Chapter 07: Adverse Drug Reactions and Medication Errors
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient is given a new medication and reports nausea within an
... [Show More] hour after taking the drug.
The nurse consults the drug information manual and learns that nausea is not an expected
adverse effect of this drug. When the next dose is due, what will the nurse do?
a. Administer the drug and tell the patient to report further nausea.
b. Hold the drug and notify the provider of the patient’s symptoms.
c. Report the symptoms of nausea to the MEDWATCH program.
d. Request an order for an antiemetic to counter this drug’s effects.
ANS: A
Not all adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can be detected during clinical trials, and nurses should
be alert to any effects that may result from drug administration. Because nausea is not a
serious effect and because it is not yet known whether the drug is the cause of this patient’s
nausea, the nurse should administer the medication and observe the patient for recurrence of
the symptom. It is not necessary to hold the drug, because nausea is not a serious side effect.
The MEDWATCH program should be notified when there is a greater suspicion that the drug
may have caused the nausea if the nausea occurs with subsequent doses. Until there is greater
suspicion that the drug actually caused this patient’s nausea, giving an antiemetic is not
indicated.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: pp. 65-66
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
2. A patient is being discharged after surgery. During the admission history, the nurse learned
that the patient normally consumes two or three glasses of wine each day. The prescriber has
ordered hydrocodone with acetaminophen [Lortab] for pain. What will the nurse do?
a. Request an order for acetaminophen without hydrocodone for pain.
b. Suggest that the patient use ibuprofen for pain.
c. Tell the patient not to drink wine while taking Lortab.
d. Tell the patient to limit wine intake to one or two glasses per day.
ANS: C
Combining a hepatotoxic drug with certain other drugs may increase the risk of
hepatotoxicity. When even therapeutic doses of acetaminophen are taken with alcohol, the
acetaminophen can cause liver damage. Patients should be cautioned not to drink alcohol;
even two drinks with acetaminophen can produce this effect. Hydrocodone does not
contribute to hepatotoxicity. Ibuprofen is not indicated for postoperative pain unless the pain
is mild. Limiting wine to one or two glasses per day still increases the risk of hepatotoxicity.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: pp. 63-64
TOP: Nursing Process: Diagnosis
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential [Show Less]