Haldol (haloperidol) 5.0 mg PO tid was ordered for a patient who is agitated.
Which action should a nurse take before administering the medication?
Discuss the use of PO with the healthcare provider.
Discuss the use of tid with the healthcare provider.
Discuss the use of Haldol with the healthcare provider.
Discuss the use of the trailing zero with the healthcare provider.
The Correct Answer is D
This action should be taken by the nurse before administering the medication because the use of a trailing zero after a decimal point (5.0 mg) is a common cause of medication errors and should be avoided. A trailing zero may be misread or misinterpreted as a larger dose (50 mg) or omited altogether, resulting in a 10-fold overdose or underdose, respectively. For example, when prescriptions have been writen for "Coumadin 1.0 mg," patients have received 10 mg in error. Therefore, the nurse should clarify the intended dose with the healthcare provider and use the correct notation (5 mg) without a trailing zero.
The other options are not appropriate actions because:
a) Discussing the use of PO (by mouth) with the healthcare provider is not necessary, as PO is a standard route of administration for Haldol (haloperidol) and does not pose a risk of confusion or error.
b) Discussing the use of tid (three times a day) with the healthcare provider is not necessary, as tid is a standard frequency of administration for Haldol and does not pose a risk of confusion or error.
c) Discussing the use of Haldol with the healthcare provider is not relevant to the question, as Haldol is the prescribed medication for the patient who is agitated and does not need to be changed or questioned by the nurse.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
To answer this question, we need to calculate the infusion rate in mL per hour, then multiply it by the total time in hours, and finally divide it by 1000 to get the volume in litres.
The infusion rate in mL per hour is the amount of fluid that is given to a patient over a period of time. It can be calculated by dividing the total volume of fluid in mL by the total time in hours². In this case, the infusion rate is:
2.75 mL/min × 60 min/h = 165 mL/h
The total volume of fluid in mL is the infusion rate multiplied by the total time in hours. In this case, the total volume is:
165 mL/h × 7 h = 1155 mL
The volume in litres is the volume in mL divided by 1000. In this case, the volume in litres is:
1155 mL / 1000 = 1.16 L
Therefore, the correct answer is d. 1.16 L.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A lozenge is a type of medication that is designed to dissolve slowly in the mouth, usually to treat sore throat, cough, or oral infections. It should not be divided or crushed for administration because it may alter its effectiveness, taste, or absorption. It should also not be swallowed whole because it may cause choking or irritation.
A capsule is a type of medication that consists of a gelatin shell enclosing a powder or liquid. It can be opened and sprinkled on soft food or mixed with water for administration unless it is an extended-release or enteric-coated capsule.
A scored tablet is a type of medication that has a groove or indentation on its surface to facilitate breaking into equal halves or quarters. It can be divided along the score line for administration unless it is an extended-release or enteric-coated tablet.
An unscored tablet is a type of medication that does not have a groove or indentation on its surface. It can be crushed or cut into smaller pieces for administration unless it is an extended-release or enteric-coated tablet.

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