A patient in pain requests the prescribed pain medication, which is an opioid. Which nursing assessment is essential before administering the opioid?

Blood pressure

Temperature

Pulse

Respiratory

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: Blood pressure matters but isn’t primary; opioids rarely cause acute hypotension initially, and respiratory depression is a more immediate life-threatening risk.

Choice B reason: Temperature is unrelated; opioids don’t primarily affect fever, and this assessment doesn’t address the critical safety concern of opioid administration.

Choice C reason: Pulse is secondary; opioids may slow heart rate mildly, but respiratory suppression is the urgent risk, requiring priority monitoring before dosing.

Choice D reason: Respiratory rate is critical; opioids depress the brainstem, risking apnea, and assessing breathing ensures safety before administering this high-risk medication.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Retailers use trade or generic names; trade isn’t exclusive here, as generics are sold too, making this a shared rather than unique trait.

Choice B reason: Chemical names define molecular structure (e.g., acetaminophen); trade names (e.g., Tylenol) are brand-specific, not tied to chemistry recognition.

Choice C reason: Orders use trade or generic names (e.g., Zestril or lisinopril); trade isn’t the only option, as generics are equally valid in prescriptions.

Choice D reason: Trade names are trademarked (e.g., Viagra); this legal protection distinguishes them from generic or chemical names, ensuring brand exclusivity.

A. Administer one-half tablet. B. Administer two tablets. C. Call the pharmacy to see if 40-mg tablets are available. D. Call the pharmacy for a new bottle of the medication.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Half a tablet (10 mg) underdoses; expired drugs may degrade, and 40 mg is needed for diuresis, risking therapeutic failure in this scenario.

Choice B reason: Two tablets (40 mg) meet the dose but are expired; potency loss post-April 2013 risks inefficacy or toxicity, compromising patient safety.

Choice C reason: Seeking 40-mg tablets ignores expiration; even if available, current stock is outdated, and fresh supply is still required for reliable effect.

Choice D reason: Expired drugs (April 2013) lose potency; a new bottle ensures 40 mg of active furosemide, maintaining efficacy and safety for hypertension or edema.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A patient in pain requests the prescribed pain medication, which is an opioid. Which nursing assessment is essential before administering the opioid?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse explains that a drug may have several names. The trade name is the only name that can be:

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A patient is due for a 40-mg dose of furosemide (Lasix) at 9:00 AM on May 5, 2013. The drug label reads "20 mg per tablet." The tablets in the bottle appear firm and unbroken. The expiration date on the bottle reads "April 2, 2013." The best nursing action is to:

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

After administering a medication to a client, the nurse realizes that the client was given another client's drug. What must the nurse do next?

Which of these is the correct way for a nurse to document medication administration?

A patient in pain requests the prescribed pain medication, which is an opioid. Which nursing assessment is essential before administering the opioid?

The nurse notes that the patient is scratching and has hives 2 hours after receiving a dose of antibiotic medication. The patient soon starts having difficulty breathing and his blood pressure drops. What is the correct analysis of the patient's condition?

A hospitalized 3-year-old toddler is to receive an oral medication. For the most effective approach, the nurse should tell the child:

Which nursing action is appropriate when pulling the plunger of the syringe back prior to administering medication and blood is aspirated in the syringe?

When preparing to administer an intradermal injection to an adult, the nurse ensures that the dose amount does not exceed 0.1 mL. A 1 mL tuberculin syringe is used with a 25-gauge needle and is administered at which angle?

See the syringe diagram, what part is #7? (Assuming #7 refers to a common syringe part; no diagram provided, so standard parts assumed.)