Medication Safety & Administration
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication but the dosage seems unusually high. What is the priority action?
Hold the medication and verify the order with the provider.
A patient is prescribed a beta blocker. What is the priority assessment before administration?
Check heart rate and blood pressure.
A patient taking SSRIs reports suicidal thoughts after starting the medication. What is the priority action?
Immediate safety assessment and notifying the provider.
A diabetic patient is about to receive insulin but has not eaten. What is the priority action?
Hold insulin and ensure patient eats.
A patient develops a rash after starting an antibiotic. What is the priority action?
Stop the medication and assess for allergic reaction
A patient states they are allergic to penicillin. What is the priority nursing action before giving a cephalosporin?
Assess for cross sensitivity/allergy risk.
A patient on digoxin has a potassium level of 2.9. What is the priority concern?
Increased risk of digoxin toxicity.
A patient on lithium has nausea, tremors, and confusion. What is the priority action?
Hold the medication and check lithium levels.
Why is rotating insulin injection sites important?
Prevents lipodystrophy
Why should patients complete their full course of antibiotics?
Prevents resistance and recurrence of infection.
A nurse administers a medication and realizes it was given to the wrong patient. What is the priority action?
Assess the patient and notify the provider.
A patient is receiving furosemide. What electrolyte imbalance is the nurse most concerned about?
Hypokalemia.
A patient taking antipsychotics develops muscle rigidity and high fever. What condition is suspected?
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
A patient taking levothyroxine reports palpitations and weight loss. What is the priority interpretation?
Possible overmedication (hyperthyroidism)
A patient taking tetracycline should avoid what?
Dairy products (decreases absorption)
Which situation requires the nurse to question a medication order?
Medication dose outside the safe range.
A patient reports a persistent dry cough while taking an ACE inhibitor. What is the nurse's interpretation?
Common side effect of ACE inhibitors.
Why must MAOIs avoid foods like aged cheese?
Risk of hypertensive crisis due to tyramine interaction.
A patient on long term corticosteroids should not stop suddenly. Why?
Risk of adrenal insufficiency
A patient develops severe diarrhea after antibiotic use. What is the priority concern?
Clostridioides difficile infection.
Why are the rights of medication administration critical?
A patient taking warfarin has an elevated INR. What is the priority concern?
Risk for bleeding.
A patient on benzodiazepines becomes excessively drowsy with slow respirations. What is the priority action?
Prepare to administer flumazenil and support airway
A patient with DKA is started on insulin therapy. What electrolyte must be closely monitored?
Potassium
A patient receiving IV vancomycin develops flushing and rash. What is this reaction called and the cause?
Red Man Syndrome due to rapid infusion.