Final answer:
Instructions for taking an orally disintegrating tablet include placing it on the tongue to dissolve, not chewing or swallowing whole, and keeping hands dry when handling the tablet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse's instructions for a patient who is to take an orally disintegrating tablet would include the following statement: "Place the tablet on your tongue and let it dissolve completely before swallowing. Do not chew or swallow the tablet whole. Ensure your hands are dry when handling the tablet to prevent it from dissolving prematurely and do not remove the tablet from the packaging until you are ready to take it."
Orally disintegrating tablets are designed to absorb directly into the bloodstream from the mouth, so it's important to allow them to dissolve properly to ensure effective medication delivery. These instructions aim to maximize the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of the medication, similar to how extended-release tablets of gabapentin enacarbil would be evaluated after administration.