Final Flashcards
When administering medication to a hospitalized client who is awake and carrying on a
conversation with visitors, what would be the most accurate way for the nurse to check
this client’s identity?
- Ask the client- can you tell me your name and date of birth?
The medication administration record shows that a client is to receive Lisinopril (Zestril)
10mg. PO at 9:00AM. On hand are tablets labeled fosinopril (Monopril) 20 mg. What
action should the nurse take next?
Read original physician order to verify the drug order
The nurse received an order to give morphine 5 mg IV every 2 hours PRN pain. Which
action is not part of the six rights of drug administration?
- Assessing the patient’s pain level 15 to 30 minutes after giving the medication.
A patient receives a drug that has a narrow therapeutic range. The nurse administering
this medication will expect to do what?
- Monitor plasma drug levels to decrease the risk of toxicity.
During an initial nursing assessment that patient reports that he is allergic to a particular
medicine. The nurse should:
- Ask what symptoms occurred with the allergic reaction?
A patient is receiving morphine sulfate 4 mg intravenously every 3 hours for pain. The
nurse understands that the half-life for morphine sulfate is approximately 3 hours. Which
statement made by the nurse best demonstrates understanding of the concept of “drug
half-life?”
- The half-life of a medication refers to the time required for the amount of drug in
the body to decrease by 50
For best results when treating severe pain associated with pathologic spinal fractures
related to metastatic bone cancer, the nurse should remember that the best type of
dosage schedule is to administer the pain medication:
- Around the clock
A nurse is conducting patient education about the physical dependence induced by
opioid analgesics. Which comment made by the patient indicates that the person
understands the meaning or physical dependence on a drug? Physical dependence is a
state in which:
- An abstinence syndrome will occur if the drug is abruptly discontinued.
A postoperative patient has received an epidural infusion of morphine sulfate. The
patient’s respiratory rate decreases to 4 breaths per minute and he has a decreased
level of epossidusiness and mfusis. Which medication would the nurse anticipate
administering?
- Naloxone (Narcan)
Which of the following patients is an appropriate candidate for aspirin therapy?
- ** A patient with osteoarthritis
- A 5 year old with a fever and flu like symptoms
- A patient who is having surgery tomorrow morning
- A patient with a recent history of gastrointestinal bleeding
A patient is receiving a high dose of an NSAID for pain relief. Which of the following
would be most important for the nurse to include in the teaching plan?
- Signs and symptoms of GI bleeding
An adolescent is brought to the emergency department by a parent who reports that the
patient took a whole bottle of extended release acetaminophen tablets somewhere
between 8 to 10 hours ago. The nurse will anticipate administering which of the
following?
- Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
A patient presents to the clinic at 9 with an unsteady gait and slurred speech. During the
health history, the patient admits to consuming a case of beer every day for 7 years but
denies being an alcoholic. Which of the following medications that the patient is taking
would concern the nurse the most?
- Acetaminophen daily
A patient with a history of emphysema is prescribed propanolol (Inderal) to treat
hypertension. In this situation, the nurse should assess for the presence of:
- Bronchoconstriction
Your diabetic client requires a beta blocker to treat a tachydysthythmia. Due to the
beta-blocker therapy, you should teach this patient not to rely on which of the following
signs of developing hypoglycemia?
Tachycardia
What assessment finding would warrant withholding a beta-blocker and consulting the
prescriber?
Pulse rate of 46 beats/ minute
A patient who is taking digoxin is admitted to the hospital for treatment of congestive
heart failure. The prescriber has ordered furosemide [Lasix]. The nurse notes an
irregular heart rate of 86 beats per minute, a respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute,
and a blood pressure of 130/82 mm Hg. The nurse auscultates crackles in both lungs.
Which laboratory value causes the nurse the most concern?
Potassium level of 3.3
What assessment finding in a patient with heart failure receiving furosemide (Lasix)
would indicate an improvement in her fluid volume status
Absence of crackles on auscultation of lungs
A nurse administers an ACE inhibitor to a patient who is taking the drug for the first time.
What is the priority nursing action at this time?
- Instruct the patient not to get up without assistance
A patient who is prescribed an ACE inhibitor complains of tongue swelling and is
experiencing obvious dyspnea. What is the priority action by the nurse?
-Administer epinephrine
The patient is being treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. The
nurse should advise the patient that ACE inhibitors should not be taken concurrently with
which of the following drugs?
-Potassium-sparing diuretics
- A patient begins taking amlodipine (Norvasc) a calcium channel blocker along with a
beta blocker, to treat hypertension. The nurse understands that the beta blocker is used
to:
- Prevent reflex tachycardia
A patient taking vasodilator complains of dizziness when getting out of bed to go to the
bathroom. Which intervention is a priority for this patient?
Moving slowly from one position to another
A patient is receiving diltiazem (Cardizem) via IV infusion for atrial fibrillation. Which of
the following adverse effects will the nurse monitor for related to this drug?
Bradycardia
A nurse is caring for a patient recently admitted to the ICU with heart disease. Which
symptom is a life threatening adverse effect of digoxin toxicity?
-Dysrhythmia
client taking spironolactone (Aldactone) for hypertension reports to the laboratory clinic
with bilateral edema in the lower legs. After receiving the laboratory test results, the
nurse decides to withhold the additional dose that was just ordered because of which
value?
Potassium 6.0
After the nurse administers albuterol (Proventil) to a 24 year old client with symptoms of
an acute asthma attack, which of the following outcomes is best?
Relief of wheezing
A patient has been taking digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.25mg. And furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg daily.
Upon routine assessment by the nurse, the patient states, “I see yellow halos around the
lights” The nurse should perform which of the following actions based off this
assessment?
Check the patient for other signs of digoxin toxicity
A nurse is caring for a patient receiving digoxin (Lanoxin). Which pre administration
assessment would require the nurse to hold administration for this medication?
Heart rate 48 beats/min
A nurse provides discharge instructions to a client about the use of amiodarone
(Cordarone). Which statement indications that the client has the knowledge to safely
self-administer the drug?
The side effects of this medication may not begin to show up for several weeks
or even months after I start taking it.
A patient comments, “ I don’t understand why I have chest pain at times when I
am exercising. How will metoprolol (Toprol XL) help? Which of the following
comments made by the nurse is correct?
decrease heart rate
The nurse is scheduled to administer a dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) to an adult
client with atrial fibrillation. The client has a potassium level of 4.3 mEq/L. The
nurse should perform which of the following activities next?
Administer the dose as ordered
A hospitalized patient complains of acute chest pain. The nurse administers a 0.4 mg sublingual nitroglycerin tablet, but the patient continues to complain of
pain. The vital signs remain stable. What is the nurse’s next step?
Give a second dose of nitroglycerin after 5 min
A patient presents to the clinic with complaints of muscle aches and weakness.
Upon review of the individual’s medications, the nurse notes that the patient is concurrently taking gemfibrozil (Lopid) and simvastin (Zocor) for his high
cholesterol. The nurse suspects
Myopathy
A patient started on albuterol (Proventil). The nurse will instruct the patient to
watch for which of the following side effects?
Tachycardia
A patient is instructed to take diphenhydramine after an allergic reaction. Which
of the following statements by the patient indicates successful teaching
concerning the Benadryl)
-I should not drive my car after taking this medication
A patient is instructed on the administration of inhaled corticosteroid agents to
treat asthma. How do inhaled corticosteroid agents assists in the treatment of
asthma?
- Inhaled corticosteroid agents will reduce airway inflammation
The nurse concludes that a client with an upper respiratory infection understands
principles of self-administration of a prescribed oral antibiotic after the client
makes which statement?
-I will continue to take the antibiotic as it is ordered, even though I no longer have
a cough with yellow sputum
When administering vancomycin, the nurse knows that which of the following is
the most important thing to assess before giving a dose?
-Renal function
During therapy with the intravenous aminoglycoside, the patient calls the nurse
and says, “I am hearing some odd sounds, like ringing, in my ears” Which is the next action of the nurse at this time?
-Stop the infusion immediately and notify the prescriber
When assessing a patient for adverse reactions to the combination of Isoniazid and rifampin (Rifadin) the nurse should monitor which lab results?
-Liver function test
