Pharmacology and the Nursing Process by Linda Lane Lilley: Practice Exam

What administration route is NOT acceptable for heparin?

1. IV

2. Subcutaneous

3. IM

4. Inhalation

The correct answer is: IM

Heparin, a blood-thinning medication, works by preventing the formation of blood clots and is typically given through IV administration as this allows for more immediate effects. Subcutaneous administration is also suitable for heparin, but it may take longer to absorb into the bloodstream compared to IV administration. Inhalation and IM administration routes are not acceptable for heparin because these routes do not allow for effective absorption and distribution of the medication in the body. Inhalation is typically used for respiratory medications while IM administration is more suitable for medications that are meant to be absorbed slowly into the muscle tissue. So while IV and subcutaneous administration routes are acceptable for heparin, IM and inhalation routes are not effective and therefore not acceptable.