Medication Administration Safety Quiz!

Nurses should explain what the medication is and does, as well as its potential side effects to the patient. This is important for the patient's understanding and informed decision-making. By providing this information, nurses can ensure that the patient is aware of the purpose of the medication and how it may affect them. Additionally, informing patients about potential side effects allows them to monitor their own health and report any adverse reactions to healthcare professionals. This explanation helps promote patient autonomy and safety.

If Mrs. Jackson stops taking her medication after feeling better, she is at risk of having a recurrence of her illness and the drug may become ineffective. It is important to complete the entire course of medication as directed to ensure that the infection is completely treated. Additionally, incorrect use of antibiotics has contributed to the development of "superbugs" that are resistant to antibiotics, so it is crucial to follow the prescribed treatment regimen to prevent the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.

If you are unsure of how to proceed with an order, it is important to clarify it with the person who ordered the drug, the pharmacist, or your supervisor. These individuals have the necessary knowledge and authority to provide guidance and ensure that the correct procedures are followed. Clarifying the order with them helps to prevent errors and ensure patient safety.

It is not acceptable for a nurse to prepare medication in advance and leave it for the patient to take or for another professional to administer, even if they are busy. Medication administration requires careful monitoring and assessment of the patient's condition, and it is the nurse's responsibility to ensure the correct dosage and timing. Leaving medication for the patient or another professional to administer can lead to errors, potential harm to the patient, and legal implications. Therefore, the statement is false.

The correct answer explains that Mr. Smith should take his daily Digoxin dose regularly once a day and should never skip a dose. It also states that Digoxin slows and strengthens the beat of his heart, so he should take his pulse daily and inform his doctor if he finds it lower than 50 beats per minute. Additionally, any dizziness or lightheadedness should be reported immediately. It emphasizes the importance of taking the dose at the same time every day.

Including the full names of drugs, both brand-name and generic, in prescriptions is important for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures clarity and accuracy in prescribing medications, reducing the risk of medication errors. Secondly, it helps pharmacists in dispensing the correct medication, as brand names can vary across different manufacturers. Additionally, including both names allows for easy identification and substitution of medications when necessary. Therefore, it is crucial for prescriptions to include the full names of drugs, both brand-name and generic.

If a nurse believes that the prescribed medication may be wrong for a particular patient, the best course of action is to challenge it. This involves seeking clarification and confirmation from her supervisor and/or the doctor. This is important to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient, as medication errors can have serious consequences. By seeking additional input from higher authorities, the nurse can make an informed decision and prevent any potential harm to the patient.

Glycerin is an emollient that is used for dry, cracked, and irritated skin. Aspercreme and Myoflex are used to treat muscular aches. Acetic acid solution is used for irrigating, cleansing, and packing wounds infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The correct answer is to ensure the tablet is scored, break it in half, take Mr. Smith's pulse to ensure it is greater than 50, check the dose with another nurse, and then administer the drug, staying with Mr. Smith until he has swallowed the pill. This approach ensures that the correct dose of 0.25 mgms is administered to Mr. Smith, as prescribed, while also ensuring his heart rate is above 50 beats per minute. Checking the dose with another nurse helps to prevent any medication errors, and staying with Mr. Smith until he has swallowed the pill ensures proper administration and monitoring.

Using abbreviations can actually increase the risk of prescription errors. Abbreviations can be misinterpreted or misunderstood by healthcare professionals, leading to medication errors. Therefore, it is important to avoid using abbreviations and instead write out the full medication names and instructions to ensure clarity and accuracy in prescriptions.

Accupril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It is used in the treatment of hypertension. The client should be instructed to rise slowly from a lying to sitting position and to permit the legs to dangle from the bed momentarily before standing to reduce the hypotensive effect. The medication does not need to be taken with meals. It may be given without regard to food. If nausea occurs, the client should be instructed to take a non cola carbonated beverage and salted crackers or dry toast. A full therapeutic effect may be noted in 1 to 2 weeks.

If the Fentanyl patch is not adhering to the skin, the appropriate action would be to place some tape over the patch to ensure it stays on. Additionally, it is important to determine if Mrs. Jay is experiencing any pain as poor contact can lead to poor absorption of the drug. These findings should be documented, and it is necessary to follow up throughout the shift to ensure that Mrs. Jay is receiving the full benefit from her medication.

It is important to check a patient's allergy status prior to administering a medication to ensure that they do not have any known allergies to the medication being given. This is crucial in order to prevent any potential allergic reactions or adverse effects that could harm the patient. Checking the medical condition, vital signs, and other prescription medications are also important considerations, but allergy status takes precedence as it directly relates to the safety and well-being of the patient.

The physician, nurse, and pharmacist all are licensed professionals and share responsibility for errors.

An adverse reaction is a harmful and unexpected reaction. A side effect is expected and predictable. C and D are incorrect because a toxic reaction is a type of adverse reaction.

The nurse should always inspect the vial of insulin before use for solution changes that may signify loss of potency. NPH insulin is normally uniformly cloudy. Clumping, frosting, and precipitates are signs of insulin damage. In this situation, because potency is questionable, it is safer to discard the vial and draw up the dose from a new vial.
Question 12 WRONG

When a client is nauseated and vomiting, their ability to absorb oral medications may be compromised. Therefore, the parenteral route, which involves administering medication through injection or infusion, is the preferred route in this situation. This allows for direct absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract. Giving an enteric-coated medication or a rectal suppository may not be effective as the client may continue to vomit or have difficulty absorbing the medication.

Morphine sulfate depresses the respiratory center. When the rate is less than 10, the MD should be notified.

An agonist is the action described in the stem. B and C are synonymous. ELiminate choice D because there is no such action described in drug nomenclature.

The client is taking famotidine, a histamine receptor antagonist. This implies that the client has a disorder characterized by gastrointestinal (GI) irritation. The only medication of the ones listed in the options that is not irritating to the GI tract is acetaminophen. The other medications could aggravate an already existing GI problem.

Numbers/quantities for controlled substances should be fully written to prevent alterations by the patient. This is because fully written numbers are harder to alter compared to numerical digits, making it more difficult for patients to change the prescribed quantity of the controlled substance. This helps ensure that patients do not manipulate their prescriptions for personal gain or misuse of the medication.

Cola, coffee, and chocolate contain xanthine and should be avoided by the client taking a xanthine bronchodilator. This could lead to an increased incidence of cardiovascular and central nervous system side effects that can occur with the use of these types of bronchodilators.

The client should be taught that ketoconazole is an antifungal medication. It should be taken with food or milk. Antacids should be avoided for 2 hours after it is taken because gastric acid is needed to activate the medication. The client should avoid concurrent use of alcohol, because the medication is hepatotoxic. The client should also avoid exposure to sunlight, because the medication increases photosensitivity.

H2 receptor antagonist therapy is used to prevent stress ulcers in patients with severe burns. Severe burns can lead to increased gastric acid secretion, which can cause stress ulcers. H2 receptor antagonists work by reducing the production of gastric acid, thus preventing the formation of stress ulcers. This therapy does not block prostaglandin synthesis, facilitate protein synthesis, or enhance gas exchange.

Frequently patients do not complete an entire course of antibiotic therapy, and the bacteria are not destroyed.

The statement is false because although "5 mg" and "5.0 mg" may seem to mean the same thing, in medical practice, the use of decimal places is important for accurate dosing. A dosage of "5 mg" could be interpreted as a whole number, while "5.0 mg" indicates a specific measurement to the nearest tenth. Nurses should follow precise dosing instructions to ensure patient safety and avoid medication errors.

The most appropriate question for the home health nurse to ask in regard to the client's medication regimen is whether they have been taking other substances than those ordered by the physician. This question is important because the client lives alone and takes medication without supervision, so there is a possibility that they may be taking additional medications or substances that could interact with their prescribed medication. This question helps the nurse assess the client's compliance with their medication regimen and identify any potential risks or issues that may arise from the use of additional substances.

The decreased circulation to the kidney and reduced liver function tend to allow drugs to accumulate and have toxic effects.

Auranofin (Ridaura) is a gold preparation that is used as an antirheumatic. Gold toxicity is an adverse effect and is evidenced by decreased hemoglobin, leukopenia, reduced granulocyte counts, proteinuria, hematuria, stomatitis, glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, or cholestatic jaundice. Anorexia, nausea, and diarrhea are frequent side effects of the medication.