A nurse is administering 4 mg of hydromorphone to a client by mouth every 4 hr. The medication is provided as hydromorphone 8 mg per tablet. Which of the following actions is appropriate for the nurse to take?

Dispose of the remaining medication while another nurse observes.

Store the remaining half of the pill in the automated medication dispensing system.

Place the remaining half of the pill in the unit-dose package.

Return the remaining medication to the facility's pharmacy.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. Dispose of the remaining medication while another nurse observes:
This is the correct choice. When a nurse administers a fraction of a tablet, it is not safe or appropriate to store the remaining portion for future use, even if another dose is scheduled. Hydromorphone tablets are meant to be taken whole, and cutting or breaking them can lead to inconsistent dosages. It's important to follow safe medication administration practices and dispose of the unused portion while another nurse observes, ensuring proper disposal.
B. Store the remaining half of the pill in the automated medication dispensing system:
This choice is incorrect. Storing a fraction of a tablet in the automated medication dispensing system is not appropriate. The system is designed for intact medications, and splitting tablets could compromise the accuracy and safety of future doses.
C. Place the remaining half of the pill in the unit-dose package:
This choice is incorrect. Placing a partial tablet back into a unit-dose package could lead to confusion and potential administration errors in the future. The medication packaging should reflect the correct and complete dosage as prescribed.
D. Return the remaining medication to the facility's pharmacy:
This choice is incorrect. Returning a partially used tablet to the pharmacy is not advisable, as the pharmacy cannot ensure the tablet's integrity or accurately verify its dosage. Medication storage and handling standards are in place to ensure patient safety, and using a fraction of a tablet may compromise those standards.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Instruct the client to increase his fluid intake: While adequate fluid intake is generally important for various reasons, increasing fluid intake would not alter the orange-red discoloration caused by rifampin. This side effect is due to the drug's action on body fluids, not dehydration.
B. Prepare the client for dialysis: Dialysis is not indicated for the harmless orange-red discoloration caused by rifampin. Dialysis is typically used for clients with kidney failure or significant electrolyte imbalances, and it would not address this specific side effect.
C. Document this as an expected finding.
Explanation:
Rifampin, an antibiotic commonly used in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), can cause a harmless side effect known as "orange-red discoloration." This can affect bodily fluids such as urine, sweat, and tears. This is not a harmful effect and does not indicate a need for any specific intervention. Therefore, the nurse should document this as an expected finding due to the client's use of rifampin.
D. Check the client's liver function test results: The orange-red discoloration is not related to liver function, so checking liver function test results would not provide relevant information about this particular side effect.

A. Place the medications on the back of the client's tongue. B. Tilt the client's head back when administering the medications. C. Administer more than one pill to the client at a time. D. Mix the medications with a semisolid food for the client.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Place the medications on the back of the client's tongue:
Incorrect Explanation: Placing medications on the back of the tongue can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, especially in individuals with dysphagia.
Explanation: Individuals with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing and are at an increased risk of choking or aspirating (inhaling) substances into the lungs. Placing medications on the back of the tongue can be unsafe and is not recommended.
B. Tilt the client's head back when administering the medications:
Incorrect Explanation: Tipping the head back can worsen swallowing difficulties and increase the risk of choking or aspiration.
Explanation: Tipping the head back can compromise the natural swallowing mechanism and increase the risk of aspiration. It's important to keep the client's head in an upright position to aid safe swallowing.
C. Administer more than one pill to the client at a time:
Incorrect Explanation: Administering multiple pills at once can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, especially in individuals with dysphagia.
Explanation: Administering multiple pills at once can overwhelm the client's ability to swallow safely. This action can increase the risk of choking and aspiration, which is especially dangerous for individuals with dysphagia.
D. Mix the medications with a semisolid food for the client:
Correct Answer: This action is appropriate and safer for administering medications to an older adult client with dysphagia.
Explanation: Mixing medications with semisolid food, such as applesauce or yogurt, can help the client swallow more easily and reduce the risk of choking or aspiration. It's important to check with the healthcare provider or pharmacist to ensure that the medications can be mixed with food and that there are no interactions.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse is administering 4 mg of hydromorphone to a client by mouth every 4 hr. The medication is provided as hydromorphone 8 mg per tablet. Which of the following actions is appropriate for the nurse to take?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client who has active tuberculosis and is taking rifampin reports that his urine and sweat have developed a red-orange tinge. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is planning to administer medications to an older adult client who has dysphagia. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse mixing regular insulin and NPH insulin in the same syringe prior to administering it to a client who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A nurse is caring for a client who is to receive potassium replacement. The provider's prescription reads, "Potassium chloride 30 mEq in 0.9% sodium chloride 100 mL IV over 30 min." For which of the following reasons should the nurse clarify this prescription with the provider?

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who is taking atorvastatin. Which of the following laboratory values indicates the treatment has been effective?

A nurse is planning to teach a client who is trying to quit smoking. Which of the following instructions about nicotine replacement options should the nurse include?

A nurse is monitoring for an infusion reaction for a client who is receiving a dose of IV amphotericin B. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing an acute infusion reaction?

A nurse recently administered filgrastim intravenously to a client who has cancer and is receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy. For which of the following data, discovered after the medication was administered, should the nurse file an incident report?

A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride elixir 20 mEq/day PO to divide equally every 12 hr. Available is 6.7 mEq/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is taking amitriptyline. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse report to the provider?