The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner evaluates an 80-year-old patient with cognitive deficits, who is unaccompanied by the adult child who typically is present. The patient has urinary symptoms, for which the nurse practitioner considers ordering sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim). The patient’s previous medical record is unavailable. Before prescribing the medication, the nurse practitioner:

The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner evaluates an 80-year-old patient with cognitive deficits, who is unaccompanied by the adult child who typically is present. The patient has urinary symptoms, for which the nurse practitioner considers ordering sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim). The patient’s previous medical record is unavailable. Before prescribing the medication, the nurse practitioner:

A nurse is giving an enteral medication. The patient asks why this method is preferable for this drug. How will the nurse reply?

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 patient is brought to the emergency department in a state of extreme, uncontrolled anxiety. Why would an IV (Intravenous) benzodiazepine be the drug of choice in this situation?

The prescriber orders atenolol (Tenormin) 25 mg to be given orally once a day to control a patient’s high blood pressure. The nurse takes the patient’s vital signs and finds that the blood pressure is $128 / 80 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}$ and the heart rate is 60 beats per minute. What does the nurse do first before giving this drug?