A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving morphine IV for pain. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider first?
Urinary output 120 mL/4 hr
Pupil diameter 6 mm
Bowel movement 5 days ago
Blood pressure 80/40 mm Hg
The Correct Answer is D
A. Urinary output 120 mL/4 hr. This is on the lower end of normal but not critical. It should be monitored, especially in clients on opioids, but does not require immediate reporting ahead of more life-threatening findings.
B. Pupil diameter 6 mm. Dilated pupils may suggest other issues such as anxiety, medication effects, or pain, but are not a common concern with morphine, which usually causes miosis (pupil constriction). Still, this is not the most urgent concern.
C. Bowel movement 5 days ago. Constipation is a common side effect of opioids, including morphine, and should be addressed with stool softeners or laxatives. However, it is not an emergency.
D. Blood pressure 80/40 mm Hg. This indicates hypotension, a potentially life-threatening side effect of IV morphine, especially if it results in decreased perfusion or shock. It requires immediate intervention and provider notification.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. "Morphine 3.0 mg sub q every 4 hr PRN for pain." Including a trailing zero (3.0 mg) is considered unsafe and is discouraged in medication documentation. It increases the risk of a tenfold overdose if the decimal is missed.
B. "Morphine 3 mg subcutaneous every 4 hr PRN for pain." This entry uses the correct dosage format without a trailing zero, the full term "subcutaneous" instead of abbreviations, and proper medical terminology. It adheres to safe documentation practices as per The Joint Commission guidelines.
C. "Morphine 3 mg SC q 4 hr PRN for pain." The abbreviation “SC” is considered unsafe and prone to misinterpretation. Also, "q" for "every" is discouraged in clinical documentation due to potential misreading and error.
D. "Morphine 3 mg SQ every 4 hr PRN for pain." The abbreviation “SQ” can be misinterpreted or mistaken for “5 every” or other terms. Safe practice requires spelling out “subcutaneous” to prevent errors in medication administration.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Draw up regular insulin prior to NPH insulin. This is the correct technique when mixing short-acting (regular) and intermediate-acting (NPH) insulins in the same syringe. Drawing up regular insulin first prevents contamination of the clear insulin vial with the cloudy NPH, which could alter the action of the regular insulin.
B. Roll the syringe gently to ensure mixture of the insulins. Insulin should be mixed in the vial before drawing it into the syringe—not after. NPH insulin should be gently rolled between the hands to mix it, but the syringe itself should not be rolled after drawing both insulins, as this can introduce bubbles and affect dosing accuracy.
C. Inject into the vastus lateralis. The preferred sites for subcutaneous insulin administration are areas with sufficient subcutaneous tissue, such as the abdomen, upper outer arms, thighs, or buttocks. The vastus lateralis is more commonly used for intramuscular injections, such as vaccines.
D. Use a 15° angle for the injection. A 15° angle is appropriate for intradermal injections, not subcutaneous insulin injections. For insulin, the correct angle is typically 45° or 90°, depending on the client’s body habitus and needle length, to ensure proper subcutaneous delivery.
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