A client is prescribed morphine sulfate, a Schedule II medication, for severe postoperative pain. The nurse knows that this medication has which of the following characteristics?

Correct answer: b)It can be prescribed by telephone or fax in an emergency.

Rationale: Schedule II medications are those with a high potential for abuse and dependence, but have accepted medical uses. They require a written prescription from a licensed prescriber, except in an emergency situation when a telephone or fax order is allowed. However, the written prescription must follow within 72 hours. Schedule II medications cannot be refilled; a new prescription is required for each dispensing.

Incorrect choices:

a) It can be refilled up to five times within six months.: This is true for Schedule III and IV medications, not Schedule II.

c) It can be obtained without a prescription for medical use.: This is true for Schedule V medications, not Schedule II.

d) It can be dispensed by any healthcare provider.: Only licensed prescribers with a DEA number can prescribe controlled substances.

Correct answer: a) Agranulocytosis

Rationale: Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic that acts on the central nervous system to reduce psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. It also has a low potential for abuse and dependence, which is why it is classified as a Schedule V medication. However, it can cause agranulocytosis, a life-threatening condition characterized by a severe decrease in white blood cells that increases the risk of infection. The nurse should monitor the client's complete blood count (CBC) regularly and report any signs of infection such as fever, sore throat, or mouth ulcers.

Incorrect choices:

b) Stevens-Johnson syndrome: This is a rare but serious skin reaction that can be caused by some medications such as sulfonamides, anticonvulsants, and allopurinol, not clozapine.

c) Torsades de pointes: This is a rare but serious cardiac arrhythmia that can be caused by some medications such as antiarrhythmics, antibiotics, and antidepressants that prolong the QT interval, not clozapine.

d) Rhabdomyolysis: This is a rare but serious condition characterized by muscle breakdown and renal failure that can be caused by some medications such as statins, antipsychotics, and corticosteroids, not clozapine.