[Expert Solution]: Mrs

Mrs. Short is a patient with moderately controlled epilepsy who complains of upper abdominal pain. She has remained NPO (nil per os, meaning nothing by mouth) in preparation for this examination and did not take her medicine last night or this morning. As she enters the dressing room, she falls heavily to the floor in a major motor (grand mal) seizure. “Here, give her this medicine,” her husband orders. “She takes it by mouth.” Which routes of administration are most appropriate for such patients? Should you administer medicine from her purse? Why or why not? What risks are involved in giving oral medication to unconscious patients?