A nurse is caring for a client who has cancer and reports moderate pain. Which of the following medications should the nurse expect to administer?

Dopamine is a medication used to treat hypotension, low cardiac output, and poor perfusion of vital organs.

It is used to increase mean arterial pressure in septic shock patients who remain hypotensive after adequate volume expansion 1.

If the client is still experiencing hypotension while receiving dopamine by continuous IV infusion, the nurse should increase the rate of infusion to improve the client’s blood pressure.

Choice B is wrong because Extravasation, is not the correct answer because it refers to the leakage of IV fluid or medication into the surrounding tissue and is not an indication to increase the rate of dopamine infusion.

Choice C is wrong because Headache, is not the correct answer because it is not specifically related to dopamine therapy or an indication to increase the rate of infusion.

Choice D is wrong because Chest pain, is not the correct answer because it is not specifically related to dopamine therapy or an indication to increase the rate of infusion.

The correct answer is Choice B.

Choice A rationale:

Documenting the administration of the medication is crucial for maintaining accurate records and ensuring accountability. However, it is not the first action to take. The priority is to ensure the correct patient receives the correct medication.

Choice B rationale:

Identifying the client using two identifiers is the first and most critical step. This action ensures that the right patient receives the right medication, thereby minimizing the risk of medication errors.

Choice C rationale:

Comparing the amount of medication available to the inventory record is important for maintaining accurate inventory and preventing misuse or theft of controlled substances. However, this is not the first step in the process of administering medication to a patient in pain.

Choice D rationale:

Removing the medication from the medication dispensing cabinet is part of the process, but it should only be done after the patient has been properly identified to avoid any potential errors.