Question

A client with a feeding tube is prescribed an enteric-coated tablet. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?

a) Give the tablet as is in its original state.
b) Dissolve the tablet in water after crushing it.
c) Sprinkle the contents of the opened tablet into the tube.
d) Check with the pharmacist to see if a liquid form is available.

Answer 1

The most appropriate action for the nurse to take when a client with a feeding tube is prescribed an enteric-coated tablet is to check with the pharmacist to see if a liquid form is available.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a client with a feeding tube is prescribed an enteric-coated tablet, the most appropriate action for the nurse to take is to check with the pharmacist to see if a liquid form is available. Enteric-coated tablets are designed to dissolve in the small intestine rather than the stomach, which may not occur with a feeding tube. Crushing the tablet and dissolving it in water or sprinkling the contents into the tube may alter the effectiveness of the medication.