An elderly patient is having difficulty swallowing an enteric-coated tablet for which there is no liquid form available. To help the patient swallow the dose more easily, the nurse should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If elderly patients have difficulty swallowing, they should swallow a sip of water first, then place the tablet toward the back of the tongue, then take a large sip of water. Finally, they should place the tongue on the roof of the mouth and swallow with the chin tilted downward, followed by another sip of water. Enteric-coated medications should not be crushed.

An Elderly Patient Is Having Difficulty Swallowing an Enteric-Coated Tablet