A nurse is preparing to administer a medication via intramuscular (IM) injection. Which of the following sites is considered the safest for administering an IM injection?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The ventrogluteal site is considered the safest for IM injections due to the presence of fewer major blood vessels and nerves, reducing the risk of injury. The site is easily accessible and has a thick muscle mass suitable for medication absorption. To locate the ventrogluteal site, the nurse can ask the patient to lie on their side with the knee slightly flexed. The nurse should locate the greater trochanter and iliac crest, forming a V-shaped area where the injection is administered. The other choices are not as safe as the ventrogluteal site. The dorsogluteal site is not recommended due to proximity to the sciatic nerve and major blood vessels. The deltoid muscle is a smaller muscle and may not be suitable for all types of medications. The vastus lateralis site is more commonly used for pediatric patients or adults with limited muscle mass in other areas.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: lipase. Lipase is the enzyme responsible for breaking down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Amylase (A) breaks down carbohydrates, trypsin (C) breaks down proteins, and pepsin (D) also breaks down proteins but in the stomach. Lipase specifically targets fats in the small intestine, aiding in their digestion and absorption. Therefore, lipase is the correct choice for breaking down fats, making it the most suitable answer among the options provided.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The large intestine's main role is to absorb water from the indigestible food residue, forming feces. This process helps maintain proper hydration levels in the body. It does not digest proteins (choice A) or absorb nutrients (choice B), as these processes primarily occur in the small intestine. The production of bile (choice D) is carried out by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, not by the large intestine. Thus, choice C is correct as it aligns with the primary function of the large intestine.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Digestion of lipids is not a function of saliva. Saliva primarily aids in cleaning the mouth by washing away food particles, killing bacteria with its antibacterial properties, and facilitating speech by lubricating the mouth and throat. Digestion of lipids primarily occurs in the small intestine with the help of enzymes like lipase. Salivary amylase, found in saliva, assists in breaking down carbohydrates, not lipids. Therefore, digestion of lipids is not a function of saliva.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Sucrose. Diseases that reduce pancreatic enzyme secretions typically do not affect the digestion and absorption of sucrose because sucrose is primarily broken down in the small intestine by sucrase, an enzyme produced by the intestinal lining, not the pancreas. Animal proteins (choice A) and plant proteins (choice B) require pancreatic enzymes like trypsin and chymotrypsin for digestion; plant lipids (choice C) require pancreatic lipase for digestion. Therefore, choices A, B, and C would be affected by reduced pancreatic enzyme secretions, unlike sucrose.