Massaging medication over the skin is called?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2018

Explanation

Inunction is the specific term for applying a medication by rubbing it into the skin.
This method is used for substances like ointments and creams to facilitate absorption through the dermal layers.
The massaging action helps the drug penetrate the skin to achieve either a local effect (e.g., anti-inflammatory cream) or a systemic effect (e.g., nitroglycerin ointment).

Option A: Instillation involves administering medication in liquid drop form into a body cavity like the eye or ear, not rubbing it on the skin.
Option B: Inhalation is the process of breathing medication into the lungs via an inhaler or nebulizer. It does not involve application to the skin.
Option D: Irrigation refers to washing or flushing a body part, such as a wound or the eye, with a stream of fluid. It is a cleaning procedure, not a method for medication absorption through the skin.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Routes of Medication Administration as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must use the correct technique for each route of administration to ensure medication effectiveness and patient safety. Using the wrong technique can lead to incorrect dosage or adverse effects.
When performing an inunction, nurses should wear gloves to prevent absorbing the medication themselves, which is a common risk with topical agents like nitroglycerin.
What if? If a patient requires immediate relief from angina, a sublingual nitroglycerin tablet would be used instead of an inunction ointment. The sublingual route provides much faster absorption into the bloodstream compared to the slower, more sustained release from a topical ointment.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key actions described in the question: 'massaging' and 'over the skin'.
This immediately points to a topical route of administration that involves a rubbing motion.
Next, evaluate the definition of each option.
Instillation means to put in drops.
Inhalation means to breathe in.
Irrigation means to wash out.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QgNDa4vzcMVaw93wYzXjki

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor pp. 864-866, 865-867

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.