Which healthcare professional is tasked with administering rectal suppositories as prescribed?

The administration of rectal suppositories falls within the scope of practice for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). LPNs are trained to perform several nursing tasks, including the administration of medications via various routes, such as oral, subcutaneous, and rectal. They have the necessary skills and knowledge to follow prescribed guidelines for administering rectal suppositories, ensuring both safety and effectiveness for the patient.

In contrast, while Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have broader roles that can certainly include medication administration, their responsibilities often focus more on patient assessment, care planning, and higher-level clinical interventions. Medical Assistants primarily handle administrative and support tasks, which typically do not involve the administration of medications in the same hands-on manner that LPNs engage in. Thus, it is the LPN who is specifically trained and authorized to administer rectal suppositories under the supervision of an RN or physician, making them the correct choice for this task.