,Chapter 01 — Pharmacology and the
Nursing Process in LPN Practice
Section: THE LPN/VN’S ROLE AND THE NURSING PROCESS
Subsection: USING THE CLINICAL JUDGMENT MODEL
Stem: A patient is prescribed a new oral antihypertensive at
0800. Before administering the dose the LPN measures the
patient’s blood pressure and obtains 90/58 mm Hg. What is
the LPN’s best action?
A. Give the medication as ordered and recheck BP in 30
minutes.
B. Hold the medication, document the blood pressure, and
notify the supervising RN/physician.
C. Give half the dose now and the remainder in 4 hours.
D. Ask the patient if they feel dizzy and then decide whether
to give the medication.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales — Correct: Holding the antihypertensive and
notifying the RN/physician protects the patient from
symptomatic hypotension and follows the nursing process
(assessment → decision/communication). This is appropriate
LPN action when vital signs indicate a contraindication.
A (incorrect): Giving the med risks worsening hypotension
and syncope; rechecking alone is insufficient.
C (incorrect): Splitting doses without an order is unsafe and
violates scope of practice.
,D (incorrect): Asking about dizziness is useful, but subjective
data do not replace objective action to hold medication and
notify prescriber.
Teaching Point: Always hold antihypertensives for
significantly low BP and notify prescriber.
2.
Chapter 01 — Pharmacology and the Nursing Process in LPN
Practice
Section: THE LPN/VN’S ROLE AND THE NURSING PROCESS
Subsection: USING THE CLINICAL JUDGMENT MODEL
Stem: Which of the following most accurately lists the "six
functions" of the Clinical Judgment Model that LPNs use
when making medication decisions?
A. Collect data, plan care, implement care, document,
evaluate, discharge.
B. Recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses,
generate solutions, take actions, evaluate outcomes.
C. Noticing, interpreting, prescribing, administering,
evaluating, reporting.
D. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation,
evaluation, documentation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales — Correct: Option B lists the six measurable
processes used in the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Model, which
, map to nursing decision-making for medication safety.
A (incorrect): These are general nursing process actions but
do not reflect the CJM six cognitive steps.
C (incorrect): "Prescribing" is outside nursing scope; the listed
sequence is inaccurate.
D (incorrect): D is the traditional nursing process; while
related, it does not specify the six clinical judgment functions
required for decision-making.
Teaching Point: Use the six CJM steps to structure medication
decisions.
3.
Chapter 01 — Pharmacology and the Nursing Process in LPN
Practice
Section: THE LPN/VN’S ROLE AND THE NURSING PROCESS
Subsection: USING THE CLINICAL JUDGMENT MODEL
Stem: An LPN is preparing to administer an oral antibiotic.
Which action best represents application of the "recognize
cues" step of the Clinical Judgment Model?
A. Planning when to schedule the next dose.
B. Identifying the patient’s penicillin allergy documented in
the chart.
C. Evaluating whether the antibiotic reduced the fever.
D. Teaching the patient to finish the entire course.
Correct Answer: B
Nursing Process in LPN Practice
Section: THE LPN/VN’S ROLE AND THE NURSING PROCESS
Subsection: USING THE CLINICAL JUDGMENT MODEL
Stem: A patient is prescribed a new oral antihypertensive at
0800. Before administering the dose the LPN measures the
patient’s blood pressure and obtains 90/58 mm Hg. What is
the LPN’s best action?
A. Give the medication as ordered and recheck BP in 30
minutes.
B. Hold the medication, document the blood pressure, and
notify the supervising RN/physician.
C. Give half the dose now and the remainder in 4 hours.
D. Ask the patient if they feel dizzy and then decide whether
to give the medication.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales — Correct: Holding the antihypertensive and
notifying the RN/physician protects the patient from
symptomatic hypotension and follows the nursing process
(assessment → decision/communication). This is appropriate
LPN action when vital signs indicate a contraindication.
A (incorrect): Giving the med risks worsening hypotension
and syncope; rechecking alone is insufficient.
C (incorrect): Splitting doses without an order is unsafe and
violates scope of practice.
,D (incorrect): Asking about dizziness is useful, but subjective
data do not replace objective action to hold medication and
notify prescriber.
Teaching Point: Always hold antihypertensives for
significantly low BP and notify prescriber.
2.
Chapter 01 — Pharmacology and the Nursing Process in LPN
Practice
Section: THE LPN/VN’S ROLE AND THE NURSING PROCESS
Subsection: USING THE CLINICAL JUDGMENT MODEL
Stem: Which of the following most accurately lists the "six
functions" of the Clinical Judgment Model that LPNs use
when making medication decisions?
A. Collect data, plan care, implement care, document,
evaluate, discharge.
B. Recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses,
generate solutions, take actions, evaluate outcomes.
C. Noticing, interpreting, prescribing, administering,
evaluating, reporting.
D. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation,
evaluation, documentation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales — Correct: Option B lists the six measurable
processes used in the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Model, which
, map to nursing decision-making for medication safety.
A (incorrect): These are general nursing process actions but
do not reflect the CJM six cognitive steps.
C (incorrect): "Prescribing" is outside nursing scope; the listed
sequence is inaccurate.
D (incorrect): D is the traditional nursing process; while
related, it does not specify the six clinical judgment functions
required for decision-making.
Teaching Point: Use the six CJM steps to structure medication
decisions.
3.
Chapter 01 — Pharmacology and the Nursing Process in LPN
Practice
Section: THE LPN/VN’S ROLE AND THE NURSING PROCESS
Subsection: USING THE CLINICAL JUDGMENT MODEL
Stem: An LPN is preparing to administer an oral antibiotic.
Which action best represents application of the "recognize
cues" step of the Clinical Judgment Model?
A. Planning when to schedule the next dose.
B. Identifying the patient’s penicillin allergy documented in
the chart.
C. Evaluating whether the antibiotic reduced the fever.
D. Teaching the patient to finish the entire course.
Correct Answer: B
