A Patient Has Difficulty Taking Liquid Medications from a Cup

question 24

Multiple Choice

A patient has difficulty taking liquid medications from a cup.How should the nurse administer the medications?

• A) Request that the physician change the order to the IV route.
• B) Administer the medication by the IM route.
• C) Use a needleless syringe to place the medication in the side of the mouth.
• D) Add the dose to a small amount of food or beverage to facilitate swallowing.

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Definitions:

Impaired Swallowing

Difficulty in the passage of solids or liquids from the mouth to the stomach, potentially leading to risk of aspiration or malnutrition.

Pocketing Of Food

The act of holding food in the cheek pouches without swallowing, often observed in individuals with swallowing difficulties or dental issues.

Glucose

A simple sugar and an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates.

Skeletal Muscles

Muscles that are attached to bones and in coordination with the nervous system enable the body to move.