Cardiac & Blood
Before administering this cardiac glycoside, the nurse must assess the apical pulse for 60 seconds and hold if it is below 60 bpm.
What is Digoxin?
This "rescue" inhaler is the first-line medication for an acute asthma attack.
What is Albuterol?
This is the most common electrolyte imbalance seen in clients taking Lithium.
What is Hyponatremia? (Low sodium leads to lithium toxicity).
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is a classic early sign of toxicity for this common over-the-counter analgesic.
What is Aspirin (Salicylate)?
This is the minimum number of client identifiers required by the Joint Commission before administering any medication.
What is two? (e.g., Name and Date of Birth).
This class of antihypertensives often results in a persistent, dry "ACE cough."
What are ACE Inhibitors (e.g., Lisinopril)?
This is the only type of insulin that can be administered via the Intravenous (IV) route.
What is Regular Insulin?
This medication is the "gold standard" for treating an active tonic-clonic seizure.
What is a Benzodiazepine (e.g., Lorazepam or Diazepam)?
A client on Gentamicin reports sudden hearing loss; the nurse recognizes this as this type of medication-induced damage.
What is Ototoxicity?
When an IV site is cool, pale, and swollen, the nurse recognizes this complication has occurred.
What is Infiltration?
This is the specific antidote for a client experiencing a hemorrhage while on Heparin therapy.
What is Protamine Sulfate?
A client taking Glucocorticoids (like Prednisone) for a long period should never stop the medication abruptly to avoid this life-threatening crisis.
What is Adrenal Crisis (Addisonian Crisis)?
Clients taking MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) must avoid foods containing this substance to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
What is Tyramine? (Found in aged cheese, wine, processed meats).
This is the primary organ at risk for damage if a client takes an overdose of Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
What is the Liver (Hepatotoxicity)?
This term describes a medication that causes severe tissue damage and necrosis if it leaks out of the vein (extravasation).
What is a vesicant?
A client taking this potassium-sparing diuretic should be taught to avoid salt substitutes.
What is Spironolactone?
This is the "peak" time for NPH (Intermediate-acting) insulin, which is when the client is at highest risk for hypoglycemia.
What is 4 to 12 hours?
This side effect of antipsychotic medications involves involuntary movements of the tongue, face, and jaw.
What is Tardive Dyskinesia?
Visual disturbances, such as seeing "yellow-green halos," are a hallmark sign of toxicity for this drug.
What is Digoxin?
To ensure the "Right Route," the nurse should never crush medications that have these two suffixes.
What are ER (Extended Release) or SR (Sustained Release)? (Also EC for Enteric Coated).
When administering sublingual Nitroglycerin for chest pain, the nurse should instruct the client to take one tablet every 5 minutes, up to a maximum of this many doses.
What is three?
When a client is prescribed both a bronchodilator and a corticosteroid inhaler, the nurse instructs the client to use this one first.
What is the bronchodilator? (To open the airways so the steroid can reach deeper).
This is the reversal agent for a Benzodiazepine overdose.
What is Flumazenil?
If a client develops "red man syndrome" during a Vancomycin infusion, the nurse’s first action is to do this.
What is slow the infusion rate? (It is a rate-related reaction, not a true allergy).
Before administering a Potassium Chloride (KCl) IV bolus, the nurse must ensure the client has adequate ______ output.
What is Urinary? (No pee, no K).