,
,3. The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription for an enteric-
coated tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?
a. I may crush the tablet and put it in applesauce to improve absorption.
b. I should consume acidic foods to enhance absorption of this medication.
c. I should expect a delay in onset of the drugs effects after taking the tablet.
d. I should take this medication with high-fat foods to improve its action.
ANS: C
Enteric-coated tablets resist disintegration in the acidic environment of the stomach and
disintegrate when they reach the small intestine. There is usually some delay in onset of actions
after taking these medications. Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed or chewed, which
would alter the time and location of absorption. Acidic foods will not enhance the absorption of
the medication. The patient should not to eat high-fat food before ingesting an enteric-coated
tablet, because high-fat foods decrease the absorption rate.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 3
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4. A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin must be
given by subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is because
a. absorption is diminished by the first-pass effects in the liver.
b. absorption is faster when insulin is given subcutaneously.
c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.
d. the oral form is less predictable with more adverse effects.
ANS: C
Insulin, growth hormones, and other protein-based drugs are destroyed in the small intestine by
digestive enzymes and must be given parenterally. Because insulin is destroyed by digestive
enzymes, it would not make it to the liver for metabolism with a first-pass effect. Subcutaneous
tissue has fewer blood vessels, so absorption is slower in such tissue. Insulin is given
subcutaneously because it is desirable to have it absorb slowly.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 3
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
, 5. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The nurse
understands that this drug
a. must be taken on an empty stomach.
b. requires active transport for absorption.
c. should be taken with fatty foods.
d. will readily diffuse into the gastrointestinal tract.
ANS: B
Water-soluble drugs require a carrier enzyme or protein to pass through the GI membrane.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 4
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic environment.
How will the nurse give the drug?
a. On an empty stomach
b. With a full glass of water
c. With food
d. With high-fat food
ANS: C
Food can stimulate the production of gastric acid so medications requiring an acidic environment
should be given with a meal. High-fat foods are useful for drugs that are lipid soluble.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 4
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7. The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid absorption. How
will the nurse give this medication?
a. IM into the deltoid muscle
b. IM into the gluteal muscle
c. SubQ into abdominal tissue
d. SubQ into the upper arm
ANS: A
,3. The nurse is teaching a patient who will be discharged home with a prescription for an enteric-
coated tablet. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?
a. I may crush the tablet and put it in applesauce to improve absorption.
b. I should consume acidic foods to enhance absorption of this medication.
c. I should expect a delay in onset of the drugs effects after taking the tablet.
d. I should take this medication with high-fat foods to improve its action.
ANS: C
Enteric-coated tablets resist disintegration in the acidic environment of the stomach and
disintegrate when they reach the small intestine. There is usually some delay in onset of actions
after taking these medications. Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed or chewed, which
would alter the time and location of absorption. Acidic foods will not enhance the absorption of
the medication. The patient should not to eat high-fat food before ingesting an enteric-coated
tablet, because high-fat foods decrease the absorption rate.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 3
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4. A patient who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus asks why insulin must be
given by subcutaneous injection instead of by mouth. The nurse will explain that this is because
a. absorption is diminished by the first-pass effects in the liver.
b. absorption is faster when insulin is given subcutaneously.
c. digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract prevent absorption.
d. the oral form is less predictable with more adverse effects.
ANS: C
Insulin, growth hormones, and other protein-based drugs are destroyed in the small intestine by
digestive enzymes and must be given parenterally. Because insulin is destroyed by digestive
enzymes, it would not make it to the liver for metabolism with a first-pass effect. Subcutaneous
tissue has fewer blood vessels, so absorption is slower in such tissue. Insulin is given
subcutaneously because it is desirable to have it absorb slowly.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 3
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention: Patient Teaching
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
, 5. The nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication that is water-soluble. The nurse
understands that this drug
a. must be taken on an empty stomach.
b. requires active transport for absorption.
c. should be taken with fatty foods.
d. will readily diffuse into the gastrointestinal tract.
ANS: B
Water-soluble drugs require a carrier enzyme or protein to pass through the GI membrane.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: dm 4
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral drug that is best absorbed in an acidic environment.
How will the nurse give the drug?
a. On an empty stomach
b. With a full glass of water
c. With food
d. With high-fat food
ANS: C
Food can stimulate the production of gastric acid so medications requiring an acidic environment
should be given with a meal. High-fat foods are useful for drugs that are lipid soluble.
DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: dm 4
TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Nursing Intervention
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
7. The nurse is preparing an injectable drug and wants to administer it for rapid absorption. How
will the nurse give this medication?
a. IM into the deltoid muscle
b. IM into the gluteal muscle
c. SubQ into abdominal tissue
d. SubQ into the upper arm
ANS: A
