Medication Administration

A nurse is conducting an interview with a patient to collect a medication history. Which of the following questions would be used to ensure safe medication administration?

"Do you have any allergies to medications?"

A nurse is teaching an older adult at home about taking newly prescribed medications. Which information would be included?

"I have written the names of your drugs with times to take them."

A physician has ordered peak and trough levels of a medication. When would the nurse schedule the trough level specimen?

30 minutes before the next dose.

Which client receives a drug that requires a parenteral route?

A woman who has been ordered intravenous antibiotics.

A nurse is administering a liquid medication to an infant. Where will the nurse place the medication to prevent aspiration?

Between the gum and cheek.

A medication is prescribed for a pediatric client. The nurse is ensuring the dosage is correct. What factor would the nurse use to calculate the dosage is correct for this client?

Body surface area (BSA)

A student nurse is administering medications through a nasogastric tube connected to continuous suction. How will the student do this accurately?

Disconnect tubing from the suction before giving drugs, and clamp tubing for 20 to 30 minutes.

What must a nurse do each time medications are administered to ensure that medication errors do not occur?

Observe the three checks and five rights.

A nurse at the health care facility is preparing the medication dosage for a client. Why should the nurse read and compare the label on the medication with the MAR at least three times (before, during, and after) while preparing the medication for administration?

Ensures that the right medication is given at the right time by the right route.

A nurse is preparing an injection by withdrawing the solution from a multidose vial. What is necessary to facilitate withdrawing a medication from the vial?

First, inject an equal amount of air into the vial.

The nurse is preparing to administer a medication via a nasogastric tube. Which guideline is appropriate for the nurse to follow when administering a drug via this route?

Flush the tube with water between each drug administered.

A physician has ordered that a medication be given "stat" for a client who is having an anaphylactic drug reaction. At what time would the nurse administer the medication?

Immediately after the order is noted.

A client who has been taking no medications has just been diagnosed as having diabetes. The client is prescribed an injectable medication once a day and an oral medication twice a day for blood glucose control. What would the nurse teach the client about taking these medications? Select all that apply.

Take the medications at the same time each day. Do not abruptly stop the medication or alter the dosage. The intended effects and adverse effects of the medications. The appropriate timing of the medications in relation to food.

A client taking insulin has his levels adjusted to ensure that the concentration of drug in the blood serum produces the desired effect without causing toxicity. What is the term for this desired effect?

Therapeutic range

A nurse is bunching the tissue of a client when administering a subcutaneous injection to that client. What is the reason for bunching when injecting subcutaneously?

To avoid instilling medication within the muscle.

A nurse is administering a medication that is formulated as enteric-coated tablets. What is the rationale for not crushing or chewing enteric coated tablets?

To prevent gastric irritation.

A clinic nurse is preparing a tuberculosis screening. Knowing the injections will be administered intradermally, what size needles and syringes will the nurse prepare?

Tuberculin syringe, 1/2 inch, 26 gauge needle.

A nurse is conducting an interview for a health history. In addition to asking the client about medications being taken, what else should be asked to assess the risk for drug interactions?

Use of herbal supplements.

The medical chart of a newly admitted client notes a penicillin allergy, yet the physician has just written an order for an antibiotic in the same drug family after reviewing the client's wound culture and sensitivity. How should the nurse respond to this situation?

Withhold the medication until the potential drug allergy has been addressed by the care team.

What type of order would a physician most likely write to treat a client whose pain levels vary widely throughout the day?

p.r.n.