Pharmacology for Nurses, 6e (Adams) Principles
of Drug Administration Questions, Answers and
Rationales.
1) A nurse is preparing to administer several medications for a client. The
nurse is responsible for understanding which of the following regarding
medication administration?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices
are selected. Select all that apply.
1. Cost of the medication
2. Reason the medication was prescribed
3. Route of administration
4. How the medication is supplied by the pharmacy
5. Name of the medication - Correct Answers 2, 3, 4, 5
Explanation:
1. Although the cost of a medication may lead to noncompliance at home, it
is not a factor when administering medications in a healthcare facility.
2. Knowing the reason the medication was prescribed for the patient is the
responsibility of the nurse regarding medication administration.
3. Knowing how the medication is to be administered is the responsibility of
the nurse regarding medication administration.
4. Knowing how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy is the
responsibility of the nurse regarding medication administration.
5. Knowing the name of the medication is the responsibility of the nurse
regarding medication administration.
Page Ref: 20
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need/Sub: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral
Therapies
Standards: QSEN Competencies: V.B.1 Demonstrate effective use of
technology and standardized practices that support safety and quality. |
AACN Essential Competencies: IX.3 Implement holistic, patient-centered
care that reflects an understanding of human growth and development,
pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical management, and nursing
management across the health-illness continuum, across lifespan, and in
all healthcare settings. | NLN Competencies: Quality and Safety: Current
best practices. | Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
,Learning Outcome: 3-2 Describe the roles and responsibilities of nurses
regarding safe drug administration.
MNL Learning Outcome: 3.1 Recognize the nurse's role, responsibilities,
and safe practices when providing care to patients receiving
pharmacotherapy.
2) A nurse is preparing medications prior to administration. To promote
client safety, the nurse uses the "rights" of drug administration. What do
these "rights" include?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices
are selected. Select all that apply.
1. The right medication
2. The right time of delivery
3. The right dose
4. The right route of administration
5. The right nurse - Correct Answers 1, 2, 3, 4
Explanation:
1. The right medication is an essential consideration of medication
administration and is considered one of the five rights.
2. The right time of delivery is an essential consideration of medication
administration and is considered one of the five rights.
3. The right dose is an essential consideration of medication administration
and is considered one of the five rights.
4. The right route of delivery is an essential consideration of medication
administration and is considered one of the five rights.
5. The right nurse is not one of the listed rights of medication delivery.
Page Ref: 21
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need/Sub: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral
Therapies
Standards: QSEN Competencies: V.B.1 Demonstrate effective use of
technology and standardized practices that support safety and quality. |
AACN Essential Competencies: IX.12 Create a safe environment that
results in high quality patient outcomes. | NLN Competencies: Quality and
Safety: Current best practices. | Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing
Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 3-3 Explain how the five rights of drug administration
affect patient safety.
,MNL Learning Outcome: 3.1 Recognize the nurse's role, responsibilities,
and safe practices when providing care to patients receiving
pharmacotherapy.
3) A nurse is concerned that a client has not been taking the prescribed
antihypertensive medication because the patient's blood pressure remains
elevated. What is the best therapeutic response by the nurse?
1. "Taking medication can be difficult for some people. What are some of
your concerns about the medication?"
2. "Your blood pressure is really high; do you realize the serious
consequences of not taking your medication?"
3. "I really doubt that you are taking your medication. What would you think
about talking to the physician?"
4. "You are one of my favorite patients and I want you to be safe. Are you
really taking your medication?" - Correct Answers 1
Explanation:
1. The most therapeutic question informs the patient that compliance is
difficult for many people, and does not directly challenge the patient about
not taking the medication.
2. Telling the patient his blood pressure is high and there are serious
consequences is using the "scare tactic," and is nontherapeutic; the patient
most likely is aware of the consequences.
3. Telling the patient that the nurse doubts they are taking the medication is
a direct challenge, and recommending that the patient see the physician is
threatening.
4. Telling the patient that he is a favorite is manipulating.
Page Ref: 21
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need/Sub: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral
Therapies
Standards: QSEN Competencies: I.B.1 Elicit patient values, preferences,
and expressed needs as part of clinical interview, implementation of care
plan, and evaluation of care. | AACN Essential Competencies: IX.5 Deliver
compassionate, patient-centered, evidence-based care that respects
patient and family preferences. | NLN Competencies: Relationship-
Centered Care: Respect the patient's dignity, uniqueness, integrity, and
self-determination, and his or her own power and self-healing process. |
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: 3-4 Give specific examples of how nurses can increase
patient adherence in taking medications.
, MNL Learning Outcome: 3.1 Recognize the nurse's role, responsibilities,
and safe practices when providing care to patients receiving
pharmacotherapy.
4) The patient is having chest pain. The physician orders sublingual
nitroglycerine STAT. The nurse obtains the medication from the pharmacy
and administers it to the patient 30 minutes later. Which statement best
describes the nurse's action?
1. The medication should have been administered immediately.
2. The physician should have specified the time frame for the medication.
3. The medication should have been administered within a 5-minute time
frame.
4. The nursing action was correct because the medication was not on the
unit. - Correct Answers 3
Explanation:
1. Although the drug does not need to be administered immediately, there
is a time limit in which it should be administered.
2. For a STAT order, the time frame between writing the order and
administering the drug should be 5 minutes or less. Not having a drug on
the unit is not an excuse, as commonly ordered STAT medications should
be kept in stock. Although the drug does not need to be administered
immediately, it should be done within 5 minutes. By using the abbreviation
STAT, the physician has specified the time frame for the medication.
3. For a STAT order, the time frame between writing the order and
administering the drug should be 5 minutes or less.
4. Not having a drug on the unit is not an excuse, as commonly ordered
STAT medications should be kept in stock.
Page Ref: 22
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need/Sub: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral
Therapies
Standards: QSEN Competencies: V.B.1 Demonstrate effective use of
technology and standardized practices that support safety and quality. |
AACN Essential Competencies: IX.3 Implement holistic, patient-centered
care that reflects an understanding of human growth and development,
pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical management, and nursing
management across the health-illness continuum, across lifespan, and in
all healthcare settings. | NLN Competencies: Quality and Safety: Current
best practices. | Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: 3-5 Interpret drug orders that contain abbreviations.
of Drug Administration Questions, Answers and
Rationales.
1) A nurse is preparing to administer several medications for a client. The
nurse is responsible for understanding which of the following regarding
medication administration?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices
are selected. Select all that apply.
1. Cost of the medication
2. Reason the medication was prescribed
3. Route of administration
4. How the medication is supplied by the pharmacy
5. Name of the medication - Correct Answers 2, 3, 4, 5
Explanation:
1. Although the cost of a medication may lead to noncompliance at home, it
is not a factor when administering medications in a healthcare facility.
2. Knowing the reason the medication was prescribed for the patient is the
responsibility of the nurse regarding medication administration.
3. Knowing how the medication is to be administered is the responsibility of
the nurse regarding medication administration.
4. Knowing how the medication is supplied by the pharmacy is the
responsibility of the nurse regarding medication administration.
5. Knowing the name of the medication is the responsibility of the nurse
regarding medication administration.
Page Ref: 20
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need/Sub: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral
Therapies
Standards: QSEN Competencies: V.B.1 Demonstrate effective use of
technology and standardized practices that support safety and quality. |
AACN Essential Competencies: IX.3 Implement holistic, patient-centered
care that reflects an understanding of human growth and development,
pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical management, and nursing
management across the health-illness continuum, across lifespan, and in
all healthcare settings. | NLN Competencies: Quality and Safety: Current
best practices. | Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
,Learning Outcome: 3-2 Describe the roles and responsibilities of nurses
regarding safe drug administration.
MNL Learning Outcome: 3.1 Recognize the nurse's role, responsibilities,
and safe practices when providing care to patients receiving
pharmacotherapy.
2) A nurse is preparing medications prior to administration. To promote
client safety, the nurse uses the "rights" of drug administration. What do
these "rights" include?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices
are selected. Select all that apply.
1. The right medication
2. The right time of delivery
3. The right dose
4. The right route of administration
5. The right nurse - Correct Answers 1, 2, 3, 4
Explanation:
1. The right medication is an essential consideration of medication
administration and is considered one of the five rights.
2. The right time of delivery is an essential consideration of medication
administration and is considered one of the five rights.
3. The right dose is an essential consideration of medication administration
and is considered one of the five rights.
4. The right route of delivery is an essential consideration of medication
administration and is considered one of the five rights.
5. The right nurse is not one of the listed rights of medication delivery.
Page Ref: 21
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need/Sub: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral
Therapies
Standards: QSEN Competencies: V.B.1 Demonstrate effective use of
technology and standardized practices that support safety and quality. |
AACN Essential Competencies: IX.12 Create a safe environment that
results in high quality patient outcomes. | NLN Competencies: Quality and
Safety: Current best practices. | Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing
Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 3-3 Explain how the five rights of drug administration
affect patient safety.
,MNL Learning Outcome: 3.1 Recognize the nurse's role, responsibilities,
and safe practices when providing care to patients receiving
pharmacotherapy.
3) A nurse is concerned that a client has not been taking the prescribed
antihypertensive medication because the patient's blood pressure remains
elevated. What is the best therapeutic response by the nurse?
1. "Taking medication can be difficult for some people. What are some of
your concerns about the medication?"
2. "Your blood pressure is really high; do you realize the serious
consequences of not taking your medication?"
3. "I really doubt that you are taking your medication. What would you think
about talking to the physician?"
4. "You are one of my favorite patients and I want you to be safe. Are you
really taking your medication?" - Correct Answers 1
Explanation:
1. The most therapeutic question informs the patient that compliance is
difficult for many people, and does not directly challenge the patient about
not taking the medication.
2. Telling the patient his blood pressure is high and there are serious
consequences is using the "scare tactic," and is nontherapeutic; the patient
most likely is aware of the consequences.
3. Telling the patient that the nurse doubts they are taking the medication is
a direct challenge, and recommending that the patient see the physician is
threatening.
4. Telling the patient that he is a favorite is manipulating.
Page Ref: 21
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need/Sub: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral
Therapies
Standards: QSEN Competencies: I.B.1 Elicit patient values, preferences,
and expressed needs as part of clinical interview, implementation of care
plan, and evaluation of care. | AACN Essential Competencies: IX.5 Deliver
compassionate, patient-centered, evidence-based care that respects
patient and family preferences. | NLN Competencies: Relationship-
Centered Care: Respect the patient's dignity, uniqueness, integrity, and
self-determination, and his or her own power and self-healing process. |
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: 3-4 Give specific examples of how nurses can increase
patient adherence in taking medications.
, MNL Learning Outcome: 3.1 Recognize the nurse's role, responsibilities,
and safe practices when providing care to patients receiving
pharmacotherapy.
4) The patient is having chest pain. The physician orders sublingual
nitroglycerine STAT. The nurse obtains the medication from the pharmacy
and administers it to the patient 30 minutes later. Which statement best
describes the nurse's action?
1. The medication should have been administered immediately.
2. The physician should have specified the time frame for the medication.
3. The medication should have been administered within a 5-minute time
frame.
4. The nursing action was correct because the medication was not on the
unit. - Correct Answers 3
Explanation:
1. Although the drug does not need to be administered immediately, there
is a time limit in which it should be administered.
2. For a STAT order, the time frame between writing the order and
administering the drug should be 5 minutes or less. Not having a drug on
the unit is not an excuse, as commonly ordered STAT medications should
be kept in stock. Although the drug does not need to be administered
immediately, it should be done within 5 minutes. By using the abbreviation
STAT, the physician has specified the time frame for the medication.
3. For a STAT order, the time frame between writing the order and
administering the drug should be 5 minutes or less.
4. Not having a drug on the unit is not an excuse, as commonly ordered
STAT medications should be kept in stock.
Page Ref: 22
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need/Sub: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral
Therapies
Standards: QSEN Competencies: V.B.1 Demonstrate effective use of
technology and standardized practices that support safety and quality. |
AACN Essential Competencies: IX.3 Implement holistic, patient-centered
care that reflects an understanding of human growth and development,
pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical management, and nursing
management across the health-illness continuum, across lifespan, and in
all healthcare settings. | NLN Competencies: Quality and Safety: Current
best practices. | Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: 3-5 Interpret drug orders that contain abbreviations.
