A nurse is preparing to administer pain medication to a postoperative client who had a total knee replacement and reports pain as 5 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which of the following PRN medications should the nurse plan to administer?

A) Wear gloves when handling the medication: This is the correct action to take when preparing to administer a hazardous IV medication. Wearing gloves helps protect the nurse from direct contact with the medication, reducing the risk of exposure to potentially harmful substances.

B) Administer the medication in a negative pressure room: While some hazardous medications may require administration in a negative pressure room to prevent the spread of airborne contaminants, this is not a standard precaution for administering IV medications. Negative pressure rooms are typically used for airborne infection isolation rather than for medication administration.

C) Administer the medication while wearing protective footwear: While wearing appropriate footwear is important for general safety in healthcare settings, it is not specifically required for administering hazardous IV medications. Protective footwear may be necessary in certain situations, such as when handling biohazardous materials or when there is a risk of spills, but it is not directly related to IV medication administration.

D) Wear an N95 respiratory mask when administering the medication: While respiratory protection may be necessary when handling certain hazardous substances, such as those that produce airborne particles or aerosols, it is not typically required for administering IV medications. N95 masks are primarily used for respiratory protection in situations where there is a risk of inhaling airborne contaminants, such as infectious agents or hazardous chemicals.

A) "Pour expire” medication tablets into a w“ste basket": This is an incorrect statement. Pourin” expired medication into a waste basket can pose a risk of accidental ingestion by children, pets, or individuals who may go through the trash. It is not a safe method of medication disposal.

B) "Return expired medication to the pharmac“st": This is the correct action for safe me”ication disposal. Many pharmacies have programs for the safe disposal of unused or expired medications. Returning medications to the pharmacist ensures proper disposal and prevents environmental contamination or misuse.

C) "Discard expired medication down the toil“t": This is an incorrect statement. Flushi”g medication down the toilet can contribute to water pollution and harm aquatic life. It is not recommended as a method of medication disposal unless specifically instructed for certain controlled substances by authorized entities.

D) "Crush expired medication tablets and rin“e them down the sink": This is an incorrect statement. Crushi”g medication tablets and rinsing them down the sink can introduce pharmaceuticals into the water supply, which can have adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. It is not a safe or environmentally friendly method of disposal.