I had a pharmacology exam last week and I am puzzled by the answer to one of the questions. The question was...
Which of the following medications would not be administered through a nasogastric tube?
A. liquid antibiotics
B. enteric coated tablets
C. finely crushed tablets
D. liquid stool softener
At the exam review session, the majority of us marked the answer as "enteric coated tablets," yet our professor (who wasn't present) said that the correct answer is "finely crushed tablets." Can someone please explain to me why this is the answer? I want to be able to understand the rationale, which the TA was unable to provide. We can contest the answer if we have reliable resources to back it up. I recall reading that you CANNOT crush enteric coated tablets and I don't believe that it is possible to deliver a whole pill through an NG tube. I thought that if it was indicated that it was safe to crush a medication, it can be dissolved in water and then delivered through the NG tube followed by the tube being flushed.
Thanks a bunch,
A First-Year Nursing Student