Chapter 33: Topical and Inhalant
Medications
Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts 12th Edition, Timby
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse checking the MAR finds that an order for an antibiotic is now 8 days old. The
nurse should:
a. check the medications, performing three medication checks.
b. give the ordered medication.
c. contact the physician for a new order.
d. give the medication, then notify the physician.
ANS: C
The nurse contacts the physician for a new order. Antibiotic orders generally have a
5- to 7-day limit before they need to be renewed.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: m 643 OBJ: Theory #1
TOP: Expired Orders KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective Care Environment:
safety and infection control
2. The nurse is to administer a dissolved medication via feeding tube. After donning gloves
and attaching the irrigation syringe to the tube, the nurse should next:
a. instill the medication into the syringe slowly.
b. draw the medication into the syringe and gently push into the tube.
c. flush the tubing with 15 to 30 mL of tap water and add the medication just as the
water is about to finish.
d. flush the tubing with 15 to 30 mL of sterile water and add the medication just as
the water is about to
ANS: C
The nurse should flush the tubing with tap water and add the medication as the water
is about to finish. Administration of medication into the feeding tube should be done
by gravity instillation, and pressure should be applied gently only if needed to initiate
flow.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: m 664, Skill 34-4 OBJ:
Theory #8 TOP: Medication Administration: Feeding Tube KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: basic care and comfort
3. When administering several medications via feeding tube, the nurse should:
a. dilute each medication with at least 40 mL of water.
b. mix each medication individually.
c. mix all medications together to facilitate administration.
d. use sterile gloves for the procedure.
ANS: B
, Medications should be mixed separately to prevent clumping.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: m 664, Skill 34-4
OBJ: Theory #8 TOP: Medication Administration: Feeding Tube
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC:
NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: pharmacological therapies
4. In the event of a discrepancy in the count of the narcotics between the day shift and the
evening shift, the day nurse is required to:
a. correct the count to the number of pills counted and sign full name.
b. write a report and give it to the charge nurse with signatures of both nurses.
c. notify the pharmacy of the discrepancy.
d. remain on duty until the miscount is resolved.
ANS: D
The nurse of the ending shift must resolve the discrepancy before leaving the unit.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: m 648 OBJ:
Theory #1 TOP: Narcotic Discrepancy KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
5. When administering medications to a patient with a feeding tube, the nurse should
dissolve each crushed medication in at least _____ mL of water.
a. 30 to 60
b. 20 to 30
c. 15 to 20
d. 5 to 15
ANS: B
Each medication should be dissolved in 20 to 30 mL of water, which does not include
the water used to flush the tube before and after giving medications.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: m 664, Skill 34-4
OBJ: Theory #8 TOP: Medication Administration: Feeding Tube
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: pharmacological therapies
6. Data pertaining to a patients medication therapy that the nurse should document in the
nurses notes, in addition to charting in the medication administration record (MAR), is:
a. medication name and dose.
b. the route of the medication.
c. the time of the medication.
d. medication side effects experienced.
ANS: D
Side effects of drug therapy are charted in the nurses notes.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: m 666 OBJ: Theory #3
TOP: Documentation KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
pharmacological therapies
7. A patient on the long-term care unit receives the wrong medication. The charge nurse
should instruct which staff member to complete the incident report?
Medications
Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts 12th Edition, Timby
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse checking the MAR finds that an order for an antibiotic is now 8 days old. The
nurse should:
a. check the medications, performing three medication checks.
b. give the ordered medication.
c. contact the physician for a new order.
d. give the medication, then notify the physician.
ANS: C
The nurse contacts the physician for a new order. Antibiotic orders generally have a
5- to 7-day limit before they need to be renewed.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: m 643 OBJ: Theory #1
TOP: Expired Orders KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe Effective Care Environment:
safety and infection control
2. The nurse is to administer a dissolved medication via feeding tube. After donning gloves
and attaching the irrigation syringe to the tube, the nurse should next:
a. instill the medication into the syringe slowly.
b. draw the medication into the syringe and gently push into the tube.
c. flush the tubing with 15 to 30 mL of tap water and add the medication just as the
water is about to finish.
d. flush the tubing with 15 to 30 mL of sterile water and add the medication just as
the water is about to
ANS: C
The nurse should flush the tubing with tap water and add the medication as the water
is about to finish. Administration of medication into the feeding tube should be done
by gravity instillation, and pressure should be applied gently only if needed to initiate
flow.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: m 664, Skill 34-4 OBJ:
Theory #8 TOP: Medication Administration: Feeding Tube KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: basic care and comfort
3. When administering several medications via feeding tube, the nurse should:
a. dilute each medication with at least 40 mL of water.
b. mix each medication individually.
c. mix all medications together to facilitate administration.
d. use sterile gloves for the procedure.
ANS: B
, Medications should be mixed separately to prevent clumping.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: m 664, Skill 34-4
OBJ: Theory #8 TOP: Medication Administration: Feeding Tube
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC:
NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: pharmacological therapies
4. In the event of a discrepancy in the count of the narcotics between the day shift and the
evening shift, the day nurse is required to:
a. correct the count to the number of pills counted and sign full name.
b. write a report and give it to the charge nurse with signatures of both nurses.
c. notify the pharmacy of the discrepancy.
d. remain on duty until the miscount is resolved.
ANS: D
The nurse of the ending shift must resolve the discrepancy before leaving the unit.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: m 648 OBJ:
Theory #1 TOP: Narcotic Discrepancy KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
5. When administering medications to a patient with a feeding tube, the nurse should
dissolve each crushed medication in at least _____ mL of water.
a. 30 to 60
b. 20 to 30
c. 15 to 20
d. 5 to 15
ANS: B
Each medication should be dissolved in 20 to 30 mL of water, which does not include
the water used to flush the tube before and after giving medications.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: m 664, Skill 34-4
OBJ: Theory #8 TOP: Medication Administration: Feeding Tube
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning MSC: NCLEX:
Physiological Integrity: pharmacological therapies
6. Data pertaining to a patients medication therapy that the nurse should document in the
nurses notes, in addition to charting in the medication administration record (MAR), is:
a. medication name and dose.
b. the route of the medication.
c. the time of the medication.
d. medication side effects experienced.
ANS: D
Side effects of drug therapy are charted in the nurses notes.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: m 666 OBJ: Theory #3
TOP: Documentation KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity:
pharmacological therapies
7. A patient on the long-term care unit receives the wrong medication. The charge nurse
should instruct which staff member to complete the incident report?
