgitated gastric contents.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Match each item with the correct statement below.
Difficulty swallowing

A)Dysphagia
B)Retention enema
C)NG tube
D)PEG tube
E)Aspiration

Answer 3

Dysphagia

Question 4

The oral route of administration is preferred over injection.

Question 5

Match each item with the correct statement below.
Inhalation of foreign substance or gastric contents

A)Dysphagia
B)Retention enema
C)NG tube
D)PEG tube
E)Aspiration

Question 6

Match each item with the correct statement below.
Tube inserted through the nasal passages to the stomach

A)Dysphagia
B)Retention enema
C)NG tube
D)PEG tube
E)Aspiration

Question 7

Match each item with the correct statement below.
Name for surgically placed gastric tube

A)Dysphagia
B)Retention enema
C)NG tube
D)PEG tube
E)Aspiration

Question 8

The rectal route of administration may not be an option due to limited availability of medications in suppository form.

Question 9

One disadvantage to the oral route of administration is that it should not be used in NPO patients.

Question 10

A gastric tube is used for medication delivery _________.

A) in patients able to tolerate oral medications
B) in patients who are unable to take anything by mouth for an extended period of time
C) in patients who are nauseated
D) All of the above.

Question 11

A disadvantage of the oral route of administration is ___.

A) patient discomfort
B) rapid rate of absorption
C) more costs related to oral administration
D) unable to use this route for unconscious patients

Question 12

Patient cooperation is not required for administration of rectal medications.

Question 13

Medications are administered by the gastrointestinal route more often than any other way.

Question 14

A disadvantage of rectal administration may be _______.

A) patients who have difficulty retaining suppositories
B) incomplete or irregular absorption of the medication due to the presence of feces
C) irritation related to the medication being given by suppository
D) All of the above.

Question 15

Administration of liquid oral medications is preferred for children under 5 years of age.

Question 16

A nasogastric tube is always inserted solely for the purpose of administering medication.

Question 17

Administration of medications by the oral route should be used in order to prevent aspiration in unconscious patients.

Question 18

Aspiration is best defined as ____.

A) unintentional inhalation of a substance that may result in lung damage or infection
B) administration of medication via the nasogastric route
C) administration of a medication by breathing in via inhaler delivery
D) irritation of the upper GI tract

Question 19

Match each item with the correct statement below.
Fluid form of drug used rectally

A)Dysphagia
B)Retention enema
C)NG tube
D)PEG tube
E)Aspiration

Question 20

Oral medications may not be administered in which of the following situations?

A) Children
B) Elderly
C) NPO status
D) Mentally disabled

Question 21

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

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

Question 22

_____ should be measured _____ administration of antihypertensives.

A) Blood pressure, before
B) Heart rate, before and after
C) Respiratory rate, after
D) Blood pressure, after

Question 23

Gastric tubes are sometimes called ____.

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

Question 24

When preparing liquids for oral administration, the medicine cup should be held in what position for measuring?

A) So that the bottom of the cup is visible at all times
B) Slightly tilted so the measuring lines on the side are easier to see
C) Level and on the counter to avoid spilling
D) Level at eye level

Question 25

The guidelines for administering medications via a gastric tube are the same as for an NG tube EXCEPT __.

A) wash your hands
B) it is not necessary to aspirate or use a stethoscope to check for placement
C) clamp the tube after the medication has been instilled
D) turn the patient on the right side

Question 26

When administering a liquid medication to a person who is unable to drink from a cup, it may be necessary to _________.

A) use a syringe
B) use an NG tube
C) pour the medication from the cup into the patient's mouth
D) have the order changed to an injection

Question 27

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

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

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT true regarding rectal administration?

A) Bypasses the action of digestive enzymes
B) Avoids irritation to the upper GI tract
C) Not appropriate for use in children
D) Useful in patients with dysphagia

Question 29

Which is the route of choice for administering medications to a child under 5 years of age?

A) Intravenous
B) Injection
C) Intraosseous
D) Oral liquid

Question 30

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

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

Question 31

Liquid medication administered by oral syringe should be deposited ____.

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

Question 32

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 milkshake 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 milkshake?

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

Question 33

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

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

Question 34

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

A) Oral
B) Rectal
C) NG tube
D) G tube

Question 35

With regard to rectal administration of medications, it is very important to remember ___.

A) rectally administered medications are especially dangerous
B) positioning the patient is irrelevant as long as the medication is placed in the rectum
C) to respect the patient's dignity
D) that the patient's cooperation is not necessary once the medication is in place

Question 36

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

Question 37

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

Question 38

When administering medications via the oral, nasogastric, or gastric tube, the medication temperature ______.

A) should be room temperature
B) should be cold
C) should be heated
D) does not matter

Question 39

What should be done PRIOR to administration of medications by NG tube?

A) Prepare a large syringe in case additional pressure is required to force the medication through the tube.
B) Check for proper tube placement by auscultation with a stethoscope and by aspiration to check pH of fluids.
C) Clamp the tube for 30 minutes.
D) Flush the tube with water to make sure it is patent.