Final answer:
Before administering enteral medication, a nurse must assess the patient's ability to swallow. This assessment is vital to prevent aspiration risks and ensure proper medication administration. For drugs not absorbed effectively through the GI tract, parenteral routes like intravenous injections are preferred.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary nursing assessment of the patient prior to giving an enteral medication is to evaluate the patient's ability to swallow. Enteral medications are administered through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, hence it's crucial to ensure that the patient can safely swallow the medication without risk of aspiration. As enteral administration involves oral medication or via a gastrointestinal device, factors such as the patient's airway and the risk of aspiration must be assessed.
Contrastingly, parenteral medications, including intravenous or intramuscular injections, are utilized when the drug is not adequately absorbed in the GI tract or when the patient is unable to take oral medications. In such cases, healthcare professionals should consider the appropriate route of administration for the patient's condition and respective medication absorption.