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A comprehensive guide on safe medication administration, focusing on key case studies such as adverse reactions, look-alike medications, medication interactions, pharmacology across the lifespan, polypharmacy, and safe dosage. It offers valuable insights for nurses on how to administer medications safely, minimize errors, and consider physiological changes in older adults.
Typology: Exams
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The nurse is preparing to give the first dose of cefuroxime. What action should the nurse take before giving the medication? In this case, the nurse should check with the patient’s mother/ caregiver if the patient has any allergies, if so, what kind of reactions? The nurse should also verify the medication with at least 3 checks against the MAR. Before administration, the nurse should notify the patient of the purpose of the medication and any common side effects that may occur.
The nurse is performing the first check for safe medication administration prior to administering metronidazole to Ms. Winder. He notes that the label is incorrect. What error did the nurse discover? What steps should the nurse take to minimize the risk of making a medication error? The nurse discovered that the medication ordered was not what was sent from the pharmacy. To minimize the risk of making a medication error the nurse should perform at least 3 checks prior to administration and verify the 6 rights; Right Patient, Right Route, Right Time, Right Drug, Right Dose, and Right Documentation.
What nursing actions should the nurse take to administer medications safely? To administer the medications safely, the nurse should keep distractions to a minimum, double check all calculations, avoid shortcuts, and follow guidelines for safe and accurate preparation and administration such as: perform at least 3 checks prior to administration and verify the 6 rights; Right Patient, Right Route, Right Time, Right Drug, Right Dose, and Right Documentation.
In addition to a cardiac glycoside and diuretic, a provider prescribes an ACE inhibitor to treat a client’s heart failure. The nurse should teach the client that what over-the-counter medications can reduce the effectiveness of the ACE inhibitor? What other interactions with the ACE inhibitor should the nurse teach the client about? The nurse should teach the patient that over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (like acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen) can reduce the effectiveness of the ACE inhibitor. Another interaction the nurse should teach the
client about are salt substitutes, they have potassium, and ACE inhibitors make your body retain potassium.
- Pharmacology Across the Lifespan A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is to undergo total hip arthroplasty. What physiological changes should the nurse consider when administering medications to the client? Physiological changes that the nurse should consider when administering medications to an elderly client is that older adults’ absorption rate, distribution, circulation, excretion, and metabolism of drugs in the liver is usually decreased, so more drug is available in the bloodstream. Therefore, the nurse should keep in mind that the prescribed medication dose may be lower than the average adult. - Polypharmacy How can older adults avoid polypharmacy? What is the nurse’s role in preventing polypharmacy? Older adults can avoid polypharmacy by making sure their primary care provider is aware of every medication they are taking, whether prescription or over-the-counter. They should also consult with their provider when considering any new herbal or dietary supplements. The nurse’s role in preventing polypharmacy is to educate patient on medications they are taking and provide medication reconciliation if warranted. - Safe Dosage The nurse administered acetaminophen to the client for an elevated temperature at 1010. After reviewing the electronic medical record, what potential safety concerns should the nurse be aware of prior to administering other medication(s) to Ms. Goodman? A potential safety concern the nurse should be aware of is that besides the acetaminophen given for temperature > 100.4˚F (38˚C), Ms. Goodman was also ordered Ibuprofen 400mg PO PRN every 6 hr for mild pain. The acetaminophen may reduce the patient’s pain on its own without the need for the ibuprofen.