Nursing Process Questions Related

Review Nursing Process Questions related questions and content

The standing orders for a patient include acetaminophen 650 mg every 4 hours prn for headache. After assessing the patient, the nurse identifies the need for headache relief and determines that the patient has not had acetaminophen in the past 4 hours. Which action will the nurse take next?

  • A. Administer the acetaminophen.
  • B. Notify the health care provider to obtain a verbal order.
  • C. Direct the nursing assistive personnel to give the acetaminophen.
  • D. Perform a pain assessment only after administering the acetaminophen.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer the acetaminophen. The rationale is as follows:
1. The patient has a standing order for acetaminjson for headache relief.
2. The nurse has assessed that the patient needs headache relief and has not had the medication in the past 4 hours.
3. Administering the acetaminophen aligns with the prescribed treatment plan and the patient's needs.

Summary:
- Option B is incorrect because obtaining a verbal order is not necessary when there is a standing order.
- Option C is incorrect as nursing assistive personnel should not administer medications without direct supervision.
- Option D is incorrect as pain assessment should precede medication administration to ensure appropriateness.