Question 1

Which documentation entry related to prn (as needed) medication administration is complete?

Accepted Answer

A complete documentation entry for PRN medication administration should include the date and time the medication was given, the name and dose of the medication, the route of administration, the location of administration if applicable (especially for IV medications), the reason for administration (e.g., pain, nausea), the effect or patient's condition necessitating the medication, and the initials or name of the administering nurse. Choice A provides all these details, making it the most complete and appropriate documentation for PRN medication administration.

Question 2

The nurse is teaching parents ways to give oral medication to their child. Which action would the parents implement to improve compliance?

Accepted Answer

Allowing the child to eat a frozen pop before receiving the medication can numb the taste buds temporarily, making it easier for the child to tolerate the taste of the medication, thereby improving compliance.

Question 3

When the nurse enters a male patient's room to administer a medication, he calls out from the bathroom, telling the nurse to leave his medication on the bedside table. He reassures the nurse that he will take the medication as soon as he is finished. How should the nurse proceed?

Accepted Answer

BThe nurse should either inform the patient that they will return when he is finished in the bathroom (A) or wait outside the bathroom door until the patient is ready to take the medication (B). This ensures proper administration and adherence to medication safety protocols, including verifying patient identity and observing the patient take the medication.

Question 4

The nursing student has registered for a class on pharmacokinetics. Which phrase reflects the student's accurate understanding of what the focus in this class will be?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacokinetics focuses on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs, detailing how the body processes medications.

Question 5

The nurse mixes two medications together in one syringe and is preparing to administer the mixture to the patient. On entering the patient's room, the nurse notices that the medication looks cloudy and there are some particles floating in the mixture. What is the most appropriate action by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Discarding the medications and syringe is the most appropriate action because the presence of cloudiness and particles indicates a possible incompatibility or contamination, which could be harmful to the patient.

Question 6

Which action should the nurse take to relax the vastus lateralis muscle before administering an intramuscular injection into the site?

Accepted Answer

Having the client assume a sitting position helps relax the vastus lateralis muscle, making it easier and less painful to administer an intramuscular injection.

Question 7

The physician prescribes warfarin 5 mg orally (PO) at 1800 for a patient. After administering the medication, the female nurse realizes that she administered a 10 mg tablet instead of the prescribed 5 mg PO. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should complete an incident report according to the facility's policy because administering a 10 mg tablet instead of the prescribed 5 mg PO is a medication error.

Question 8

What is the most essential action by the nurse prior to delegating the administration of an intravenous (IV) medication to a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?

Accepted Answer

The nurse must first ensure that the task is within the LPN's scope of practice according to the state's nurse practice act before delegating the task.

Question 9

What are the primary roles of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

The FDA's primary roles include regulating the testing, manufacture, and sale of all medications and monitoring the safety and effectiveness of medications available to consumers. While it does have some oversight on controlled substances, specific tasks like managing storage, handling, and disposal are more directly managed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The FDA's regulation of herbal remedies is limited; it does not regulate them in the same way as conventional medications.

Question 10

The nursing student is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to the patient. The student states to the instructor, "I'm going to administer this medication in my patient's buttocks at the dorsogluteal site." What is the most appropriate response by the instructor?

Accepted Answer

The dorsogluteal site is no longer recommended for intramuscular injections due to the risk of damaging the sciatic nerve and other structures. The ventrogluteal site is preferred for its safety and lack of major nerves and blood vessels.

Question 11

The nurse must administer hepatitis B (HB) immunoglobulin 0.5 mL intramuscularly to a newly born infant of a hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag)-positive mother. Which injection site should the nurse choose to administer this injection?

Accepted Answer

The vastus lateralis muscle is the preferred site for intramuscular injections in infants due to its large muscle mass and distance from major nerves and blood vessels.

Question 12

How should the nurse dispose of a contaminated needle after administering an injection?

Accepted Answer

Needles should never be recapped due to the risk of needle-stick injuries. They must be disposed of immediately after use in a specially marked, puncture-proof container designed for sharp objects to prevent injury and contamination.

Question 13

Which body organ is primarily responsible for the metabolism of medications?

Accepted Answer

The liver is the primary organ responsible for the metabolism of medications, breaking down substances so they can be used or excreted by the body.

Question 14

The primary care provider prescribes nitroglycerin 1/150 grains sublingually for a patient experiencing chest pain. How should the nurse administer the drug?

Accepted Answer

Nitroglycerin prescribed for chest pain is typically administered sublingually (under the tongue) to allow for rapid absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and liver, which would delay its effects.

Question 15

The nursing student is preparing to administer lisinopril to the patient but does not know what lisinopril is used for. What is the most appropriate action by the student to obtain the information?

Accepted Answer

Looking up the drug in a medication reference text is the most appropriate action because it allows the student to independently verify the medication's purpose, dosage, side effects, and other critical information, ensuring safe and informed administration.

Question 16

Which body organ is primarily responsible for medication excretion?

Accepted Answer

The kidneys are primarily responsible for the excretion of medications from the body, filtering blood to remove waste and excess substances, including drugs.

Question 17

Which action should the nurse take immediately after administering a medication through a nasogastric tube?

Accepted Answer

Flushing the tube with water using a needleless syringe is essential after administering medication through a nasogastric tube to ensure the medication is cleared from the tube and reaches the stomach, and to maintain tube patency.

Question 18

An adult patient admitted with lower gastrointestinal bleeding is prescribed a unit of packed red blood cells. Which gauge needle should be inserted to administer this blood product?

Accepted Answer

An 18 gauge needle is typically used for administering blood products because its larger diameter allows for the efficient flow of blood without causing hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells).

Question 19

The nurse must administer ear drops to an infant. How should the nurse proceed?

Accepted Answer

For infants, the ear canal is straighter and shorter, so pulling the pinna down and back helps to straighten the ear canal for proper administration of ear drops.

Question 20

A patient has difficulty taking liquid medications from a cup. How should the nurse administer the medications?

Accepted Answer

Using a needleless syringe to place the medication in the side of the mouth allows for easier administration for patients who have difficulty taking medications from a cup, ensuring the medication is received effectively and safely.

Quiz 26: Administering Medications