Exam 7: Adverse Drug Reactions and Medication Errors

Which actions occur in 90% of fatal medication errors?

A nursing student is preparing to give a medication that has a boxed warning. The student asks the nurse what this means. What will the nurse explain about boxed warnings?

A nurse is preparing to give an antibiotic to a patient who reports being allergic to antibiotics. Before giving the medication, what will the nurse do first?

A nurse is reviewing a medication administration record before administering medications. Which order will the nurse implement?

A patient is being discharged after surgery. During the admission history, the nurse learned that the patient normally consumes 2 or 3 glasses of wine each day. The prescriber has ordered hydrocodone with acetaminophen [Lortab] for pain. What will the nurse do?

A patient is given a drug for the first time and develops shortness of breath. The patient's heart rate is 76 beats/min, the respiratory rate is 20 breaths per minute, and the blood pressure is 120/70 mm Hg. The nurse checks a drug administration manual to make sure the correct dose was given and learns that some patients taking the drug experience shortness of breath. The nurse will contact the provider to report what?

A nurse provides teaching to a patient who will begin taking a drug with a known risk of hepatotoxicity. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

A patient is taking sertraline [Zoloft] for depression, and the provider orders azithromycin [Zithromax] to treat an infection. What will the nurse do?

A patient is given a new medication and reports nausea within an hour after taking the drug. The nurse consults the drug information manual and learns that nausea is not an expected adverse effect of this drug. When the next dose is due, what will the nurse do?

Which are effective ways to help prevent medication errors?

A nurse is preparing to administer a drug. Upon reading the medication guide, the nurse notes that the drug has been linked to symptoms of Parkinson disease in some patients. What will the nurse do?

A patient is taking a drug that has known toxic side effects. What will the nurse do?

Which patients are at increased risk for adverse drug events?