NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

What should the nurse do when preparing to administer a buccal medication?

1. Apply the medication to clean, dry skin

2. Instruct the patient to swallow the medication

3. Place the medication between the cheek and gum

4. Insert the medication under the tongue

The correct answer is: Place the medication between the cheek and gum

When preparing to administer a buccal medication, the nurse should place the medication between the cheek and gum. This route of administration allows for the medication to be absorbed through the oral mucosa in the buccal cavity, providing a rapid onset of action. It is crucial to ensure proper placement to facilitate absorption and achieve the desired therapeutic effect. It is important to differentiate buccal administration from sublingual administration, where the medication is placed under the tongue (which is incorrect in this case). Instructions to swallow the medication (Choice B) would not be appropriate for a buccal medication. Similarly, applying the medication to the skin (Choice A) is not relevant to buccal administration.