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Small cylindrical gelatin containers that hold dry powder or liquid medicinal agents.
Capsules
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provide a gradual but continuous release of a drug because the granules within the capsules dissolve at different rates
Time-released or Sustained-release
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Flat disks containing a medicinal agent in a suitably flavored base; are held in the mouth to dissolve slowly, thus releasing the therapeutic ingredients.
Lozenges
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dried, powdered drugs that have been compressed into small disks.
Tablets
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clear liquids made up of drugs dissolved in alcohol and water; used primarily when the drug will not dissolve in water alone.
Elixirs
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dispersions of small droplets of water in oil or oil in water; used to mask bitter tastes or provide better solubility to certain drugs.
Emulsions
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liquid dose forms that contain solid, insoluble drug particles dispersed in a liquid base; should be shaken well before administration to ensure thorough mixing of the particles.
Suspensions
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Major advantages of administration via the rectal route:
- bypassing the digestive enzymes
- avoiding irritation of the mouth, the esophagus, and the stomach
- when nausea or vomiting is present
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For patients who cannot swallow or who have had oral surgery, the method may be used.
NG or PEG
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The primary purpose of the NG method is to
bypass the mouth and pharynx
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Major disadvantage of the oral route is
has the slowest and least dependable rate of absorption
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The oral route should not be used in the following situations:
- if the drug may harm or discolor the teeth
- if the patient is vomiting
- if the patient has gastric or intestinal suctioning
- if patient is likely to aspirate
- if patient is unconscious
- if the patient is unable to swallow (dysphagia)
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With the ENTERAL route, drugs are administered directly into the GI tract by the following methods:
oral, rectal, or PEG or NG
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The route is safe, most convenient, and relatively economical, and dose forms are readily available for most medications
Oral
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NG tubes should be flushed with at least mL of water before and after medication administration
30
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The reason for flushing NG tubes with 30mL of water, before and after administration is to:
- to clear the tube for drug delivery
- it facilitates drug transport to the intestines
- it indicates whether the tube has been cleared
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When more than one medication is to be administered at about the same time, how much water should you flush with between each medication?
5 to 10 mL of water
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whenever possible, a form of a drug should be used for NG administration
liquid
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If it is necessary to use a crushed tablet, how much water should you dissolve it in for NG tube administration?
30 mL of water
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How long after administration of medication should you evaluate for effectiveness and document?
1 hour, or 30 minutes if it is a narcotic
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Medications given orally are absorbed:
slower than by other routes
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When giving an intermittent enteral feeding, the residual aspirate in an adult is 150 mL. the nurse should:
Notify MD if no orders are specified
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Less than mL of residual, feeding can be resumed
100
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When giving oral medications, the nurse should first:
Identify the patient
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The nurse is to administer several medications to the patient via an NG tube. The nurse's first action is to:
Check for placement of the tube
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