A nurse is educating a client who has a prescription for morphine sulfate, a Schedule II drug, for chronic pain. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

Correct answer: a) "You should keep your medication in its original container with the label attached."

Rationale: Keeping the medication in its original container with the label attached helps to prevent errors, confusion, misuse, or diversion of the medication. The label also provides important information about the medication name, dosage, instructions, expiration date, and prescriber.

Incorrect choices:
b) "You should share your medication with your family members if they have similar symptoms.": This is incorrect as sharing prescription medication with others is illegal and dangerous. Prescription medication should only be taken by the person for whom it was prescribed and as directed by the prescriber.
c) "You should dispose of any unused or expired medication by flushing it down the toilet.": This is incorrect as flushing medication down the toilet can contaminate the water supply and harm the environment. Unused or expired medication should be disposed of properly according to the FDA guidelines or local regulations.
d) "You should stop taking your medication if you experience any side effects.": This is incorrect as stopping medication abruptly can cause adverse effects or worsen the condition. The client should report any side effects to the prescriber and follow their advice on how to manage them or whether to adjust or discontinue the medication.

Correct answer: c) Verify the client's identity using two identifiers

Rationale: The first action that the nurse should take before administering any medication is to verify the client's identity using two identifiers, such as name and date of birth, to ensure that the right medication is given to the right client. This is one of the six rights of medication administration that help prevent medication errors and promote client safety.

Incorrect choices:

a) Check the expiration date of the drug: This is an important action that the nurse should take before administering any medication, but it is not the first action. The nurse should check the expiration date after comparing the drug label with the MAR and before opening the drug container.

b) Compare the drug label with the MAR: This is an important action that the nurse should take before administering any medication, but it is not the first action. The nurse should compare the drug label with the MAR after verifying the client's identity and before checking the expiration date.

d) Explain the purpose and side effects of the drug: This is an important action that the nurse should take before administering any medication, but it is not the first action. The nurse should explain the purpose and side effects of the drug after checking the expiration date and before administering the drug.