Chp 31 Medication Administration Exam Guide with Explanations

1. The nurse is having difficulty reading a physician's order for a medication. He or she knows that the physician is very busy and does not like to be called. What is the most appropriate next step for the nurse to take? A) Call a pharmacist to interpret the order B) Call the physician to have the order clarified C) Consult the unit manager to help interpret the order D) Ask the unit secretary to interpret the physician's handwriting - B You must have the right documentation and clarify all orders with the prescriber before administering medications. 2. The patient has an order for 2 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia. How much medication does the nurse give him or her? A) 2 mL B) 5 mL C) 16 mL D) 30 mL - D 1 tablespoon = 15 mL; 2 tablespoons = 30 mL. 3. A nurse is administering eardrops to an 8-year-old patient with an ear infection. How does the nurse pull the patient's ear when administering the medication? A) Outward B) Back C) Upward and back D) Upward and outward - D Eardrops are administered with the ear positioned upward and outward for patients greater than 3 years of age. 4. A patient is to receive cephalexin (Kefl ex) 500 mg PO. The pharmacy has sent 250-mg tablets. How many tablets does the nurse administer? A) ½ tablet B) 1 tablet C) 1 ½ tablets D) 2 tablets - D Using dimensional analysis: Tablets = 1tablet/250 mg× 500 mg = 500/250 = 2 tablets.5. A nurse is administering medications to a 4-year-old patient. After he or she explains which medications are being given, the mother states, "I don't remember my child having that medication before." What is the nurse's next action? A) Give the medications B) Identify the patient using two patient identifiers C) Withhold the medications and verify the medication orders D) Provide medication education to the mother to help her better understand her child's medications - C Do not ignore patient or caregiver concerns; always verify orders whenever a medication is questioned before administering it. 6. A patient is transitioning from the hospital to the home environment. A home care referral is obtained. What is a priority in relation to safe medication administration for the discharge nurse? A) Set up the follow-up appointments with the physician for the patient. B) Ensure that someone will provide housekeeping for the patient at home. C) Ensure that the home care agency is aware of medication and health teaching needs. D) Make sure that the patient's family knows how to safely bathe him or her and provide mouth care. - C A nursing responsibility is to collaborate with community resources when patients have home care needs or difficulty understanding their medications. 7. A nursing student takes a patient's antibiotic to his room. The patient asks the nursing student what it is and why he should take it. Which information does the nursing student include when replying to the patient? A) Only the patient's physician can give this information. B) The student provides the name of the medication and a description of its desired effect. C) Information about medications is confidential and cannot be shared. D) He has to speak with his assigned nurse about this. - B Patients need to know information about their medications so they can take them correctly and safely. 8. The nurse is administering a sustained-release capsule to a new patient. The patient insists that he cannot swallow pills. What is the nurse's next best course of action? A) Ask the prescriber to change the order B) Crush the pill with a mortar and pestleC) Hide the capsule in a piece of solid food D) Open the capsule and sprinkle it over pudding - A Enteric-coated or sustained-release capsules should not be crushed; the nurse needs to contact the prescriber to change the medication to a form that is liquid or can be crushed. 9. The nurse takes a medication to a patient, and the patient tells him or her to take it away because she is not going to take it. What is the nurse's next action? A) Ask the patient's reason for refusal B) Explain that she must take the medication C) Take the medication away and chart the patient's refusal D) Tell the patient that her physician knows what is best for her - A When patients refuse a medication, first ask why they are refusing it. 10.The nurse receives an order to start giving a loop diuretic to a patient to help lower his or her blood pressure. The nurse determines the appropriate route for administering the diuretic according to: A) Hospital policy. B) The prescriber's orders. C) The type of medication ordered. D) The patient's size and muscle mass. - B The order from the prescriber needs to indicate the route of administration.