Deck 35: Research and Preparing Medications

Question 1

While observing a student pass medications, the nursing instructor correctly recognizes that further teaching is necessary if

A) The student asks the patient to state his or her name and birth date before administration.
B) The student opens the pills and places them in a medicine cup at the medication cart before administration.
C) The student performs three safety checks to evaluate right medication, dose, and time before administration.
D) The student compares the name and patient number on the medication administration record with that on the patient's armband before administration.

Answer 1

The student opens the pills and places them in a medicine cup at the medication cart before administration.

Question 2

A nurse is planning the administration of medications to patients under his care. The nurse correctly understands that drugs administered via the topical route include

A) Capsules.
B) Ointments.
C) Suppositories.
D) Inhalants.

Answer 2

Ointments.

Question 3

A nurse correctly administers parenteral drugs

A) By mouth.
B) By inhalation.
C) By application to the skin.
D) By injection.

Answer 3

By injection.

Question 4

A patient asks the nurse when a brand-name medication that the patient is taking will be available as a generic. The nurse correctly responds that a drug can be manufactured, sold, and prescribed as a generic drug approximately ____ after it was patented.

A) 3 years.
B) 5 years.
C) 10 years.
D) 15 years.

Question 5

If a nurse administers a liquid medication via the oral route and then realizes it was ordered to be administered via the parenteral route, the nurse should

A) Report it as a medication error.
B) Take no special action because a liquid medication can be administered either way.
C) Log it on the patient's chart but inform the physician of the change in administration.
D) Give another dose via the parenteral route because the incorrectly administered dose will be ineffective.

Question 6

While caring for a patient who recently took a new anticonvulsant medication, the nurse correctly contacts the physician immediately if

A) The patient reports a rash across the abdomen.
B) The patient reports feeling nauseated.
C) The patient reports itching across the chest and neck.
D) The patient reports feeling short of breath.

Question 7

The prescriber's order reads, "Lortab 7.5 mg q4h prn incisional pain." The nurse will correctly give the pain medication

A) Every 6 hours, unless the patient asks for it sooner.
B) Anytime the patient states he or she is in pain.
C) Only if the patient specifically requests a Lortab.
D) No sooner than 4 hours after the last dose, if the patient is experiencing pain

Question 8

While reviewing laboratory values, the student notes a patient's digoxin level is increased. Which of the following actions should the nurse take regarding the patient's scheduled dose of digoxin?

A) The nurse should continue with digoxin until the physician changes the order.
B) Increased levels of digoxin are toxic, so the nurse should hold the patient's digoxin.
C) The nurse should continue with digoxin but notify the physician of the level.
D) Increased levels of digoxin are not cause for concern as long as vital signs do not register changes, so the nurse should check the patient's pulse and blood pressure before administration.

Question 9

A nurse correctly understands that the name assigned to a drug by the U.S. Adopted Name Council (USANC) is the drug's

A) Chemical name.
B) Generic name.
C) Brand name.
D) Proprietary name.

Question 10

While providing care and medications to a number of patients during the shift, the nurse correctly recognizes that which of the following patients has the greatest risk for an adverse drug reaction?

A) A 29-year-old man with a history of asthma
B) A 55-year-old man with a liver infection
C) A 41-year-old woman being treated for pneumonia
D) A 68-year-old woman with a cerebral vascular accident (CVA)

Question 11

The nurse is called to the room of a patient who is receiving an intravenous antibiotic. The patient is flushed, anxious, and short of breath. First, the nurse should

A) Determine the patient's blood pressure.
B) Contact the physician.
C) Listen to the patient's breath sounds.
D) Stop the intravenous infusion.

Question 12

A nurse understands that Schedule V drugs have the lowest potential for abuse while still requiring a prescription. Which of the following is a Schedule V drug?

A) Chloral hydrate
B) Peyote
C) Acetaminophen with codeine
D) Cough medicine with codeine

Question 13

The nurse administering medications to a patient realizes that a medication error has been made on the previous shift. The nurse's first action should be to

A) Notify the prescriber immediately and give him or her the name of the nurse who made the error.
B) Call the nurse who made the error and ask that nurse to fill out an incident report as soon as possible.
C) Report the error according to facility policy and complete an incident report.
D) Say nothing because the error has already occurred and cannot be changed.

Question 14

To detect any possible transcription errors, before administering medications the nurse will

A) Compare the order on the medication administration record (MAR) with the prescriber's original order.
B) Telephone the prescriber and review each medication order with him or her.
C) Have another nurse verify that the MAR is written correctly.
D) Have the unit secretary double-check all transcribed orders.

Question 15

The patient has an order for a calcium channel blocker antihypertensive medication bid. Before administering this medication, the nurse will

A) Check the patient's pulse to prevent tachycardia.
B) Check the patient's blood pressure to prevent hypotension.
C) Check the patient's blood levels to prevent toxicity.
D) Check the patient's potassium levels to prevent hyperkalemia.

Question 16

The nurse understands that Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse but do serve a medical purpose. Which of the following is a Schedule II drug?

A) Codeine
B) Diazepam
C) Heroin
D) Anabolic steroids

Question 17

When checking to make sure that he or she is administering the right medication, the nurse should always

A) Check the size, shape, and color of the pills.
B) Ask the patient to confirm that the medication is the correct one.
C) Ask the nurse who worked the previous shift to confirm that the medication is the correct one.
D) Read the label on the medication and compare it with the MAR.
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.

Question 18

If a nurse has her license suspended because she has been diverting drugs, this means the nurse has been

A) Rerouting medications to a different unit or facility after a patient has been transferred there.
B) Administering less expensive generic drugs instead of prescribed brand-name drugs.
C) Personally taking medications prescribed for patients.
D) Refusing to administer medications after determining the patient could have an adverse reaction.

Question 19

While being admitted to the unit, a new patient reports, "I'm allergic to Vicodin; it makes me sick to my stomach." The nurse's best action is to

A) Record Vicodin under allergies, along with the patient's reported symptoms.
B) Inform the patient this is not a true allergy.
C) Make a note on the chart that the patient cannot take Vicodin.
D) Contact the physician to report the patient's allergies.

Question 20

Which of the following storage systems must a nurse take the most care to lock after obtaining medication from it?

A) Computerized cabinet
B) Medication cart
C) Locked bin in patient's room
D) All of the above

Question 21

A physician has ordered 5 grains of aspirin. Aspirin is available in 300-mg tablets. The nurse should give ____________________ tablet(s).

Question 22

The nurse is preparing to provide 100 mg phenytoin (Dilantin) liquid. The medication is provided as 125 mg/5 mL. The nurse should provide ____________________ mL. Record your answer as a whole number.

Question 23

Which of the following represent the dosages, over the counter and prescription strength, of ibuprofen?

A) 200 mg
B) 400 mg
C) 600 mg
D) 800 mg
E) 1000 mg

Question 24

The nurse verifies the patient, medication, dose, and route several times when preparing medications for administration. These required safety checks occur at what point?

A) At the beginning of each shift
B) When the nurse removes the medication from the cart, bin, or PYXIS machine
C) After documenting the medication on the medication administration record (MAR)
D) Before placing the medication in the cup and returning the container to the drawer
E) At the bedside, before opening the medication and administering it to the patient

Question 25

While reviewing new orders for patient medications, the nurse recognizes that the order is complete if which of the following is included?

A) Name of the medication
B) Route of administration
C) Physician signature
D) Patient name
E) Name of hospital or facility where medication was prescribed

Question 26

While preparing to provide medications, the nursing student correctly recognizes that which of the following safety checks are part of the Six Rights of Medication Administration?

A) Right dose
B) Right time
C) Right room
D) Right medication
E) Right documentation

Question 27

A student nurse needs to look up 12 medications that have been prescribed for the patient. Which of the following would be appropriate resources for the nurse to use to gather information?

A) Pathophysiology book
B) Physicians' Desk Reference
C) Pharmacology textbook
D) Drug guide app on smartphone or tablet
E) Reliable Internet site

Question 28

While caring for a patient taking tetracycline, the nurse recognizes that teaching has been effective if the patient avoids which of the following?

A) Milk
B) Grapefruit juice
C) Cranberry juice
D) Cottage cheese
E) Ice cream

Question 29

The nurse is preparing to give fluoxetine (Prozac) 30 mg daily dose. The medication is provided in 15-mg tablets. The nurse should provide ____________________ tablets. Record your answer as a whole number.

Question 30

The nurse correctly recognizes that which of the following medications may cause toxicity?

A) Acetaminophen
B) Valproic acid
C) Gentamicin
D) Penicillin
E) Metoprolol