Which of the following is not a parenteral route of administration of drugs?

Appeared in: ISRO- 2016

Explanation

The rectal route is considered an enteral route because it involves administering medication through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Enteral routes utilize the alimentary canal for drug absorption, which includes the mouth, stomach, intestines, and rectum.
While it offers an alternative when oral administration is not feasible, it is fundamentally different from parenteral routes, which bypass the GI tract entirely.

Option A: This is a parenteral route. The drug is injected into the fatty tissue just beneath the skin, bypassing the GI tract.
Option B: This is a parenteral route. It involves injecting the drug directly into a muscle, which has a rich blood supply, allowing for faster absorption than the subcutaneous route.
Option D: This is a classic parenteral route. The drug is injected directly into a vein, providing the fastest onset of action as it enters the bloodstream immediately.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral vs. Enteral as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The choice of administration route is a critical nursing decision that impacts the drug's onset of action, bioavailability, and suitability for the patient's condition.
The rectal route is a valuable alternative for patients who are vomiting, unconscious, or unable to swallow, allowing for systemic effects while avoiding the oral pathway.
What if? If a patient required immediate, life-saving intervention (e.g., in anaphylactic shock), the intravenous (IV) route would be chosen over any other route due to its instantaneous onset of action, whereas the rectal route would be too slow.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'not' in the question. This indicates you are looking for the option that does not fit the specified category.
Next, define the term 'parenteral route'. Recall that 'para-' means 'outside' and 'enteral' refers to the intestine. So, parenteral means bypassing the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, typically via injection.
Evaluate each option against this definition.
Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, and Intravenous are all types of injections that bypass the GI tract. Therefore, they are parenteral.
The rectal route uses the lower part of the GI tract for absorption. Therefore, it is an enteral route, not a parenteral one.
Select 'Rectal' as the correct answer because it is the exception.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral vs. Enteral
Stem keywords: parenteral route, administration of drugs
Lead-in keywords: not
Negative lead-in flag: Question asks for the exception (NOT a parenteral route).

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E6 Pharmacology Nurses Shanbhag 3e p. 14-16

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E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 41-43

Practise the full ISRO- 2016

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