A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. Which of the following routes of administration would result in the fastest rate of absorption?

A. Oral tablet: Oral medications must pass through the gastrointestinal tract and undergo first-pass metabolism in the liver before entering systemic circulation, significantly delaying the onset of action compared to parenteral routes. B. Intramuscular injection: IM injections are absorbed faster than oral or subcutaneous routes due to the rich blood supply in muscle tissue. The rate of absorption depends on factors such as blood flow to the muscle, the solubility of the drug, and the injection site. While faster than oral administration, it is still slower than IV. C. Intravenous injection: IV administration delivers the drug directly into the bloodstream, resulting in immediate systemic availability and the fastest onset of action. This route bypasses absorption barriers entirely. D. Subcutaneous injection: SC injections are absorbed more slowly than IM and IV routes because of the lower vascularity of subcutaneous tissue. Onset of action is delayed relative to other parenteral methods.