Care
12th Edition
• Author(s)Jacqueline Rosenjack
Burchum; Laura D. Rosenthal
,TEST BANK
Question 1 — Multiple-Choice (MCQ)
Clinical Scenario
A newly licensed nurse is preparing to administer the first
prescribed dose of an antihypertensive medication to a
hospitalized patient. Before administering the medication, the
nurse reviews the prescription, verifies the patient's identity
using two identifiers, assesses the patient's blood pressure,
checks for allergies, and explains the purpose of the
medication.
The nurse asks why all of these steps are necessary before
giving a medication.
Question Stem
Which statement best explains the overall goal of pharmacology
in nursing practice?
Answer Options
A. To ensure medications are administered exactly as prescribed
without questioning the prescription
,B. To maximize therapeutic benefit while minimizing the risk of
adverse effects and medication-related harm
C. To administer medications as quickly as possible to improve
patient satisfaction
D. To ensure every patient receives the same medication dose
regardless of individual characteristics
Correct Answer
B. To maximize therapeutic benefit while minimizing the risk
of adverse effects and medication-related harm
Detailed Rationale
Pharmacology is the scientific study of drugs and their
interactions with living organisms. In nursing practice, the
therapeutic objective extends beyond simply administering
medications. Nurses integrate assessment findings, patient
history, laboratory data, and ongoing monitoring to ensure
medications produce the intended therapeutic response while
reducing the likelihood of adverse drug reactions, medication
errors, toxicity, and preventable complications.
Safe medication administration requires:
• Patient assessment before administration
, • Appropriate medication selection
• Verification of medication rights
• Monitoring therapeutic effectiveness
• Identification of contraindications
• Patient education
• Evaluation of outcomes
Medication administration is therefore an ongoing clinical
judgment process rather than a single task.
Incorrect Option Analysis
Option A
Why Incorrect
Prescriptions should always be evaluated for safety and
appropriateness.
Common Clinical Misconception
Some new nurses believe questioning a prescription is outside
nursing responsibilities.
Medication Safety Risk
Failure to recognize unsafe prescriptions may lead to serious
patient harm.