The nurse is reviewing new medication orders that have been written for a newly admitted patient. The nurse will need to clarify which orders? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Medication orders must be clear, complete, and appropriate for the patient's condition. Orders that include 'as needed' (PRN) medications, such as 'Docusate (Colace) as needed for constipation,' require clarification because they lack specific dosing instructions. The nurse must confirm the frequency, dosage, and indications for PRN medications to ensure safe administration. The other orders (Metformin, Sitagliptin, Simvastatin, and Irbesartan) are complete and do not require clarification. Therefore, the nurse should focus on clarifying the PRN order to avoid errors in medication administration.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The nurse monitors the aPTT to check the effectiveness of heparin therapy in preventing and treating blood clots. Heparin acts by inhibiting the clotting cascade, specifically by enhancing the activity of antithrombin III, which inactivates clotting factors such as thrombin and factor Xa. The aPTT measures the intrinsic pathway of the clotting cascade, which is affected by heparin therapy. By monitoring the patient's aPTT levels, the nurse can ensure that the patient is within the therapeutic range for heparin therapy to be effective in preventing further clot formation. Monitoring bleeding times, PT/INR, or vitamin K levels is not typically done to assess heparin therapy effectiveness.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Packed red blood cells (PRBCs) always require cross-matching to ensure compatibility between the donor and recipient blood types. Cross-matching involves testing the recipient's serum against the donor's red cells to detect antibodies that could cause a transfusion reaction. Granulocytes, platelets, and plasma do not require cross-matching in the same way, although they may undergo other compatibility tests. PRBCs are the most critical to match correctly due to the risk of hemolytic reactions, which can be life-threatening.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Medication orders must be clear, complete, and appropriate for the patient's condition. Orders that include 'as needed' (PRN) medications, such as 'Docusate (Colace) as needed for constipation,' require clarification because they lack specific dosing instructions. The nurse must confirm the frequency, dosage, and indications for PRN medications to ensure safe administration. The other orders (Metformin, Sitagliptin, Simvastatin, and Irbesartan) are complete and do not require clarification. Therefore, the nurse should focus on clarifying the PRN order to avoid errors in medication administration.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Salmeterol improves asthma as a long-acting β2-agonist , relaxing bronchial smooth muscle for 12 hours. β1 agonism (A, C) affects the heart. β1 antagonism or β2 antagonism (E) worsen asthma. Salmeterol's specificity enhances control.