Safe Dosage Module

Question 1

A nurse is caring for a client who is to receive topiramate XR 100 mg PO daily. The client tells the nurse that the capsule is too hard to swallow. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

crush the contents and admin in pudding
request extended-release sprinkles from pharmacy
ask charge nurse to clarify Rx with provider
withhold med until next dose

Answer 1

request extended-release sprinkles from pharmacy

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a pt who reports severe back pain at 1400. Rx’s include oxycodone extended-release 20 mg PO every 12 hr (last dose at 0600) and oxycodone immediate-release 5 mg PO every 4 hr PRN (last dose at 2300 the day before). Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

ask provider for different pain med
give immediate-release dose at 1600
give immediate-release dose now
ask provider to increase extended-release dose

Answer 2

give immediate-release dose now

Question 3

A nurse is preparing to give a high-alert pain med to a pt. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform during the planning stage of med admin?

assess effectiveness of pain med
verify dosage calc with another nurse
teach pt about action of med
ask pt to state their name and birthdate

Answer 3

verify dosage calc with another nurse

Question 4

A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a client who has an Rx for docusate sodium 50 mg capsule PO BID. Pt refuses med because of nausea. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

give capsule rectally
withhold med
give 100 mg at time of next scheduled dose
encourage pt to take med as prescribed

Answer 4

withhold med

Question 5

A nurse is caring for a pt who got lisinopril 30 min ago and is now reporting dizziness and headache. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

get VS
notify provider
document pt response
tell pt to change positions slowly

Answer 5

get VS

Question 6

A nurse is reviewing a pt’s prescriptions. The nurse should contact the provider to clarify which of the following?

phenytoin 100 mg PO every 8 hr
morphine 2.5 mg IV bolus PRN for incision pain
Regular insulin 7 units SQ 30 min before breakfast and dinner
lisinopril 20 mg PO every 12 hr; hold for systolic BP under 110 mm Hg

Answer 6

morphine 2.5 mg IV bolus PRN for incision pain

Question 7

A nurse is assessing a client following admin of abx. The nurse should identify that which of the following is a manifestation of an anaphylactic reaction?

swollen lips
hypertension
low HR
constipation

Answer 7

swollen lips

Question 8

A nursing in a med-surg unit is preparing to give meds to a pt. The nurse plans to use two forms of identification to verify she has the right pt. Which of the following can be used?

compare pt name on wristband and in MAR
ask client to state DOB
check room number in MAR with room number of pt
ask client to state name
use bar code scan

Answer 8

compare pt name on wristband and in MAR
ask client to state DOB
ask client to state name
use bar code scan

Question 9

A nurse is preparing to give meds to four clients. He should identify which of the following as a part of the evaluation phase?

collecting info about pt’s pain level after giving narcotic
taking BP of pt before giving antihypertensive
lowering HOB before giving benzodiazepine
instructing pt to rinse mouth after inhaled corticosteroid

Answer 9

collecting info about pt’s pain level after giving narcotic

Question 10

A nurse is caring for a pt who states his provider told him he’s at risk for anaphylaxis after taking amoxicillin and that he doesn’t understand. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?

Anaphylaxis is …
predictable and often unavoidable.
will cause withdrawal symptoms.
an unusual response due to inherited predisposition.
a severe hypersensitivity or allergic reaction that’s life-threatening.

Answer 10

a severe hypersensitivity or allergic reaction that’s life-threatening.

Question 11

A nurse is preparing to give a med to a newly admitted pt. The nurse should identify which of the following actions as part of assessment?

asking about Hx of med allergies
instructing pt about adverse effects
determining whether to give med with or without meals
monitoring pt response to med

Answer 11

asking about Hx of med allergies

Question 12

A nurse is preparing to give an oral med. Which of the following actions should he take? (Select all that apply.)

provide pt education about med
check expiration date of med
verify dosage of med
call pt by name to confirm identity
ask pt if they have allergies

Answer 12

provide pt education about med
check expiration date of med
verify dosage of med
ask pt if they have allergies

Question 13

A nurse is transcribing Rx’s for a group of pts. Which of the following is an appropriate way for the nurse to record meds that require the use of a decimal point?

.4 mL

0. 6 mL
1. 0 mL
2. 0 mL

Answer 13

0.6 mL

Question 14

A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about crushing meds. She should explain that which of the following can be crushed?

extended-release oxycodone
sublingual nitroglycerine
enteric-coated aspirin
sucralfate tablets

Answer 14

sucralfate tablets

Question 15

A nurse is preparing to give insulin SQ to a pt. He should document the admin of the med immediately after which of the following?

taking the insulin from the machine
injecting the insulin
checking pt’s blood glucose
checking the correct dosage

Answer 15

injecting the insulin

Question 16

A nurse is teaching about med admin to a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following is her legal responsibility?

prescribing the right dosage
modifying the med regimen
reporting med errors
delegating admin to UAP

Answer 16

reporting med errors

Question 17

A charge nurse is reviewing the types of Rx’s with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following should the nurse include as a standing Rx?

oxycodone 5 mg PO every 4 hr PRN for pain
furosemide 20 mg IV stat
acetaminophen 650 mg PO every 6 hr for temp > 38.4C (101.2F)
diazepam 10 mg IV 30 min before procedure

Answer 17

acetaminophen 650 mg PO every 6 hr for temp > 38.4C (101.2F)

Question 18

A nurse on a medical unit is orienting a newly licensed nurse. He should remind the newly licensed nurse to have a second nurse review dosage of which of the following meds before admin?

heparin
acetaminophen
acetylcysteine
hydroxychoroquine

Answer 18

heparin

Question 19

A nurse is preparing to give digoxin 225 mcg for a peds pt with HR above 90/min. Which of the following should she take to ensure the right dose? (Select all that apply.)

validate dosage is within safe range
confirm med amt is appropriate for child
verify med is not expired
check pt's HR before admin
document admin in MAR

Answer 19

validate dosage is within safe range

confirm med amt is appropriate for child

Question 20

A nurse is preparing to give a time-critical med to a pt at 0800. Which of the following times are appropriate? (Select all that apply.)

0700
0745
0830
0845
0900

Answer 20

0745

0830

Question 21

A nurse manage is reviewing a pt’s MAR and discovers the pt got a double dose of a prescribed med. Which of the following should he do first?

complete incident report
notify provider
assess client
report error to risk manage

Answer 21

assess client

Question 22

A nurse is transcribing a provider’s Rx. The Rx reads morphine 2 mg IV bolus at 1400. The nurse should recognize this as which of the following types of orders?

routine
stat
PRN
single

Answer 22

single

Question 23

A nurse discovers a med error in which the pt got twice the prescribed amt. Which should she do first?

notify provider
complete incident report
assess pt
report error to nurse manager

Answer 23

assess pt

Question 24

A nurse is reviewing a pt’s prescriptions. He should contact the provider to clarify which of these?

ampicillin 100 mg/kg/day PO in 4 equally divided doses
phenytoin 300 mg PO every 12 hr
metronidazole 500 mg IV bolus every 6 hr
acetaminophen 325 mg every 6 hr PRN for headache

Answer 24

acetaminophen 325 mg every 6 hr PRN for headache

Question 25

A charge nurse is teaching a new nurse about med reconciliation. Which info should he include?

perform reconciliation daily during hospitalization
only newly prescribed meds need review
vitamins, supplements, OTC meds should be included
goal of reconciliation is to minimize financial impact to pt

Answer 25

vitamins, supplements, OTC meds should be included