Question

A nurse is caring for a client undergoing IV therapy. The nurse knows that intravenous administration of medication is appropriate in which situation?

a) when the client wants to avoid the discomfort of an intradermal injection
b) when the drug needs to be administered only once
c) when the drug needs to act on the client very slowly
d) when the client has disorders that affect the absorption of medications

Answer 1

Intravenous administration is appropriate when a person has conditions that (d) affect drug absorption, as IV therapy delivers higher plasma drug levels quickly which can be vital for treating certain infections.

Step-by-step explanation:

Intravenous administration of medication is most appropriate in the situation where the client has disorders that affect the absorption of medications. This is because certain conditions, like gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, impact how drugs are absorbed into the bloodstream. When a drug is not absorbed well in the GI tract, parenteral routes such as intravenous or intramuscular injections are preferred. This is typically performed in health-care settings due to the requirement of professional skill and equipment. IV therapy achieves substantially higher plasma levels of the drug more quickly compared to oral or intramuscular routes, which can be crucial in treating certain infections.

Oral administration might be more suitable and convenient for home administration for conditions not seriously affecting immediate drug absorption. Some medications also come in topical form for localized infections. The dosage and route of administration must be carefully considered to achieve therapeutic levels without significant toxicity. Factors like liver or kidney function and the patient's body mass may influence the decision between routes to avoid toxicity and effectively fight an infection.