A nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing medications and is prescribed enteric-coated aspirin PO once daily. The client asks if the medication can be crushed to make it easier to swallow. Which of the following responses should the nurse provide?

The correct answer is C. Crushing the enteric-coated aspirin can indeed cause stomach-ache or indigestion because the coating is designed to protect the stomach lining from irritation. By crushing it, the medication will not be released in a controlled manner, potentially leading to stomach issues. Choice A is incorrect because it focuses on the timing of medication release, rather than the potential harm caused by crushing the enteric-coated aspirin. Choice B is incorrect as mixing it with cream does not address the issue of the medication being crushed. Choice D is also incorrect as it makes a general statement without specific relevance to enteric-coated aspirin.