Preventing medication errors
A healthcare provider has written an order for digoxin, but the nurse cannot read whether the order is for 0.25 mg, 0.125 mg, or 125 mg because there is no “zero” and the decimal point may be a “one.” What action would be the best to prevent a medication error?
A. Check the dosage with another nurse.
B. Consult a drug handbook, and administer the normal dose.
C. Contact the hospital pharmacist about the order.
D. Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the illegible order.
D. Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the illegible order.
Patients with a small intestine disorder would most likely have problems with which pharmacokinetic phase?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
A. Absorption
In preparing a medication for a Intramuscular injection, what needle length is needed?
A. 1½ to 2 inches
B.⅜ to ⅝ inch
C. 1 to 1½ inches
D.½ to ⅝ inch
C. 1 to 1½ inches
A patient with a history of long-term herbal use is being discharged home with several medications. What information should be included in the discharge instructions?
A. Herbal therapy does not affect pharmacologic therapies.
B. Only homemade herbal therapy is acceptable.
C. Herbal therapy must be discussed with your primary health care provider.
D. All herbal therapy must be discontinued.
C. Herbal therapy must be discussed with your primary health care provider.
Patients at an integrative health care center are learning about various types of complementary and alternative health care methods. What is a method of stimulating certain points on the body by the insertion of special needles to modify the perception of pain, normalize physiologic functions, or treat or prevent disease?
A. Acupressure
B. Magnet therapy
C. Acupuncture
D. Chiropractic therapy
3. Acupuncture
While administering the 12 p.m. (noon) medications, the nurse discovers that the 6 a.m. dose was not given. What should be the nurse’s first action?
A. Document this finding on the patient’s chart.
B. Complete an incident report
C. Give both the 6 a.m. and the 12 p.m. doses.
D. Notify the healthcare provider.
D. Notify the healthcare provider.
Patients with a large intestine disorder would most likely have problems with which pharmacokinetic phase?
A. Absorption
B. Distribution
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
D. Excretion
In preparing a medication for a subcutaneous injection, what needle length is needed?
A.1½ to 2 inches
B. ½ to ⅝ inch
C. ⅜ to ⅝ inch
D. 1 to 1½ inches
B. ½ to ⅝ inch
A patient is hospitalized for bradycardia. The primary health care provider has prescribed digoxin for treating bradycardia. The patient informs the nurse about using an herb for treating depression. Which herbal medication might put the patient at risk for a medication interaction?
A. Lavender
B. Kava
C. St. John’s wort
D. Valerian
C. St. John’s wort
The national center for complementary and integrative health (NCCIH) was established in 1992 with which goals?(Select all that apply)
A. Facilitate the evaluation of alternative medical treatment
B.Support, coordinate, and conduct research and research training
C.Establish methods of treatment, forms of treatment, and therapy
D. Act as clearinghouse to distribute information to the public and professionals
E. Provide specific information as to what and when complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may be used.
D.
A. Facilitate the evaluation of alternative medical treatment
B.Support, coordinate, and conduct research and research training
D. Act as clearinghouse to distribute information to the public and professionals
The healthcare agency is implementing the use of root-cause analysis (RCA) to reduce the occurrence of medication errors. What areas does RCA analyze in order to prevent errors from recurring?
A. Why the medication was ordered, whether it was the correct medication, and whether the patient experienced therapeutic results
B. What happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again
C. What the cost of the medication was, whether it was the most appropriate medication to order, or whether there is a better alternative
D. Whether the medication was documented in the provider’s orders, the patient’s medication administration record, and the pharmacy
B. What happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again
An antibiotic has been ordered for the patient with a brain abscess. The nurse understands that:
A. There are no antibiotics effective to treat brain abscesses because they cannot cross the blood-brain barrier.
B. Only fat-soluble substances will pass the blood-brain barrier so the antibiotic will need to be fat-soluble.
C. The half-life of the antibiotic will be decreased when crossing the blood-brain barrier.
D. The gastrointestinal tract will prevent absorption from occurring.
B. Only fat-soluble substances will pass the blood-brain barrier so the antibiotic will need to be fat-soluble.
A nurse enters the patient’s room with medication along with a stethoscope, a fairly large-looking syringe, and a container of water. In the course of administering the medication, the nurse will use all of these items. Which of the following routes will the nurse likely use?
A.Transdermal
B. Intravenous (parenteral)
C. Nasogastric (enteral)
D. Rectal
C. Nasogastric (enteral)
An example of a specialty supplement is:
A. Lactobacillus acidophilus.
B. Ginseng.
C. Garlic.
D. Ginkgo biloba.
A. Lactobacillus acidophilus.
Maintains intestinal health
page 77
Which complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy is the best option for relief of a severe headache?
chiropractic therapy
When administering medications, the nurse makes sure that: (Select all that apply.)
A. The correct drug is given.
B. The correct dose was calculated.
C. The drug is given using the correct route of administration.
D. The patient’s name is verified prior to drug administration.
E. The patient’s home address is correct in the facility records.
A. The correct drug is given.
B. The correct dose was calculated.
C. The drug is given using the correct route of administration.
D. The patient’s name is verified prior to drug administration.
When planning care for a patient, the nurse takes into consideration which of the following factors that could directly influence the effectiveness of drugs that will be given? (Select all that apply.)
A. Drug–drug interactions
B. Food–drug interactions
C. Route of administration
D. Time of administration within the day
E. Diseases of the liver or kidney
A. Drug–drug interactions
B. Food–drug interactions
C. Route of administration
E. Diseases of the liver or kidney
The healthcare provider ordered 5 mL of an oral decongestant twice a day for a pediatric patient. When teaching the mother of the patient about how much medication to give, the nurse tells her that 5 mL is equal to:
A.Two (2) teaspoons.
B. One (1) tablespoon.
C. 1/4 of a cup.
D. One (1) teaspoon.
D. One (1) teaspoon.
Which of the following herbal products is commonly used to enhance the immune system?
A. Soy
B. Saw palmetto
C. Cranberry
D. Echinacea
D. Echinacea
A patient is taking the herb comfrey on a daily basis for its wound-healing properties. What information is important for the nurse to tell this patient?
A. Comfrey should be taken internally.
B. Comfrey may cause cancer.
C. Comfrey can be used only externally.
D. Comfrey is a known antiseptic.
C. Comfrey can be used only externally.
The nurse is administering medications and the patient states, “I’ve never seen that blue pill before.” What would be the nurse’s most appropriate action?
A. Verify the order and double-check the drug label.
B. Administer the medication in the existing form.
C. Instruct the patient that different brands are frequently used and may account for the change of color.
D. Recommend that the patient discuss the medication with the provider, and give the medication.
A. Verify the order and double-check the drug label.
An older patient has reduced metabolic activity. The nurse may expect to see what change in the dosage of a drug given to this patient?
A. Increase the medication dosage.
B. Increase the number of times the patient has to take the medication.
C. Decrease the medication dosage.
D. Reduce the number of times the patient has to take the medication.
C. Decrease the medication dosage.
The following statements are true regarding topical medication applications except:
A. For a local effect, it is important that the medication stay within the area of application.
B. The medication can be absorbed into the nurse’s skin if gloves are not worn.
C. It is never desirable for topical drugs to be absorbed into the systemic system.
D. Topical medication applied to the skin comes in the form of creams, lotions, gels, powders, and sprays.
C. It is never desirable for topical drugs to be absorbed into the systemic system.
The patient requests information on alternative treatments for arthritis. The nurse provides information on which of the following supplements?
A. Garlic and soy
B. Fish oil
C. Chondroitin and glucosamine
D. DHEA
C. Chondroitin and glucosamine
The nurse is caring for a patient on the acute care unit. The patient reports that he takes St. John’s wort for mild depression. When the nurse reviews the patient’s dietary selections, which choice indicates the need for further teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A. Foods high in salt or sodium
B. Milk products
C. Anything containing barley, such as beer
D. Aged cheese
E. Red wine
C. Anything containing barley, such as beer
D. Aged cheese
E. Red wine