Question 1

A patient is ordered to take an extended-release medication twice daily but has difficulty swallowing the tablet because of its size.The nurse will perform which action?

Accepted Answer

Enteric-coated and extended-release tablets must be swallowed whole to maintain a therapeutic drug level since they are designed to be absorbed in the small intestine.If crushed,an initial excessive release of the drug may occur,causing toxicity.Enteric-coated or extended-release tablets should not be dissolved in liquid.The nurse should contact the provider to discuss another form of the medication.

Question 2

The nurse is teaching a patient about using sublingual nitroglycerin at home.Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?

Accepted Answer

Drugs given sublingually should be placed under the tongue.No foods or fluids should be given,since the tablet must remain under the tongue until it is fully absorbed.Medications ordered to be given "buccally" should be placed between the cheek and gum.

Question 3

The nurse is teaching a nursing student about giving liquid medications.Which statement by the student indicates understanding of the teaching?

Accepted Answer

To measure liquid medications accurately,line up the bottom of the curve of the medication with the desired line on the syringe.Suspensions are liquids in which particles are mixed but not dissolved.As a general rule,elixirs do not require shaking; shaking may suspend air into the liquid and affect accurate dosing by volume.Many liquids require refrigeration.

Question 4

The nurse is preparing to administer a rectal suppository antipyretic medication.Which action by the nurse is correct?

Accepted Answer

Patients should remain on their side for at least 5 minutes after insertion of suppositories.Softening the suppository is not indicated.Patients should lie on their left side,not the right.A water-soluble lubricant should be used.

Question 5

The nurse is demonstrating the Z-track injection technique to a nursing student on a patient who is receiving iron dextran.Which statement by the student indicates understanding of the teaching?

Accepted Answer

The Z-track method is used to prevent staining of the skin.It does not affect absorption.The ventrogluteal site is preferred,and,generally,the needle is a larger bore.

Question 6

The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to a 14-month-old toddler.To help with site selection for this injection,what will the nurse ask the child's parent?

Accepted Answer

The ventrogluteal muscle is the preferred injection site for toddlers who have gluteal muscle development associated with firmly established walking.The muscle development,and not the child's weight,is more important.Asking if a patient is right- or left-handed is necessary if deltoid muscles are used.

Question 7

A patient asks the nurse why the provider has ordered a transdermal form of a medication.How will the nurse respond?

Accepted Answer

Transdermal patches provide more consistent blood levels.Cutting the patch is not recommended.Drugs given transdermally can still produce side effects and toxicity.

Question 8

The nurse is teaching a parent to administer medications using a child's gastrostomy tube.The parent asks why it is necessary to give water after each medication.The nurse explains that the water is given for which purpose?

Accepted Answer

Flushing the tube after the medication is instilled ensures that the medication reaches the stomach,to maintain patency of the tubing.It is not always given to decrease gastrointestinal upset,to dilute the medication,or to improve hydration.

Question 9

The nurse is teaching an overweight patient to administer subcutaneous heparin.Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching?

Accepted Answer

Patients giving subcutaneous medication should be taught not to aspirate after inserting the needle.They should not apply pressure.The needle should be inserted at a 45- to 90-degree angle.Absorption is slower with this route than with the intramuscular and intravenous (IV)routes.

Question 10

When administering topical medications,which is an important nursing action?

Accepted Answer

To avoid contact with the medication,nurses should wear gloves when applying topical medications.Some topical medications are applied sparingly.Skin should be clean and dry,but it is not necessary to use alcohol.It is not always necessary to use sterile technique.

Question 11

A patient asks the nurse if an enteric-coated tablet can be crushed and put in pudding to make it easier to swallow.How will the nurse respond to the patient?

Accepted Answer

Enteric-coated tablets must be swallowed whole to maintain a therapeutic drug level since they are designed to be absorbed in the small intestine.If crushed,an initial excessive release of the drug may occur,causing toxicity.Enteric-coated tablets should not be dissolved in liquid.

Question 12

The nurse is preparing to start an IV line in a preschool-age child.After applying a eutectic mixture of local anesthetics,what will the nurse do to prepare the child?

Accepted Answer

Preschool children should be allowed to play with and handle equipment and give "play" injections using a doll or stuffed animal.Describing the procedure or discussing pain will only heighten anxiety.

Question 13

A patient who has asthma will begin taking an inhaled corticosteroid medication to be used with a spacer.The patient asks why the spacer is necessary.The nurse will explain that the spacer

Accepted Answer

Spacers are used to enhance the delivery of medication to the lower,smaller airways.They do not allow higher dosing or minimize drug side effects.

Question 14

The nurse is assisting the parent of a 6-month-old infant to administer an oral liquid medication.The parent asks why the medication can't be given in a bottle of formula to make it taste better.How will the nurse respond?

Accepted Answer

Medications should not be mixed with a large amount of food or beverage because patients may miss the full dose if they do not consume the entire amount.If the entire bottle is not consumed,the nurse will have difficulty determining how much dose was received.If medications interact with formula in vivo,package information will indicate this.

Question 15

The nurse is performing tuberculin testing on a patient.Which action by the nurse is correct?

Accepted Answer

Intradermal injections should be given with a 25- to 27-gauge,3/8"- to 5/8"-long needle.The needle should be inserted at a 10- to 15-degree angle.The area should not be massaged.The nurse measures the area of induration,not erythema.

Quiz 10: Drug Administration