Question

A nurse is providing teaching to the parent of a school-age child who has a new prescription for oral nystatin for the treatment of oral candidiasis: True/ False Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

a) "Shake the medication prior to administration: True/ False"
b) "Provide the medication through a straw: True/ False"
c) "Rinse the child's mouth with water immediately after giving the medication: True/ False"
d) "Mix the medication with applesauce if the child dislikes the taste: True/ False

Answer 1

When administering oral nystatin for oral candidiasis, shake the medication before use, do not provide it through a straw or rinse the mouth immediately after, and mix with applesauce if taste is an issue.

Step-by-step explanation:

When instructing a parent on how to administer oral nystatin to their child for the treatment of oral candidiasis, the nurse should include the following instructions:

• True: "Shake the medication prior to administration." It is important to shake the suspension to ensure the medication is well mixed.
• False: "Provide the medication through a straw." Nystatin should be in contact with the oral mucosa to be effective, and using a straw would bypass this.
• False: "Rinse the child's mouth with water immediately after giving the medication." The medication needs to remain in contact with the mouth for as long as possible, so rinsing would reduce its efficacy.
• True: "Mix the medication with applesauce if the child dislikes the taste." Mixing with a small amount of food like applesauce may help with palatability while still allowing the medication to be effective.