Pharmacology and the Nursing
Process
10th Edition
• Author(s)Linda Lane Lilley;
Shelly Rainforth Collins; Julie
S. Snyder
,TEST BANK
Question 1 (MCQ)
Clinical Scenario
A nurse is preparing to administer a newly prescribed
antihypertensive medication to a 68-year-old patient. During
the assessment, the patient reports dizziness when standing
and has a blood pressure of 92/56 mm Hg with a heart rate of
58 beats/min.
Question Stem
What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer Options
A. Administer the medication as prescribed.
B. Withhold the medication temporarily and notify the provider
of the assessment findings.
C. Encourage the patient to increase fluid intake immediately
before taking the medication.
D. Ask another nurse to verify the medication before
administration.
,Correct Answer
B. Withhold the medication temporarily and notify the
provider of the assessment findings.
Comprehensive Rationale
Assessment precedes medication administration. The patient's
hypotension and bradycardia suggest that administering the
antihypertensive could worsen tissue perfusion and increase
the risk of falls or syncope. The nurse should recognize these
abnormal findings, withhold the medication according to
institutional policy, and communicate with the prescribing
provider before proceeding.
Safe medication administration requires integrating patient
assessment with knowledge of pharmacodynamics.
Antihypertensive medications reduce blood pressure through
various mechanisms, and administering them in the presence of
symptomatic hypotension may produce excessive therapeutic
effects.
Distractor Analysis
A. Incorrect
• Misconception: Prescriptions should always be followed
exactly.
• Safety Risk: May cause severe hypotension.
, • Appropriate Action: Assess first and question unsafe
orders.
C. Incorrect
• Misconception: Fluids alone resolve medication-related
hypotension.
• Safety Risk: Delays appropriate intervention.
• Appropriate Action: Evaluate the cause before
intervention.
D. Incorrect
• Misconception: Independent double-checking resolves
assessment concerns.
• Safety Risk: Does not address patient instability.
• Appropriate Action: Clinical assessment findings take
priority.
Nursing Process Integration
Primary Step: Assessment
Remaining steps:
• Nursing Diagnosis: Risk for injury related to hypotension.
• Planning: Maintain adequate perfusion.
• Implementation: Hold medication and notify provider.
Process
10th Edition
• Author(s)Linda Lane Lilley;
Shelly Rainforth Collins; Julie
S. Snyder
,TEST BANK
Question 1 (MCQ)
Clinical Scenario
A nurse is preparing to administer a newly prescribed
antihypertensive medication to a 68-year-old patient. During
the assessment, the patient reports dizziness when standing
and has a blood pressure of 92/56 mm Hg with a heart rate of
58 beats/min.
Question Stem
What is the nurse's priority action?
Answer Options
A. Administer the medication as prescribed.
B. Withhold the medication temporarily and notify the provider
of the assessment findings.
C. Encourage the patient to increase fluid intake immediately
before taking the medication.
D. Ask another nurse to verify the medication before
administration.
,Correct Answer
B. Withhold the medication temporarily and notify the
provider of the assessment findings.
Comprehensive Rationale
Assessment precedes medication administration. The patient's
hypotension and bradycardia suggest that administering the
antihypertensive could worsen tissue perfusion and increase
the risk of falls or syncope. The nurse should recognize these
abnormal findings, withhold the medication according to
institutional policy, and communicate with the prescribing
provider before proceeding.
Safe medication administration requires integrating patient
assessment with knowledge of pharmacodynamics.
Antihypertensive medications reduce blood pressure through
various mechanisms, and administering them in the presence of
symptomatic hypotension may produce excessive therapeutic
effects.
Distractor Analysis
A. Incorrect
• Misconception: Prescriptions should always be followed
exactly.
• Safety Risk: May cause severe hypotension.
, • Appropriate Action: Assess first and question unsafe
orders.
C. Incorrect
• Misconception: Fluids alone resolve medication-related
hypotension.
• Safety Risk: Delays appropriate intervention.
• Appropriate Action: Evaluate the cause before
intervention.
D. Incorrect
• Misconception: Independent double-checking resolves
assessment concerns.
• Safety Risk: Does not address patient instability.
• Appropriate Action: Clinical assessment findings take
priority.
Nursing Process Integration
Primary Step: Assessment
Remaining steps:
• Nursing Diagnosis: Risk for injury related to hypotension.
• Planning: Maintain adequate perfusion.
• Implementation: Hold medication and notify provider.
