The physician orders the antibiotics ampicillin (Omnipen) and gentamicin (Garamycin) for a newly admitted client with an infection. The nurse should:
- A. administer both medications simultaneously.
- B. give the medications sequentially, and flush well between them.
- C. ask the physician or pharmacy which medication to give first and how long to wait before giving the other drug.
- D. start one medication now and begin the other medication in 2-4 hours.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A client with an infection needs both antibiotics as soon as possible. However, the pH of ampicillin is 8-10, and the pH of gentamicin is 3-5.5 (making them incompatible when given together). Flushing well between drugs is necessary.
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A client asks the nurse what risk factors increase the chances of getting skin cancer. The risk factors include all except:
- A. Light or fair complexion
- B. Exposure to sun for great periods of time
- C. Certain diet and foods
- D. History of bad sunburns
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diet and foods are not established risk factors for skin cancer, unlike fair complexion, sun exposure, and history of sunburns.
A 50 milliliter (ml) bolus of normal saline fluid is ordered by the physician. The physician wants it to infuse in 30 minutes. The nurse should set the pump rate at:
- A. 100 ml per hour for one hour.
- B. 60 ml per hour for one-half hour.
- C. 120 ml per hour for one hour.
- D. 50 ml per hour for one hour.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: One hundred ml in one hour equals 50 ml in 30 minutes, which is what the physician prescribed. Choice 2 is 10 ml more than the physician prescribed for 30 minutes. Choice 3 is the same as Choice 2; it is 10 ml more than the physician prescribed for 30 minutes. Choice 4 only provides 25 ml over 30 minutes, or half the volume prescribed.
Which of the following substances need to be assessed when completing a family health assessment?
- A. coffee, tea, cola, and cocoa
- B. alcohol, tobacco, and illegal substances
- C. medicines prescribed by a physician
- D. all of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When assessing drug, alcohol, and tobacco practices among family members, a thorough investigation of prescribed, over-the-counter, and illegal substance-use practices should be made.
A mother brings her 1-year-old child to the clinic. The child has no record of previous immunizations, and the mother confirms the child has not been immunized. Teaching by the nurse should include which of the following?
- A. Immunizations may be started at any age.
- B. The recommended immunization schedule must be followed exactly.
- C. If a primary series of immunizations is interrupted, the series must be restarted.
- D. This child is at increased risk for reaction to the vaccines, when they are started.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: While a recommended immunization schedule exists, immunizations may be started at any age. An interrupted series may be continued and need not be restarted. There is no increased risk for reaction to vaccines due to delay.
What action should the nurse take?
- A. Reassure patient that pain is normal following surgery.
- B. Administer pm Nifedipine and assess client's response.
- C. Administer pm Meperidine HCL and assess client's response.
- D. Recheck BP and pulse rate every 20 minutes for the next hour.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A sinus tachycardia is a physiological response to pain. Treating the cause of the increased pulse rate requires pain medication.