A nurse is receiving a telephone prescription from a provider for a client who requires additional medication for pain control. Which of the following entries should the nurse make in the medical record?
"Morphine 3.0 mg sub q every 4 hr PRN for pain."
"Morphine 3 mg subcutaneous every 4 hr PRN for pain."
"Morphine 3 mg SC q 4 hr PRN for pain."
"Morphine 3 mg SQ every 4 hr PRN for pain."
The Correct Answer is B
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Aspirin 1 tablet daily. This prescription is incomplete because it does not specify the dose in milligrams. Aspirin comes in multiple strengths, and clarity is essential to ensure safe administration.
B. Furosemide 20 mg BID. This prescription is complete because it includes the medication name, dosage (20 mg), and frequency (twice daily). It provides all necessary components for safe administration.
C. Nitroglycerin transdermal patch. This order lacks critical details such as the dosage, frequency, and duration of use. Without this information, the prescription is incomplete and cannot be safely implemented.
D. Metoprolol 5 mg now. Although it includes the medication, dosage, and timing, it does not specify the route (e.g., oral, IV), which is necessary for the prescription to be considered complete.
Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"E","dropdown-group-2":"C"}
Explanation
The client presents with symptoms suggestive of severe preeclampsia, including headache, nausea, right upper quadrant pain, facial and dependent edema, rapid weight gain, and 3+ deep tendon reflexes (hyperreflexia). Hyperreflexia is a sign of central nervous system irritability, which can precede seizures (eclampsia) and increase the risk for placental abruption—a premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall. This is a medical emergency that can result in fetal and maternal complications.
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