The nurse is caring for a patient who is to receive 1 mg of Ativan (lorazepam) intravenously as conscious sedation prior to a bedside procedure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Infuse the medication using an insulin syringe directly into the nearest Y port of the IV.
B) Dilute the medication with 10 mL of Lactated Ringer's solution prior to administration.
C) Administer the medication over at least 1 min.
D) Monitor the patient for hypertension immediately following administration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ativan should be administered over at least 1 minute to prevent adverse effects such as hypotension or respiratory depression. A) Using an insulin syringe is not appropriate for administering IV medication. B) There is no need to dilute Ativan with Lactated Ringer's solution prior to administration. D) Monitoring for hypertension is not a priority for Ativan administration, but monitoring for respiratory depression and sedation is important.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Is to Receive