Solutions
A health care provider writes the following order for an opioid-
naive patient who returned from the operating room following a
total hip replacement: "Fentanyl patch 100 mcg, change every 3
days." On the basis of this order, the nurse takes the following
action: Correct Answers Calls the health care provider and
questions the order : Fentanyl patches are not indicated for acute
pain. They are indicated for patients with chronic pain who are
opioid tolerant.
A new medical resident writes an order for oxycodone CR (Oxy
Contin) 10 mg PO q2h prn. Which part of the order does the
nurse question? Correct Answers A new medical resident writes
an order for oxycodone CR (Oxy Contin) 10 mg PO q2h prn.
Which part of the order does the nurse question?: Long-acting or
sustained-release opioids are dosed on a scheduled basis, not
prn, to provide a base of continuous opioid analgesia.
A nurse admits a 72-year-old patient with a medical history of
hypertension, heart failure, renal failure, and depression to a
general medical patient care unit. The nurse reviews the patient's
medication orders and notes that the patient has three health care
providers who have ordered a total of 13 medications. What is
the most appropriate action for the nurse to take next? Correct
Answers Review the list of medications with the health care
providers to ensure that the patient needs all 13 medications:
This patient most likely is experiencing polypharmacy. To
minimize risks associated with polypharmacy, frequent
, communication among health care providers is essential to make
sure that the patients' medication regimen is as simple as
possible.
A nurse is recovering a patient who received conscious sedation
for cosmetic surgery. Which of the following is an advantage
that conscious sedation has over general anesthesia? Correct
Answers -Reduction of fear and anxiety
-Amnesia about procedure
A nurse is working in the preoperative holding area and is
assigned to care for a patient who is having a prosthetic aortic
valve placed. The nurse inserts an intravenous (IV) line and
obtains vital signs. The patient has a temperature of 39° C (102°
F), heart rate of 120, blood pressure (BP) of 84/50, and an
elevated white blood cell (WBC) count. The nurse immediately
notifies the surgeon of the patient's vital signs because: Correct
Answers The surgery may need to be delayed to recheck the
patient's WBC count and investigate the source of fever before
surgery.
A nursing student is administering medications to a patient
through a gastric tube (G-tube). Which of the following actions
taken by the nursing student requires the nursing instructor to
intervene? Correct Answers The nursing student crushes a
nifedipine extended-release tablet and mixes it with water before
administering it: rrect
Extended-release tablets should not be crushed; the nursing
student needs to question this order and investigate alternative
medications while the patient is receiving medications through
the gastric tube.