What action is most appropriate when a nurse receives a STAT...

What action is most appropriate when a nurse receives a STAT medication order?

A. Insist on obtaining a written report before administering any drug
B. Administer the drug as ordered by the physician
C. Forgo obtaining the physician's order after the drug has been administered
D. Document the administration of the drug only after receiving the physician's order

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The nurse should administer the drug as instructed without a written order as it is an emergency. The nurse should, however, ensure that the physician's order is obtained after the drug has been administered. Waiting for a written order during an emergency may exacerbate the patient's condition. The nurse should complete the documentation immediately after the administration of the drug and not wait until the physician's order is received.

You may also like to solve these questions

What action is most important to minimize tissue damage when administering subcutaneous heparin?

A. Insert the needle at the appropriate angle
B. Select the needle length based on the patient's weight
C. Ensure that there is no hair on the injection site
D. Rotate the injection site regularly

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The nurse should rotate the injection sites to minimize the damage caused to the tissue. Inserting the needle at the proper angle and selecting the needle length based on the patient's weight will not significantly help in minimizing tissue damage if the same site is repeatedly injected. It is not necessary to avoid injection sites that have hair as long as the drug is administered in the upper arms, the upper abdomen, and the upper back.

Prior to administering a prescribed drug, how should the nurse correctly identify the client? Select all that apply.

A. Checking a client's name on his or her wristband
B. Checking a client's chart
C. Asking the client to identify himself or herself and give his or her birth date
D. Using a current picture of the client if available

Correct Answer: A,C,E

Rationale: Client identifiers can include visual and verbal methods. Visual methods include use of a recent picture of the client or client wristband. Verbal methods include asking the client for his or her name and another unique identifier, such as his or her birth date. Never ask a client, 'Are you Mr. Jones?' because some clients may respond by answering 'yes' even though that is not their name due to confusion or difficulty hearing. Checking the client's chart would be inappropriate to use for identifying the client.

When documenting, which abbreviations are appropriate for use in accredited healthcare organizations? Select all that apply.

A. IU
B. QD
C. 0.2 mg
D. Units

Correct Answer: C,D

Rationale: Always use a leading zero when writing decimals (i.e., 0.2 mg, not .2 mg) and leave off the trailing zero (i.e., 2 mg, not 2.0 mg). Always write out units, international units, and daily; do not use U, IU, or QD.

What actions can nurses take to help prevent drug errors? Select all that apply.

A. Rechecking all calculations
B. Always administering the drug before answering any of the client's questions
C. Avoiding distractions and concentrating on only one task at a time
D. Confirming any questionable orders
E. Practicing the five+ 1 rights of drug administration

Correct Answer: A,C,D,E

Rationale: In addition to following the five+ 1 rights of drug administration, a nurse can employ the following strategies to aid in the prevention of drug errors: confirm any questionable orders; when calculations are necessary, verify them with another nurse; listen to the client when he or she questions a drug, the dosage, or the drug regimen; never administer the drug until the client's questions have been adequately researched; and avoid distractions and concentrate on only one task at a time.

What is most important for the nurse to do before giving a drug for the first time?

A. Obtain the patient's allergy history
B. Obtain information about the drug
C. Inquire if the patient has any objections to syringes
D. Discuss the dosage with other nurses

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Before giving any drug for the first time, the nurse should ask the patient about any known allergies as well as any family history of allergies. The nurse need not particularly obtain information about the drug as it has been prescribed by the physician, but needs to be aware of the adverse effects it may cause. There is also no need to discuss the dosage with other nurses or to find out if the client has any objections to syringes. However, the nurse should help allay the patient's fears by reassuring him or her about the administration.