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. Morphine 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain:
This choice is correct. It accurately transcribes the medication name (morphine), the dosage (6 mg), the route (IV push), the frequency (every 3 hours), and the indication (PRN for acute pain).
B. Morphine 6.0 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain:
This choice is not incorrect, but it is unnecessary to include the trailing zero in the dosage (6.0 mg). Both "6" and "6.0" indicate the same value, and omitting the decimal point is common practice in medication dosages.
C. MS 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain:
This choice is incorrect. "MS" is an abbreviation for "morphine sulfate," but it's not widely used in modern healthcare settings. Using the full name "morphine" is clearer and less prone to confusion.
D. MSO4 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain:
This choice is incorrect. "MSO4" is the chemical symbol for morphine sulfate. While it's a valid abbreviation, it's not as commonly used as the full name "morphine." Using the full name of the medication is clearer and more familiar to healthcare professionals.

A. Another formulation of potassium should be given IV: The type of potassium formulation isn't the issue in this scenario.

B. Potassium chloride should be diluted in dextrose 5% in water: While potassium chloride can be administered in different solutions, the primary concern here is the infusion rate, not the specific diluent.

C. The client should be treated by giving potassium by IV bolus: The concern here is the rate of administration, not the route. Potassium is commonly administered through an IV infusion rather than a bolus due to the risk of cardiac arrhythmias associated with rapid administration.

D. A nurse is caring for a client who is to receive potassium replacement. The nurse should clarify the prescription with the provider because the potassium infusion rate is too rapid.

The prescription indicates that the client should receive potassium chloride 30 mEq in 0.9% sodium chloride 100 mL IV over 30 minutes. This rate of administration is too fast for potassium replacement and could lead to potentially serious complications, such as hyperkalemia or cardiac arrhythmias. The typical recommended rate for potassium replacement is 10-20 mEq/hour, and this prescription exceeds that range.