The nurse has to administer a bitter-tasting oral medication to a 5-year-old patient/client. What is the best strategy to administer this drug to the child?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Before administering an oral medication, offer the child a popsicle, which will numb the taste buds. Mix the drug with a teaspoon of puréed fruit, ice cream, or syrup. Using essential foodstuffs such as milk is not a good idea because the child may refuse those foods later. Have the child pinch his or her nostrils and drink the medication through a straw. This technique interferes with the ability to smell and keeps the child from tasting the medication. For infants, not a 5-year-old child, use a specially manufactured nipple or pacifier.

The Nurse Has to Administer a Bitter-Tasting Oral Medication to a 5-Year-Old