Question 1

The nurse is to administer 15 mg of morphine liquid to the patient. How much morphine liquid will the nurse draw up to administer to the patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   0.5 mL
B)   0.75 mL
C)   1.3 mL
D)   1.5 mL B

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving vancomycin (Vancocin) to treat a severe infection. The next dose is due to be administered at 10:00 a.m. What time will the nurse draw the vancomycin serum trough level?

Accepted Answer

A)   7:30 a.m.
B)   9:30 a.m.
C)   11:30 a.m.
D)   1:30 p.m. B

Question 3

When administering phenytoin (Dilantin) through the patient's IV line, the nurse carefully flushes the IV with normal saline before and afterward to avoid crystal formation of the medication that occurs when it mixes with dextrose in water (D5W) solution. Which type of drug interaction is the nurse being careful to avoid?

Accepted Answer

A)   Antagonism
B)   Potentiation
C)   Synergism
D)   Incompatibility D

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a patient who will self-administer medication injections at home after discharge. How can the nurse best determine that the patient understands the technique and can administer the injections correctly?

Accepted Answer

A)   Provide written instructions about how to administer the injections.
B)   Watch the patient self-administer an injection.
C)   Call the patient the next day to ask if there is any difficulty with administering the injections.
D)   Ask the patient to express understanding as to how to administer the injections.

Question 5

The nurse makes a medication error. Which action will the nurse take first?

Accepted Answer

A)   Prepare an incident report.
B)   Explain to the patient that a medication error has occurred.
C)   Assess the patient for any adverse reactions.
D)   Document the medication given, the response, and corrective actions taken.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient who was just made NPO. The nurse is to administer carvedilol (Coreg) 25 mg PO to the patient for control of high blood pressure. What is the best action of the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Crush the medication and administer it to the patient mixed with applesauce.
B)   Administer the medication to the patient with a small sip of water.
C)   Contact the patient's provider to clarify the order.
D)   Administer the equivalent medication dose through the patient's IV.

Question 7

The nurse administers a medication to the patient. Which symptoms indicate to the nurse that the patient is having an allergic reaction rather than a side effect?

Accepted Answer

A)   Hair loss and sweaty skin
B)   Nausea and constipation
C)   Heartburn and nasty taste in the mouth
D)   Itchy rash and difficulty breathing

Question 8

The nurse is noting an order for a medication to be given TID. Which times will the nurse plan to administer the medication to the patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   9 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m.
B)   9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
C)   9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m.
D)   Nightly before the patient goes to sleep

Question 9

After administering an antibiotic to the patient, the nurse notes the patient complaining of feeling ill, is scratching and has hives. The patient soon starts having difficulty breathing and is hypotensive. What is the nurse's assessment of the situation?

Accepted Answer

A)   The patient is having a mild allergic reaction and an antihistamine will make the patient feel better.
B)   The patient is having an anaphylactic reaction and epinephrine should be administered right away.
C)   The patient's infection is worsening and progressing to septic shock so blood cultures should be drawn.
D)   The patient has developed toxic shock syndrome and the antibiotic orders must be changed right away.

Question 10

The nurse is caring for a patient who is in agonizing pain. All the following options are listed on the patient's medication order sheet to relive pain. The nurse knows which option that will provide the most rapid pain relief for the patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   Morphine (MSContin)  10 mg PO
B)   Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)  1 mg IV push
C)   Meperidine (Demerol)  75 mg IM
D)   Fentanyl (Duragesic)  50 mcg transdermal patch

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a patient who is NPO with a new PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube. Which of the patient's medications can the nurse administer through the tube?

Accepted Answer

A)   Zolpidem tartrate (Edluar)  sublingual tablet 5 mg nightly at bedtime
B)   Ondansetron (Zofran)  oral disintegrating tablet 8 mg q 8 hours PRN nausea
C)   Cefaclor (Ceclor)  for oral suspension 250 mg q 6 hours
D)   Oxymorphone hydrochloride extended release (Opana ER)  40 mg q 12 hours
E)   Phenytoin (Dilantin)  chewable tablet 100 mg q 12 hoursF)  Potassium chloride oral solution 20 mEq daily

Question 12

The nurse prepares to administer the following medication to the patient. Which instruction will the nurse be sure to give before the patient takes the medication?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Be sure to swallow the pill whole."
B)   "Crush the medication and place the powder in applesauce."
C)   "Place the pill under your tongue."
D)   "Let the pill slowly dissolve in your mouth."

Question 13

The nurse carefully reviews the patient's medication list. Which observation about the list indicates the highest risk for serious drug-drug interactions?

Accepted Answer

A)   The patient has been taking the same medications for a long time.
B)   The patient is taking a large number of medications.
C)   Most of the drugs on the list are prescribed at high doses.
D)   The patient takes oral, injected, and inhaled medications.

Question 14

The nurse is to administer 1 mL of prochlorperazine (Compazine) 10 mg IM to an adult patient. Which syringe will the nurse select to administer the medication?

Accepted Answer

A)   1 mL tuberculin syringe with 27 gauge, 1/2 inch needle
B)   3 mL syringe with 23 gauge, 1 1/2 inch needle
C)   1 mL syringe with 27 gauge, 5/8 inch needle
D)   3 mL syringe with 18 gauge, 1 inch needle

Question 15

The nurse begins a shift on a busy medical-surgical unit and will be caring for multiple patients. Which patient does the nurse assess first?

Accepted Answer

A)   A patient who would like some acetaminophen (Tylenol)  for a mild headache.
B)   A patient who has a question about her daily medications.
C)   A patient who needs discharge teaching about an antibiotic.
D)   A patient who just received nitroglycerin for chest pain.

Question 16

The nurse administers a medication to a patient. Shortly afterward, the patient develops an itchy rash over the entire body and reports feeling very unwell. What is the priority action of the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)   Leave the patient to notify the provider and the pharmacist.
B)   Determine if the patient is having any difficulty breathing.
C)   Document the reaction in the patient's chart.
D)   Obtain an order for hydrocortisone cream to relieve the itching.

Question 17

The nurse suspects that the patient is experiencing a drug toxicity rather than a side effect. Which question will the nurse ask to help confirm this suspicion?

Accepted Answer

A)   "When did you take your last dose of the medication?"
B)   "Have you been taking extra doses of the medication?"
C)   "Are you taking any other medications?"
D)   "Have you ever taken this medication in the past?"

Question 18

The nurse is caring for a patient with multiple chronic illnesses who is having difficulty remembering to take multiple medications at the correct times. Which is the appropriate Nursing diagnosis for this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   Activity intolerance related to inability to take medications on time
B)   Impaired health maintenance related to complexity of medication schedule
C)   Risk for aspiration related to need to swallow many pills during day
D)   Powerlessness related to inability to figure out medication dose times

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a patient who takes 6 tablets of methotrexate once every week on Fridays. How many mg of methotrexate does the patient take per dose?

Accepted Answer

A)   10 mg
B)   15 mg
C)   20 mg
D)   25 mg

Question 20

The nurse identifies which medications that are to be administered via parenteral routes?

Accepted Answer

A)   Bisacodyl (Dulcolax)  10 mg suppository daily PRN constipation
B)   Prochlroperazine (Compazine)  10 mg IM q 6 hours PRN nausea
C)   Brimonidine (Alphagan)  0.1% solution 2 drops to each eye daily
D)   Proventil (Ventolin)  inhaler 2 puffs as needed for shortness of breath
E)   Fentanyl (Duragesic)  50 mcg transdermal patch apply every 72 hoursF)  Insulin lispro (Humalog)  insulin 15 units subcutaneously ac meals

Exam 35: Medication Administration