Chapter 3- Drug Administration
1. A patient located on a medical–surgical unit has an order to receive ampicillin 500 mg PO tid ac. Which of the
... [Show More] following medication administration schedules would be best for a medication ordered tid ac?
A) 4 AM, 12 noon, 8 PM
B) 7 AM, 11 AM, 6 PM
C) 7 AM., 1 PM, 8 PM
D) 8 AM, 12 noon, 4 PM, 8 PM
Ans: B
Feedback:
The ampicillin is ordered for three times a day (tid) and before meals (ac). Most meals in the hospital are served at 8 AM, 12 PM, and 5 PM, and means that the medication would be taken on an empty stomach, which is usually why medications are ordered ac. The 6 PM time would be 1 hour after eating and would allow time for the stomach to empty prior to drug administration. Most often tid medication administration schedules are limited to hours awake, so the later hours would not be appropriate for a three times a day before meals schedule.
2. A mother brings her 4-year-old child, who is vomiting and has a temperature of 103°F into the emergency department (ED). The ED physician orders acetaminophen (Tylenol) for the fever. The best form of Tylenol to give the child, considering her presentation, would be
A) liquid.
B) lozenge.
C) tablet.
D) suppository.
Ans: D
Feedback:
If the child is vomiting, drug administration via a liquid, lozenge, or tablet would not be appropriate. Aspiration or losing the medication through vomitus or coughing would be a concern. The nurse would administer the medication by the rectal route using a suppository.
3. A nurse has received an order to administer a drug intravenously over a 60-minute period in a patient with NS running at TKO. The nurse should gather supplies and prepare to administer the drug by
A) intravenous piggyback (IVPB).
B) intravenous push (IVP).
C) peripherally inserted central line (PIC).
D) continuous IV infusion.
Ans: A
Feedback:
An IVPB delivers a drug that has been diluted in a small volume of IV solution and infused over 30 to 90 minutes. An IVP involves pushing a very small amount of solution into a vein very slowly over at least 1 minute. A PIC is a central access device inserted
in a vein, either jugular or subclavian, near the heart to allow for drug administration and is only a route of drug administration. A continuous IV infusion is ordered to maintain a maximum therapeutic effect and is given continuously over a designated time.
4. A nurse has received an order to administer a TB skin test. The nurse will inform the patient that TB skin tests are most often given subcutaneously in the
A) left thigh.
B) medial forearm.
C) abdomen.
D) buttocks.
Ans: B
Feedback:
The medial forearm or the back over the scapula area are the most common sites for an intradermal injection because the skin is thinner in these areas. The other areas would not be appropriate.
5. An unconscious patient has been brought to the hospital, and the physician has prescribed a life-saving drug to be administered parenterally. Which of the following methods would be the most appropriate for the nurse to use when administering the medication?
A) Intravenous infusion.
B) Subcutaneous administration.
C) Intrathecal administration.
D) Intramuscular administration.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Intravenous infusion is the preferred method for use in emergency situations when rapid drug effects are desired. Absorption is considered to be instantaneous, as the drug is placed directly into the bloodstream. The subcutaneous and intramuscular routes could be used but would not ensure rapid drug effects. Intrathecal administration is usually done by a physician or a specially trained health care provider. [Show Less]