A nurse from the adult medical unit is pulled to the geriatric unit. The nurse notes that many of the common medications provided are in lower doses than typically prescribed. What action by the nurse is the highest priority?

Notify the charge nurse that patients may have received inappropriate medication dosages.

Evaluate the laboratory values of each patient to determine liver and kidney function as a possible reason for decreased dosages

Do not worry about the discrepancy because this is not the nurse's unit.

Call the nursing supervisor to investigate the nurse's concerns.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Notify the charge nurse that patients may have received inappropriate medication dosages.
Jumping to conclusions about inappropriate dosages without first investigating the rationale for the dosing is premature and could cause unnecessary alarm.

B. Evaluate the laboratory values of each patient to determine liver and kidney function as a possible reason for decreased dosages. Lower dosages are often prescribed for older adults due to decreased liver and kidney function, which can affect drug metabolism and excretion. Evaluating lab values ensures that these dosages are appropriate and safe.

C. Do not worry about the discrepancy because this is not the nurse's unit.
Ignoring the discrepancy is not appropriate, as it’s important for all nurses to advocate for patient safety, regardless of the unit.

D. Call the nursing supervisor to investigate the nurse's concerns.
The nursing supervisor may need to be involved, but the first step is to review the relevant clinical data (lab values) to assess the situation.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Standing orders: Standing orders are prewritten orders for specific situations. For a patient post-procedure, standing orders might include pain management protocols that would be activated based on the pain assessment.

B. STAT orders: STAT orders are urgent and are typically used in emergency situations. A pain score of 5/10 does not usually warrant a STAT order.

C. Automatic stop orders: Automatic stop orders are used to discontinue a medication after a certain period or dosage has been reached. They don’t apply directly to managing current pain levels.

D. Verbal orders: Verbal orders are given in person or over the phone when a written order is not possible. These should be minimized to avoid errors and are less likely to be used for routine pain management.

A. The patient complains of shortness of breath B. The patient reports feeling hot, and her face appears flushed. C. The patient states that she feels nauseated and has a headache. D. The patient complains of continued wakefulness and agitation.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. The patient complains of shortness of breath: Shortness of breath is a hallmark symptom of an anaphylactic reaction. It indicates that the patient may be experiencing airway constriction, which is a medical emergency.

B. The patient reports feeling hot, and her face appears flushed: Flushing and a feeling of warmth can be early signs of an allergic reaction, but they are not specific to anaphylaxis. Other more severe symptoms would need to be present to diagnose anaphylaxis.

C. The patient states that she feels nauseated and has a headache: Nausea and headache are not typically associated with anaphylaxis. They may be side effects of the medication but are not indicative of an allergic reaction severe enough to cause anaphylaxis.

D. The patient complains of continued wakefulness and agitation: Continued wakefulness and agitation could be side effects of the sleeping pill but are not symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction. These symptoms do not require immediate emergency intervention like anaphylaxis would.

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A nurse from the adult medical unit is pulled to the geriatric unit. The nurse notes that many of the common medications provided are in lower doses than typically prescribed. What action by the nurse is the highest priority?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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