Question 1

For an adult patient who has an order to receive an otic medication, the nurse should plan to administer it by pulling the pinna:

Accepted Answer

The pinna of the adult should be pulled up and back, whereas that of a child younger than 3 years of age is pulled slightly down and back.

Question 2

To reduce the systemic absorption of eye drops, the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Blocking the entrance to the lacrimal duct by placing a finger over it helps reduce systemic absorption of an eye drop.

Question 3

The nurse receives an order to give vitamin D 10 mcg bid. The nurse recognizes that the abbreviation mcg refers to a measurement in:

Accepted Answer

The abbreviation mcg refers to a measurement of micrograms.

Question 4

The licensed nurse who is responsible for doing the narcotic count for the shift should count the medications:

Accepted Answer

Controlled substances must be counted by one nurse going off duty and one coming on duty at the change of each shift.

Question 5

For easier insertion of a rectal suppository, the nurse should position the patient in the __________ position.

Accepted Answer

Placing the patient in the left Sims' position provides for easier insertion of the suppository into the rectum.

Question 6

When administering medications to a patient with a feeding tube, the nurse should dissolve each crushed medication in at least:

Accepted Answer

Each medication should be dissolved in 20 to 30 mL of water, which does not include the water used to flush the tube before and after giving medications.

Question 7

A patient complains about the taste of the sublingual nitroglycerin and admits that he swallows it rather than holding it under his tongue. The nurse explains that sublingual medications:

Accepted Answer

Sublingual medications are placed under the tongue and they should not be swallowed because that alters the absorption potential.

Question 8

A patient of the Cambodian culture reports that a new medication is not adequate for treatment because it is:

Accepted Answer

Persons of Cambodian origin believe the size of the medication indicates its curative value. A small pill does not have as much curative value as a larger one.

Question 9

A nurse is administering oral medications to a patient who is having intake and output (I&O) measured. When giving medications, it is most important to:

Accepted Answer

When a patient is having I&O measured, the nurse must record all fluid that the patient drinks while taking medications in the oral intake column of the I&O sheet.

Question 10

A patient is attempting to put pills in his mouth from a medicine cup and drops one pill on the bed sheet. The nurse should:

Accepted Answer

A pill that is dropped on the dirty linen or the floor must be discarded and replaced from the dose pack.

Question 11

The nurse administering a nasal medication via an atomizer bottle should:

Accepted Answer

The proper procedure for using an atomizer bottle is to have the head hyperextended, holding one nostril closed and squeezing the bottle and inhaling at the same time.

Question 12

Before the nurse administers a dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) to a patient, the nurse should assess:

Accepted Answer

The apical heart rate is measured before giving a dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) to determine whether it is safe to give; the apical rate should be greater than 60 beats/min for an adult patient.

Question 13

Data pertaining to a patient's medication therapy that the nurse should document in the nurses' notes, in addition to documenting in the medication administration record (MAR or eMAR), is:

Accepted Answer

Side effects of medication therapy are documented in the nurses' notes.

Question 14

An older adult patient is having difficulty swallowing an enteric-coated tablet for which there is no liquid form available. To help the patient swallow the dose more easily, the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

If older adult patients have difficulty swallowing, they should swallow a sip of water first, then place the tablet toward the back of the tongue, then take a large sip of water. Finally, they should place the tongue on the roof of the mouth and swallow with the chin tilted downward, followed by another sip of water. Enteric-coated medications should not be crushed.

Question 15

Before the nurse administers a liquid medication to an 83-year-old male patient, the nurse should:

Accepted Answer

A factor to consider when giving anything orally is the ability of the patient to swallow.

Question 16

A patient has an order for a nitroglycerin transdermal patch. The best way to ensure proper administration of this medication is to:

Accepted Answer

A nitroglycerin transdermal patch should be applied to an area with good circulation, such as the chest, shoulders, or upper arm, and should be placed over hairless areas, with the date and the nurse's initials written on the patch. Rotating sites prevents irritation.

Question 17

The nurse administering nitroglycerin ointment to a patient will:

Accepted Answer

The nurse should wear gloves to avoid exposure to nitroglycerin. The area of the old patch should be cleaned and the new patch placed in another area and not massaged in. The effect of the patch occurs in about 30 minutes.

Question 18

The nurse explains that the patient with a respiratory disorder can open small airways to ease respiration effort with the use of:

Accepted Answer

Albuterol eases respiratory effort by opening the small airways.

Question 19

A nurse is providing instructions to a patient about how to use a metered dose inhaler with a spacer. The nurse should instruct the patient to:

Accepted Answer

The patient should sit up or stand to take the medication, shake the canister to mix the medication with the propellant, place the mouthpiece of the chamber in the mouth between the teeth and seal the lips around it. Completely exhale from the nose, depress the canister once to release the medication into the spacer, breathe in slowly and hold the breath for 10 seconds and try not to cough.

Question 20

When the nurse sees the order for "Milk of Magnesia 2 tablespoons, qod, hs," the nurse translates to mean he should give:

Accepted Answer

The order is asking that 3 tablespoons (1 ounce) of Milk of Magnesia be given every other day at bedtime.

Quiz 34: Administering Oral, Topical, and Inhalant Medications