A nurse is preparing to administer morphine 4 mg IV bolus to a client who reports pain. Available is morphine 10 mg/mL. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Have another nurse witness the disposal of the extra medication.
Discard the extra medication in a sharps container.
Save the extra medication for a later dosing.
Send the waste amount to the pharmacy.
The Correct Answer is A
A. In many institutions, when a nurse administers a controlled substance and has leftover medication, it is standard practice to have another nurse witness the disposal of the excess. This is a safeguard against misuse and ensures accountability.
B. While a sharps container is appropriate for disposing of needles and other sharp objects, it is not suitable for liquid medications. Discarding liquid medications in a sharps container could lead to contamination and is not compliant with disposal protocols.
C. Medications, especially controlled substances, should never be saved for later use once they have been drawn up or prepared. This practice poses a significant risk for medication errors and misuse.
D. Generally, the waste amount is not sent to the pharmacy. Instead, it should be wasted according to the facility's policy, typically in the presence of another nurse. Sending it to the pharmacy is unnecessary and could create logistical complications.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Libel refers to the written defamation of someone's character, which is not applicable here. The nurse leaving early does not involve any defamatory statements or written content.
B. Battery involves the intentional and unlawful physical contact with another person without consent. The nurse leaving early does not constitute physical harm or unwanted contact with patients or colleagues.
C. Slander refers to the spoken defamation of someone's character. Similar to libel, this term does not apply to the nurse’s action of leaving early, as it does not involve making false statements about someone.
D. Negligence in nursing refers to a failure to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent nurse would provide in similar circumstances. By leaving her shift early without notifying the charge nurse, the nurse may be failing to ensure continuity of care for her patients, even if they are stable.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While it’s true that surgery itself is beyond the nurse's scope of practice, liability can still arise from the actions taken in relation to the consent process. The issue is not about the surgery itself but about the responsibility associated with witnessing the consent.
B. The nurse’s role in this context is to witness the client’s signature, not to guarantee the client’s understanding of the procedure or the risks involved. The witness signature generally indicates that the nurse observed the client signing the document but does not imply that the nurse ensured the client understood all aspects of the surgery.
C. Cosigning a consent form does not make the nurse an equal member of the surgical team in terms of decision-making or responsibilities. The nurse's role as a witness is limited to observing the signing process.
D. The nurse’s signature does not imply that they confirmed the client's understanding of the risks involved. The responsibility for explaining the risks and ensuring the client’s understanding typically falls to the physician or surgeon.
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