The nurse is reconstituting methylprednisolone sodium succinate for IM injection. Place in order the steps that the nurse should perform to appropriately prepare the medication. All options must be used.

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When reconstituting a powdered medication for parenteral administration, the nurse should: Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves prior to handling medication (Option C). This is a universal practice for aseptic handling of any medication. Cleanse the vial top with alcohol and let it dry to prevent possible microbial contamination. Withdraw an amount of air from the vial equal to the prescribed amount of diluent to create negative pressure that will be equalized when the diluent is injected into the vial. The medication manufacturer will specify the needed amount and type of diluent (Option E). Inject the appropriate diluent (eg, sterile saline, sterile water) into the vial. The diluent reconstitutes the medication by dissolving the powder (Option A). Roll the vial between the palms of the hands to gently mix the solution. Avoid shaking the vial as bubbles may develop, making withdrawal of the reconstituted medication difficult (Option D). Withdraw the reconstituted medication from the vial into a sterile syringe for administration (Option F). Verify the dosage by checking the prepared medication against the medication administration record and medication label. Label the syringe with the medication name and dosage to prevent medication errors at the bedside (Option B). Educational objective: To reconstitute powdered medication from a vial, the nurse should perform hand hygiene and don gloves; withdraw air; inject the prescribed amount/type of diluent; mix by rolling the vial between the palms of the hands; withdraw the reconstituted medication into a syringe; and label the syringe with the medication name and dosage.

The Nurse Is Reconstituting Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate for IM Injection