Deck 21: Oral and Topical Medications

Question 1

The patient is to receive three different medications via nasogastric tube.What is the total amount of water the nurse should prepare to administer?

A) 5 mL of water
B) 15 mL of water
C) 30 mL of water
D) 80 mL of water

Answer 1

80 mL of water

Question 2

An appropriate technique for a nurse to implement when administering a topical medication with a systemic effect is:

A) Using clean gloves for application to open skin areas
B) Applying thick layers of creams and ointments
C) Massaging nitroglycerin products into the skin
D) Rotating sites, avoiding reuse of a site for at least 1 week

Answer 2

Rotating sites, avoiding reuse of a site for at least 1 week

Question 3

The patient is ordered to have eye drops administered daily to both eyes.On/in which part of the eye should eye drops be instilled?

A) Cornea
B) Outer canthus
C) Lower conjunctival sac
D) Opening of the lacrimal duct

Answer 3

Lower conjunctival sac

Question 4

What should the nurse do to assist a patient who is having difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules?

A) Administer the medication with less fluid
B) Insert a nasogastric tube, and instill the medication
C) Crush the medications, and administer with a small amount of food
D) Administer the tablets one at a time with plenty of liquid

Question 5

The patient has been complaining of chest pressure.After the appropriate assessment,the nurse gives the patient sublingual nitroglycerin,telling the patient not to swallow the medication.Why are these instructions important?

A) The effects of the medication will be nullified if swallowed.
B) Sublingual drugs begin to dissolve when placed on the tongue.
C) The medication needs to be held against the cheek membranes.
D) The patient may aspirate on the water used for these medications.

Question 6

The nurse is preparing to administer medications to a patient via his enteral feeding tube.Which of the following may be administered via his tube?

A) Crushed chewable aspirin
B) Liquid aspirin
C) Enteric-coated aspirin
D) Sustained-release aspiring capsule

Question 7

The patient has returned from a gastroscopy procedure.He has been NPO since midnight last night and has not received his morning medications.What should the nurse do before giving him his medications?

A) Check for a gag reflex
B) Allow the patient to self-administer
C) Assess the ability to cough
D) Use straws and extra water for administration

Question 8

What should the nurse instruct her patient to do when she or he is administering a buccal medication?

A) Hold the medication under the tongue.
B) Swallow the medication after 30 seconds.
C) Chew the medication before swallowing.
D) Hold the medication against the cheek membranes.

Question 9

The nurse is to administer several medications to the patient via the nasogastric (NG)tube.What should the nurse do first?

A) Add the medication to the tube feeding being given
B) Crush all tablets and capsules before administration
C) Administer all of the medications mixed together
D) Check for placement of the NG tube

Question 10

The nurse is preparing to medicate a small child.The medication comes in pill or liquid form,but the liquid preparation has a bitter taste.What is the preferred way to administer the medication under this circumstance?

A) Give the pill form
B) Mix the liquid with honey
C) Mix the liquid in milk
D) Mix the liquid in applesauce

Question 11

When administering an eye medication,the nurse should:

A) Clean away crusts from the outer to inner canthus
B) Place eye drops directly onto the sclera
C) Apply ointment along the inner edge of the lower eyelid
D) Rub the eye gently in a circular motion after giving eye drops

Question 12

The nurse is preparing to administer a pediatric dose of liquid medication to an infant.What should the nurse do to ensure an accurate dose of the medication?

A) Empty the unit dose container into a plastic cup
B) Hold the medication cup steady on the counter when pouring
C) Draw the medication up in an oral syringe
D) Draw the medication up in a calibrated hypodermic syringe

Question 13

The nurse is in the medication room preparing medications for her patients.She has four patients who require medications at 0900.Which of the following methods follows the six rights of medication?

A) Prepare medications for all of her patients at once and keep the cups separate
B) Break unscored tablets with her fingers after washing her hands
C) Place tablets or capsules into the medicine cup while still in their wrappers
D) Remove tablets from their package and put directly into medication cup before bringing them into the patient's room

Question 14

When preparing to administer medication via an NG tube,the nurse aspirates a large volume of residual.What should the nurse do first?

A) Wait 1 hour and medicate the patient
B) Administer the medication with more fluid
C) Return the aspirate and withhold the medication
D) Attach the NG tube to suction to remove additional volume

Question 15

The nurse is teaching the patient how to use a topical medication.Which statement indicates an understanding of the procedure?

A) "If the patch starts to come off, I can secure it with tape."
B) "If the patch falls off, I will put a new one on in the same place."
C) "If my skin is irritated, I will cleanse it using water only."
D) "I can dispose of used materials in the household trash as usual."

Question 16

Which of the following is the most critical to assess before medication administration?

A) Diet history
B) Allergy history
C) Surgical history
D) Drug tolerance

Question 17

Which of the following is an appropriate technique for preparing medication for administration?

A) Using a cutting device to cut scored tablets
B) Unwrapping all of the medication to be given and placing it together in a cup
C) Crushing capsules and enteric-coated medication for easier swallowing
D) Pouring tablets from a floor stock bottle directly into the medication cup without touching them

Question 18

The nurse is preparing to administer medications via jejunostomy tube to a patient who has a continuous tube feeding.Some of the medications need to be given on an empty stomach and come only in tablet form which need crushing.After crushing them,the nurse needs to:

A) Add the medications directly to the feeding tube
B) Flush the tubing before the medication is given
C) Stop the feeding 15 to 30 minutes before medication administration
D) Dissolve the medication in cold water

Question 19

The patient is prescribed an ophthalmic medication to be administered via intraocular disk.The nurse knows that the disk resembles a contact lens and is:

A) Placed in the conjunctival sac
B) Placed on the cornea
C) Remains in place for 6 to 8 hours
D) Replaced daily

Question 20

For the patient who cannot sit upright,the next best position to prevent aspiration during medication administration is:

A) Prone
B) Supine
C) Side-lying
D) Dorsal recumbent

Question 21

Evaluation of the appropriate use of an MDI by a patient is evident when the patient:

A) Does not shake the canister
B) Presses the canister before taking a breath
C) Holds the breath for 10 seconds after inhalation
D) Takes another puff of medication quickly after the first dose

Question 22

Which of the following tubes are used for long-term enteral feedings? (Select all that apply.)

A) PEG tube
B) Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube
C) Jejunostomy tube
D) Nasogastric decompression tube

Question 23

Which of the following is true about MDIs? (Select all that apply.)

A) Inhaled medications can open narrowed bronchioles.
B) Inhaled medications can liquefy thick mucous secretions.
C) The use of spacer devices requires good coordination.
D) Inhaled medications are local only and produce no systemic effects.

Question 24

Which of the following contraindicate the patient's receiving medications by mouth? (Select all that apply.)

A) Gastrointestinal alterations
B) The inability to swallow food
C) The inability to swallow liquids
D) The use of gastric suction
E) None of above

Question 25

___________ medications are applied locally to skin,mucous membranes,or tissue membranes.

Question 26

A patient has a prescription for a medication that is administered via an inhaler.To determine whether the patient requires a spacer for the inhaler,the nurse will determine the:

A) Dosage of medication required
B) Coordination of the patient
C) Schedule of administration
D) Use of a dry powder inhaler (DPI)

Question 27

______________ medication is placed between the molar teeth and the cheek area and is allowed to dissolve.

Question 28

Medication that is placed under the tongue and is allowed to dissolve is known as ____________ medication.

Question 29

Which is the optimum position in which to place the patient for insertion of a rectal suppository?

A) Prone
B) Supine
C) Dorsal recumbent
D) Left Sims' position

Question 30

The easiest and most desirable way to administer medications if via the _________ route.

Question 31

The patient is getting a bronchodilator and an inhaled steroid scheduled for the same time.What information should the nurse provide to the patient about administering these medications?

A) The bronchodilator should be administered first
B) The steroid should be given first
C) The patient should wait 20 to 30 seconds between inhalations
D) The patient may feel a gagging sensation in the throat

Question 32

How should the nurse position the patient to administer nose drops to the maxillary sinus?

A) Sitting upright with the head backward
B) Supine with a pillow under the shoulders
C) Supine with the head turned to the unaffected side
D) Lying down with the head back, over the edge of the bed, and turned toward the side to be treated

Question 33

After ear drops are administered to the left ear,the patient should be positioned:

A) Prone
B) Upright
C) Right lateral
D) Dorsal recumbent with hyperextension of the neck

Question 34

The nurse is teaching a mother how to administer nasal medications to her infant child.Which of the following is true?

A) Over-the-counter nasal sprays should be saved in case they are needed later.
B) Nasal spray decongestants are safe and have no serious side effects.
C) Infants should receive nose drops 20 to 30 minutes before feedings.
D) Infants are mouth breathers, so nose drops can be given anytime.

Question 35

Topical medications can be applied in which of the following ways? (Select all that apply.)

A) Via an enteral tube
B) Drops in the eye
C) Spraying
D) Buccal

Question 36

A nurse determines that administration of a small-volume nebulizer or inhaler is withheld immediately if the patient experiences:

A) Coughing
B) Dysrhythmias
C) An inability to self-administer the medication
D) An excessive need for a greater frequency than every 4 hours

Question 37

An expected response from a vaginal instillation is evident when:

A) Local pruritus is evident
B) The vaginal walls are bright pink or red in color
C) White curd-like patches appear on the vaginal walls
D) A small amount of discharge that is the same color as the medication is noted

Question 38

What should the nurse do first when preparing to administer ear drops to an adult patient?

A) Warm the medication
B) Pull the pinna down and back
C) Massage the pinna of the ear
D) Remove cerumen from the inner ear canal

Question 39

A patient is experiencing a systemic effect from eye drops.This is evaluated by the nurse as:

A) Headache
B) Reddened eyes
C) Darkened conjunctiva
D) Elevated pulse and blood pressure

Question 40

Which of the following is the correct procedure for insertion of a rectal suppository?

A) Wearing sterile gloves
B) Inserting the suppository 6 to 10 inches
C) Positioning the patient on the right side
D) Instructing the patient to remain lying flat for 5 minutes

Question 41

Handheld devices that disperse medications through an aerosol spray or mist to penetrate lung airways are known as ___________.

Question 42

Medications used by patients to treat eye problems are known as ______________ medications.

Question 43

Handheld devices that deliver inhaled medication in a fine powder to penetrate lung airways are known as ___________.