Question 1

A nurse is preparing to administer a client's medications. Which of the following is most important to assess first?

Accepted Answer

Assessing the patient's medical history is the most important factor to consider before administering medications, as certain medical conditions or medications may interact with the medication being administered. It is important to assess developmental level, disease process, and learning needs as well, but these factors are not as crucial in ensuring the safe administration of medication as the patient's medical history.

Question 2

A nurse is concerned that a client has not been taking the prescribed antihypertensive medication because the patient's blood pressure remains elevated. What is the best therapeutic response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Option A is the best therapeutic response as it avoids making assumptions about the patient's adherence and shows empathy and willingness to address any concerns the patient may have about taking the medication. It also opens up a dialogue between the nurse and the patient for further assessment and problem-solving. Options B, C, and D are all accusatory and may cause the patient to feel defensive or ashamed, which can negatively affect the therapeutic relationship.

Question 3

A nurse incorrectly administered an oral medication intravenously. What is the best analysis of the nurse's action?

Accepted Answer

The medication cannot be retrieved once it has been administered intravenously. The other options are not necessarily true or relevant to the situation.

Question 4

A nurse administers an oral preparation of liquid acetaminophen 650 mg as ordered. Afterward, the client indicates they have been receiving acetaminophen 650 mg in pill form. Which statement is accurate in regards to the five rights?

Accepted Answer

The nurse did not violate the five rights because the medication (acetaminophen), dose (650 mg), and patient remained consistent. The form (liquid vs. pill) does not constitute a different medication or dose, and both forms are administered orally, so the route is also correct.

Question 5

A client is 3 days postop, and the physician orders an oral pain medication. The client asks the nurse if it wouldn't be better to get the medication in the intravenous (IV) line. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Oral medications are generally considered safer than intravenous (IV) medications, as there is less risk of infection or other complications from the IV line. Additionally, the client may not have access to IV medications at home, so it is important to establish oral pain control. While IV medications may have a more rapid onset of action, oral medications can still be effective for pain relief. Option A is not an appropriate response, as it does not address the client's concern or provide information about the benefits of oral medications. Option B is incorrect, as there is no evidence to suggest that oral medications are universally more effective than IV medications. Option D is not relevant to the client's question, as the decision to remove the IV line would be based on clinical criteria rather than the client's desire for a different form of pain control.

Question 6

The nurse plans to administer heparin by drawing the heparin up in an appropriate syringe, donning gloves, prepping the patient's abdominal area, inserting the needle, aspirating for blood, and injecting the medication. Which statement best describes the nurse's plan? A student nurse is administering heparin subcutaneously (SQ) to a client. The nurse should intervene if the student nurse does which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Aspirating for blood when administering heparin subcutaneously is not recommended because it is unnecessary and can cause tissue trauma. Heparin is intended for subcutaneous tissue, not intravascular administration, so aspirating for blood is not a required step in the process.

Question 7

The patient is having chest pain. The physician orders sublingual nitroglycerine STAT. The nurse obtains the medication from the pharmacy and administers it to the patient 30 minutes later. Which statement best describes the nurse's action?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The patient is having chest pain. The...

Question 8

A nurse is preparing to administer several medications for a client. The nurse is responsible for understanding which of the following regarding medication administration? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The nurse must understand the reason the medication was prescribed (B) to ensure it matches the patient's condition, the route of administration (C) to administer it correctly, how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy (D) to prepare the dose accurately, and the name of the medication (E) to verify they are administering the correct drug. The cost of the medication (A) is not directly related to the nurse's responsibilities for safe medication administration.

Question 9

While in the hospital, a pediatric patient has been receiving amoxicillin 10 mL orally bid, pc. The client will be going home on this medication. What should the nurse include when teaching parents about this medication?

Accepted Answer

The instruction "10 mL orally bid, pc" translates to taking the medication by mouth, twice a day, after meals. Since 1 teaspoon is approximately 5 mL, 10 mL equals about 2 teaspoons. Therefore, the correct instruction for the parents is to give 2 teaspoons by mouth, twice a day, after meals.

Question 10

A nurse is preparing medications prior to administration. To promote client safety, the nurse uses the "rights" of drug administration. What do these "rights" include? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The "rights" of drug administration include the medication (A), time of delivery (B), dose (C), and route of administration (D). The right nurse (E) is not part of the "rights" and is not applicable.

Question 11

A client has a prescription for an intravenous medication for nausea. The client asks the nurse how it will help his nausea since it is given in his vein. What is the best therapeutic response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous medications typically have a more rapid onset of action as they are administered directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. This means that an intravenous anti-nausea medication would likely work faster to relieve the client's symptoms compared to an oral medication.

Question 12

A nurse is preparing to administer a topical medication. What is the priority nursing intervention?

Accepted Answer

The priority nursing intervention is to assess the patient's skin where the medication will be applied to ensure that it is intact and free of any wounds, rashes, or other skin conditions that may affect absorption or increase the risk of adverse reactions. Checking for interactions, taking vital signs, and educating the patient are important interventions but assessing the skin is the priority before administering any topical medication.

Question 13

The order is for a pain medication to be given intravenous (IV) q 3-4 hours prn. Which statement, by the nurse, correctly teaches the client about this medication order?

Accepted Answer

The correct teaching for a medication ordered to be given intravenously (IV) q 3-4 hours prn is to instruct the client to notify the nurse when they are having pain so that the medication can be administered as needed. Option B is incorrect because the medication is not given at set times and it is not appropriate to administer it just before a bath. Option C is incorrect because the medication is given as needed for pain, not at bedtime each night. Option D is incorrect because the medication is given intravenously and does not need to be taken with food or milk.

Question 14

A pediatric client has been receiving 5 mL of liquid antibiotic three times each day. The nurse providing discharge instructions would teach the parents to administer which amount for each dose?

Accepted Answer

1 teaspoon is equivalent to 5 mL, which is the amount of liquid antibiotic the client has been receiving three times each day.

Question 15

A patient is receiving a sustained-release capsule for his cardiac condition. The patient tells the nurse there is no way he can swallow such a large pill. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

CSustained-release capsules are designed to release their medication over time and should not be tampered with unless specifically designed to do so. Opening or crushing these capsules can lead to the immediate release of the entire dose, which can be dangerous. However, some sustained-release formulations are designed to allow for the contents to be sprinkled on food if swallowing is difficult, but this should only be done if the medication's prescribing information specifically allows it. Therefore, contacting the physician (A) is the best initial step to ensure the patient's safety and to explore alternative formulations or medications. Sprinkling the contents over food (C) may be an option, but only after confirmation from the physician or by checking the medication's guidelines.

Question 16

A nurse is preparing to administer a buccal medication. The nurse should do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Buccal medication is meant to be placed between the cheek and gum, where it can dissolve slowly and be absorbed through the mucous membranes. It should not be swallowed or inserted under the tongue, as this can affect its effectiveness. Applying the medication to skin is not appropriate for buccal administration.

Question 17

A client will receive a liter of fluid intravenously to treat dehydration. The client says, "I don't understand the metric system, how much is that?" What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A liter is equivalent to approximately 1 quart, which is a more familiar measurement for someone who may not understand the metric system.

Question 18

The physician orders enteric-coated aspirin, 300 mg every day, for the patient with a nasogastric tube. What is the priority action by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Enteric-coated aspirin should not be crushed, chewed, or dissolved as it can damage the stomach lining. It should be swallowed whole. Administration through an NG tube is also contraindicated as the coating may dissolve in the tube, rendering the drug ineffective. Withholding the medication and contacting the physician is the appropriate action in this situation. The physician may order an alternate form of aspirin or adjust the dosage regimen.

Question 19

A client has an adverse reaction to a drug following a change in dietary habits. The nurse understands that which change would most likely be the cause?

Accepted Answer

Grapefruit juice can interact with many medications and alter their absorption and metabolism in the body, leading to adverse reactions. It is important for clients to be aware of potential interactions and for healthcare providers to carefully monitor their medication regimen.

Question 20

A nurse is preparing to administer oral medication to a client. What is the primary nursing assessment of the client prior to receiving this medication?

Accepted Answer

The primary nursing assessment before administering oral medication is the client's ability to swallow, to ensure they can safely ingest the medication without risk of aspiration.

Quiz 3: Principles of Drug Administration