A 6-year-old patient is prescribed to receive an oral antibiotic. What should the nurse do before giving the child this medication?

Question

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Many children do not have enough coordination to swallow tablets or pills until they are 6 or 7 years of age. Children younger than 9 years of age often have difficulty swallowing tablets. This can make getting a child to agree to try an oral medication difficult. The nurse needs to check to see if the child can swallow pills before providing the oral medication. Drinking a glass of water before giving the medication will not determine if the child can swallow an oral medication. Giving the oral medication at the time of the next meal does not necessarily mean that the child will be able to swallow the oral medication. The nurse should not threaten to give the medication with an injection.

A 6-Year-Old Patient Is Prescribed to Receive an Oral Antibiotic