A nurse is about to administer an injection of an opioid medication to a patient. The nurse has drawn 1 mL of the medication from a 2 mL vial.
What should the nurse do next?

Ask another nurse to observe the medication wastage.

Notify the pharmacy when wasting the medication.

Lock the remaining medication in the controlled substances cabinet.

Dispose of the vial with the remaining medication in a sharps container.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A rationale

After drawing up the medication, the nurse should ask another nurse to observe the medication wastage. This is a standard procedure for controlled substances like opioids. The second nurse acts as a witness to ensure that the unused portion of the medication is disposed of properly and not diverted for inappropriate use.

Choice B rationale

Notifying the pharmacy when wasting the medication is not the immediate next step after drawing up the medication. While some institutions may require notification of the pharmacy for controlled substance wastage, the immediate next step is typically to have another nurse witness the wastage.

Choice C rationale

Locking the remaining medication in the controlled substances cabinet is not the immediate next step after drawing up the medication. The remaining medication should be wasted with a witness present.

Choice D rationale

Disposing of the vial with the remaining medication in a sharps container is not the immediate next step after drawing up the medication. The remaining medication should be wasted with a witness present.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale

The first action the nurse should take when finding a patient on the floor is to check the patient for injuries. This is important to determine the extent of any potential harm and to guide subsequent actions.

Choice B rationale

Moving hazardous objects away from the patient is important, but it is not the first action the nurse should take. The nurse should first assess the patient for injuries.

Choice C rationale

Notifying the provider is an important step when a patient falls, but it is not the first action the nurse should take. The nurse should first assess the patient for injuries.

Choice D rationale

Asking the patient to describe how they felt prior to the fall is part of the assessment after a fall, but it is not the first action the nurse should take. The nurse should first assess the patient for injuries.

A. A lesion with uniform pigmentation. B. New appearance of petechiae. C. A mole with an asymmetrical appearance. D. The presence of a papule.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale

A lesion with uniform pigmentation is not typically a sign of skin malignancy. Most benign moles are uniform in color, including shades of tan, brown, and black.

Choice B rationale

The new appearance of petechiae, or small, pinpoint hemorrhages under the skin, is not typically associated with skin cancer. Petechiae can be a sign of a number of conditions, including certain infections, low platelet count, or certain medications.

Choice C rationale

A mole with an asymmetrical appearance is a potential indication of skin malignancy. Asymmetry, where one half of the mole does not match the other, is one of the ABCDEs (Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than 6mm, and Evolving size, shape, or color) of melanoma detection.

Choice D rationale

The presence of a papule, a small, raised bump on the skin, is not necessarily indicative of skin cancer. Papules can be a sign of many different skin conditions, including acne, skin infections, or dermatitis.

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A nurse is about to administer an injection of an opioid medication to a patient. The nurse has drawn 1 mL of the medication from a 2 mL vial.What should the nurse do next?

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A nurse is about to administer an injection of an opioid medication to a patient. The nurse has drawn 1 mL of the medication from a 2 mL vial.
What should the nurse do next?