Patient Care Technician Certification (PCTC) AMCA Practice Exam 2025 - Free Patient Care Technician Practice Questions and Study Guide

The administration of parenteral medications typically involves delivering the drugs via injection. This method bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for faster absorption and more direct entry into the bloodstream. Parenteral routes can include intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SQ) injections, among others.

Oral administration involves swallowing a medication, which relies on the digestive system to process it before it enters the bloodstream, thus it does not qualify as parenteral. Topical medications are applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes and are intended for local treatment, not for systemic effects. Inhalation involves delivering medication directly into the respiratory system, and while it can be an effective route, it is distinct from the parenteral route, which is specifically related to injections. Therefore, the most common and defining characteristic of parenteral medication administration is that it is executed through injections.