Author Question: The nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing a large tablet of a prescribed drug. ... (Read 38 times)

genevieve1028 · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

The nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing a large tablet of a prescribed drug. What action should the nurse take FIRST?

a. Crush the tablet before administration.
b. Administer the liquid form of the drug.
c. Administer the parenteral form of the drug.
d. Consult with the client's health care provider.

Question 2

Knowing a drug's half-life is essential for the health care provider because this factor determines the drug's:

a. onset of action
b. peak plasma level
c. duration of effectiveness
d. schedule for maintaining the drug level over 24 hours

komodo7 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
If a medication is prescribed for oral administration and the client's condition has changed, making it impossible for the client to swallow, the nurse must consult the health care provider to prescribe administration by another route.

Answer to Question 2

D
Drug action is based on the half-life of the drug, which is the time required for the body to eliminate half of the blood concentration level of the original dose.