A geriatric patient received a narcotic analgesic before leaving the post-anesthesia care unit to return to the regular unit.
What is the priority nursing action for the nurse receiving the patient on the regular unit?
Administer a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Put side rails up and place bed in the lowest position.
Encourage fluids.
Create a restful dark environment.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Administering a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is not a priority action for a patient who has received a narcotic analgesic. The priority should be to ensure the patient’s safety and prevent falls, which can occur due to the sedative effects of narcotics.
Choice B rationale
Putting side rails up and placing the bed in the lowest position is essential for patient safety. Narcotics can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and impaired coordination, increasing the risk of falls. Ensuring the bed is in the lowest position and side rails are up helps prevent injury if the patient tries to get up.
Choice C rationale
Encouraging fluids is beneficial for many patients, but it is not the priority action when a patient has received a narcotic analgesic. Hydration is important but secondary to ensuring the patient’s immediate safety.
Choice D rationale
Creating a restful, dark environment may help the patient rest, but it does not directly address the immediate safety needs of a patient who has received a narcotic analgesic. The focus should be on preventing falls and injury.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["C","D","E"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Analyzing data collected is part of the assessment phase, not the intervention phase.
Choice B rationale
Collecting a nursing history is part of the assessment phase of the nursing process, not the intervention phase.
Choice C rationale
Determining medication effectiveness is a critical aspect of the intervention phase, as it assesses the therapeutic outcomes of the administered drugs.
Choice D rationale
Documenting the medication is a key action in the intervention phase to ensure accurate and up-to-date patient records and safe administration.
Choice E rationale
Administering the medication is a direct intervention related to drug therapy and is part of the intervention phase.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Working with animals is typically done in preclinical trials before phase I studies in humans and is not part of phase III drug evaluation studies.
Choice B rationale
Conducting research to determine the effectiveness of the drug is part of phase II studies. Phase III studies focus more on confirming effectiveness, monitoring side effects, and comparing it to commonly used treatments.
Choice C rationale
Monitoring and observing patients closely for adverse effects is a key responsibility in phase III drug evaluation studies. These studies involve a larger patient population to gather comprehensive safety and efficacy data.
Choice D rationale
Choosing appropriate patients to be involved in the study is primarily the responsibility of researchers and clinicians during the earlier phases of drug development, such as phase I and phase II studies.
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