The medication order says, “Give orally,” but the patient is unconscious and has no safe swallowing reflex. What should the nurse do?
Correct answer: D. Hold the dose and clarify another route
- A. Place the tablet in the patient’s mouth
- B. Crush the tablet and give it with water
- C. Ask another nurse to administer the dose
- D. Hold the dose and clarify another route
Explanation
An unconscious patient without a swallowing reflex has a serious aspiration risk, so the oral route is unsafe. The nurse should withhold the dose and obtain a safe route, rather than changing the route or formulation independently.
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About Routes and Safe Medication Administration
Safe medication administration covers oral, sublingual, buccal, topical, inhaled, enteral, intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular routes, including their absorption patterns and technique. It also includes medication rights, patient identification, documentation, allergy checks, injection site selection and prevention of errors, with route selection distinguished from dosage calculation.
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