NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

Which of the following is an advantage of oral medications?

1. Enteric-coated drugs are designed to dissolve in the stomach, not the small intestine.

2. Patients must be conscious and able to swallow.

3. Tablets that are scored may be crushed for easier swallowing.

4. The oral route is considered the second safest route, after the intradermal route.

The correct answer is: Tablets that are scored may be crushed for easier swallowing.

Tablets that are scored can be crushed for easier swallowing, which is an important advantage of oral medications. Some patients, especially the elderly or those with swallowing difficulties, may find it challenging to swallow whole tablets. By being able to crush scored tablets, patients who struggle with swallowing can still take their medications without difficulty. This promotes medication adherence and improves patient outcomes. Option A is incorrect because enteric-coated drugs are specifically designed to dissolve in the small intestine, not the stomach. This property helps protect the drug from stomach acid and ensures it reaches the intended site of action. Option B is incorrect because while patients do need to be conscious and able to swallow for oral medications, this is not necessarily an advantage but rather a requirement for safely administering oral drugs. Option D is incorrect because the intradermal route is not considered one of the safest routes for drug administration. The oral route is actually considered one of the safest and most convenient routes for administering medications.