ATI LPN
Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Person-Centered Care Tenth, North American Edition
Chapter 30 : Medications Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is administering enoxaparin subcutaneously using the manufacturer's prefilled syringe. Which action reflects correct practice?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Enoxaparin should be administered in the alternating 'left and right anterolateral and left and right posterolateral abdominal wall[s].' Air, inserted by the manufacturer, should not be expelled prior to use. As this is a low-molecular-weight heparin, do not massage the area to prevent bruising. Recapping any syringe places the nurse at risk for needlestick injury and is not recommended.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is administering medications to an older adult with dysphagia. After crushing the pills, which action is most appropriate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Older adults may have difficulty swallowing medications and may find it easier to take their medications when crushed or given in liquid form. Combine the crushed medication with a small amount of soft food, such as applesauce or pudding; 120 mL or a bowl of pudding is a large amount; should the patient not finish all the food, an accurate assessment of medication taken cannot be assessed. Only medications designated as chewable can be used in this way.
Question 3 of 5
A patient experiencing chest pain asks the nurse why a nitroglycerin tablet must be placed under their tongue instead of swallowed. Which answer by the nurse is appropriate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Drugs with extensive or variable first-pass effects, such as nitroglycerin, are not given orally because most of the drug would be destroyed by the liver, with little or no drug left to work in the body. Sublingual medications should not be swallowed, but rather held in place so that complete absorption can occur. Before administering a sublingual or buccal drug, offer the patient water (if permitted) or oral care (if NPO). Placing a tablet between the cheek and gum is consistent with the buccal route of administration, not sublingual. Enteric-coated tablets are designed to dissolve after passing through the stomach.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse in the pediatric unit of an acute care hospital is awaiting a prescription for antibiotics for a toddler with a severe infection. Which information about the child is essential to document immediately?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Drug doses for children are calculated by weight in kilograms or BSA. The weight is needed for the provider to write the prescription.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse in a pediatric practice teaches the mother of a toddler to administer antibiotic ear drops. What education by the nurse is correct?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For children ages 3 years and younger, the nurse teaches the parent or caregiver to pull the pinna down and back to straighten the auditory canal, then instill the medication. For adults, the pinna is pulled up and back; for school-age children, the pinna is pulled straight back. The nurse does not insert cotton swabs in the ear; rather, the nurse can wipe the external ear of drainage, if necessary.