Deck 2: Safely Preparing and Giving Drugs

Question 1

When the nurse brings in the next dose of a drug that a patient first received 6 hours ago,the patient reports a "pounding" heart rate ever since taking the last dose.What is the nurse's best first action?

A) Document the report as the only action.
B) Check the patient's vital signs for changes.
C) Hold the dose and notify the prescriber immediately.
D) Reassure the patient that this is an expected response to the drug.

Answer 1

Check the patient's vital signs for changes.

Question 2

A patient is prescribed omeprazole (Prilosec)60 mg once a day orally.The patient is having difficulty with swallowing and has a feeding tube in place.What is the nurse's best action?

A) Open the capsule and mix the contents with water, then give the drug through the feeding tube.
B) Raise the head of the bed 90 degrees and mix the capsule in applesauce for easier swallowing.
C) Contact the prescriber and pharmacist about using another drug or another form of the drug.
D) Hold the tube feeding for at least 30 minutes before giving the drug.

Answer 2

Contact the prescriber and pharmacist about using another drug or another form of the drug.

Question 3

What administration technique does the nurse use to give a 2-year-old child ear drops?

A) Pull the earlobe down and back.
B) Pull the earlobe up and out.
C) Keep the earlobe straight.
D) Hang the patient's head over the side of the bed.

Answer 3

Pull the earlobe down and back.

Question 4

The prescriber orders atenolol (Tenormin)25 mg to be given orally once a day to control a patient's high blood pressure.The nurse takes the patient's vital signs and finds that the blood pressure is 128/80 mm Hg and the heart rate is 60 beats per minute.What does the nurse do first before giving this drug?

A) Check the order for prescriber limitations on when the drug should be given.
B) Notify the prescriber and ask if the drug should be given.
C) Reassess the blood pressure and heart rate in 30 minutes.
D) Give the drug exactly as prescribed.

Question 5

When is it acceptable for the nurse to take a verbal order from the prescriber before giving a drug to a patient?

A) During the night shift when the prescriber is not at the hospital
B) In an emergency situation such as a cardiac arrest
C) When a patient is experiencing severe pain
D) At any time it is necessary

Question 6

The prescriber orders a new drug over the telephone for a nursing home patient who has symptoms of a urinary tract infection.The order is for Gantanol,2 g now and then 1 g every 12 hours for the next 10 days.What further information is most important for the nurse to obtain from the prescriber?

A) "How many refills are needed?"
B) "Do you want the drug given orally or intravenously?"
C) "Which brand of drug should be given, or is this a generic drug?"
D) "Does this drug need to be given with a meal or on an empty stomach?"

Question 7

When giving a drug to a patient who is awake but confused,what is the best way for the nurse to identify the patient?

A) Check the room and bed number that the patient occupies.
B) Ask the patient to state his or her name and birth date.
C) Check the name on the patient's wristband.
D) Ask the patient if he or she is Mr. or Ms. [name].

Question 8

The nurse asks the patient to state his name and birth date,and the patient responds correctly.The nurse then gives the patient the prescribed drug tablet.The patient says "I haven't ever taken a green pill before." What is the nurse's best response?

A) "Go ahead and take the drug. The same medications from different drug companies may have a different color."
B) "Go ahead and take the drug. It is likely that your health care provider has prescribed a new drug for you."
C) "Don't take this drug right now. It is probably not the one prescribed for you."
D) "Don't take this drug right now. Let me recheck everything to be sure."

Question 9

What is the best way for the nurse to make sure that the right patient is receiving a prescribed drug when the patient is alert and oriented?

A) Ask the patient to state his or her name.
B) Check the patient's wrist band.
C) Look at the patient's chart.
D) Have the patient state his or her name and birth date.

Question 10

A patient is to receive nitroglycerin ointment,1 inch STAT,for elevated blood pressure.What must the nurse do before giving this drug?

A) Shave the hair off the patient's chest.
B) Place the patient on a heart monitor.
C) Put on a pair of disposable gloves.
D) Measure the dose directly on the patient's skin.

Question 11

What must the nurse be sure to tell the patient after a vaginal drug is administered?

A) "This drug should be refrigerated."
B) "You may take this drug at home while sitting on the toilet."
C) "Be sure to empty your bladder after receiving this drug."
D) "Remain lying down for 10 to 15 minutes after taking this drug."

Question 12

For which route of parenteral drug administration does the nurse use a 3/8-inch 25-gauge needle?

A) Intracardiac
B) Subcutaneous
C) Intramuscular
D) Intravenous

Question 13

The physician orders all of the following drugs for a patient who had surgery 2 days ago.Which drug order does the nurse administer first?

A) Alphamine (cyanocobalamin) 100 mcg intramuscularly once
B) Benadryl (diphenhydramine) 25 mg orally every 8 hours
C) Compazine (prochlorperazine) 10 mg orally STAT
D) Dalmane (flurazepam) 30 mg orally at night PRN

Question 14

A 1-year-old child is prescribed a transdermal drug patch for pain control.To which site does the nurse apply the patch?

A) On the lower arm where changing the patch is easier
B) On the back between the shoulders so the child cannot reach it
C) On the upper chest so that any skin irritation can be seen quickly
D) On the leg between the knee and the thigh for fastest drug absorption

Question 15

A patient with severe postoperative pain is ordered to receive morphine 2 mg intravenously.The patient asks the nurse if the drug could be taken by mouth instead.What is the nurse's best response?

A) "Giving the drug intravenously will give you faster pain relief."
B) "I will call your prescriber and ask if the order can be changed."
C) "Your surgeon wants you to receive the drug intravenously."
D) "We can substitute the intravenous drug with an oral drug."

Question 16

The nurse is giving morning medications to a patient who refuses to take an oral dose of docusate (Colace).What is the nurse's best response?

A) "Your prescriber ordered that you must take this drug twice a day."
B) "Docusate will soften your bowel movements so that you do not strain."
C) "This drug will help prevent constipation while you are on bed rest."
D) "Can you tell me why you do not want to take the docusate?"

Question 17

Which action is most important when the nurse prepares to administer an oral drug to a patient of any age?

A) Asking the patient whether he or she prefers a tablet or a capsule
B) Determining when the patient last ate or drank
C) Assessing whether the patient has nausea
D) Checking the patient's ability to swallow

Question 18

A sublingual drug is administered by placing the drug in what part of the body?

A) Between the cheek and the upper jaw
B) Under the tongue
C) In the nose
D) In the eyes

Question 19

Which question is most important for the nurse to ask a patient before administering a new drug?

A) "Are you allergic to any drugs?"
B) "Do you know what this drug is for?"
C) "When was the last time you ate or drank?"
D) "What other drugs have you taken in the last 24 hours?"

Question 20

What is the most important role of the nurse in preventing drug errors?

A) Always checking the patient's diagnosis before giving a drug
B) Always following the "six rights" of drug administration
C) Being the one defense for detecting and preventing drug errors
D) Being most likely to detect a drug error that has occurred

Question 21

The nurse prepares to administer an intravenous (IV)push drug,but the skin around the patient's IV site is swollen and red.The patient states that the area hurts,and no blood return is obtained when the nurse aspirates the IV setup.What is the nurse's best action?

A) Restart IV administration of the drug.
B) Discontinue IV administration and notify the prescriber.
C) Dilute the drug more before injecting it into the current IV site.
D) Reassure the patient that this is an expected reaction and offer the prescribed pain medication.

Question 22

Place in correct order the steps to be taken when giving an oral drug.

A)Check the written order.
B)Document that the drug was given.
C)Observe the patient take the drug.
D)Offer the patient a cup of water.
E)Scan the drug wrapper.
F)Scan the patient's wrist band.
G)Wash your hands.

Question 23

A patient is to receive an acetaminophen (Tylenol)suppository for an elevated temperature of 102.8° F.What actions must the nurse take?

A) Ask if the patient is having any diarrhea.
B) Lubricate the blunt end of the suppository.
C) Put on a pair of sterile gloves.
D) Place the patient in the Sims' position.
E) Ask the patient to take a deep breath and bear down.
F) Push the suppository into the rectum about 1 inch.

Question 24

When compared with the subcutaneous route,what are the advantages of giving drugs intramuscularly (IM)?

A) IM injections require a smaller, shorter needle.
B) IM drugs are absorbed faster than subcutaneous drugs.
C) IM injections can be much larger that subcutaneous injections.
D) IM injections do not require the rotation of injection sites.
E) IM injections are less painful than subcutaneous injections.

Question 25

Which technique is used with intramuscular drug injections but not with intradermal drug injections?

A) Ensuring the site selected is appropriate for injection
B) Cleansing the selected site before inserting the needle
C) Aspirating the syringe before injecting the drug solution
D) Checking for allergic or sensitivity reactions to the injection

Question 26

What are the "six rights" of drug administration?

A) Right patient
B) Right diagnosis
C) Right drug
D) Right dose
E) Right route
F) Right time
G) Right documentation
H) Right to refuse

Question 27

Safe drug administration requires that the person giving a drug be knowledgeable about which drug features?

A) Purpose
B) Actions
C) Brand name
D) Side effects
E) Abnormal reactions
F) Follow-up care

Question 28

Which condition requires that the nurse withhold a drug dose for a patient with a feeding tube?

A) The drug is in the form of a capsule.
B) The drug volume is greater than 20 mL.
C) Carbon dioxide is detected from the feeding tube.
D) The patient is unconscious and unable to swallow.