A priority for the nurse in the administration of oral medications and prevention of aspiration is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To protect the client from aspiration,the nurse should determine the presence of a gag reflex before administering oral medications.The nurse should first check for a gag reflex.Then,if possible,the client should be allowed to self-administer oral medications.Checking for a gag reflex takes priority over assessing the ability to cough in preventing aspiration.Straws should be avoided because they decrease the control the client has over volume intake,which increases the risk of aspiration.Some clients cannot tolerate thin liquids such as water,and need for them to be thickened.

A Priority for the Nurse in the Administration of Oral