The nurse has received a verbal STAT order for a critical care patient from the health-care provider at 11:30 a.m. and is preparing to administer the medication. Which is the priority nursing action?
Contact the pharmacist to verify the order.
Wait until the information is updated in the patient's medication profile.
Schedule the medication to be given at noon.
Administer the medication now.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Contact the pharmacist to verify the order: While verifying orders is important, for a STAT order, the priority is to administer the medication immediately. Verification can be done simultaneously or afterward if needed.
B. Wait until the information is updated in the patient's medication profile: Waiting to update the profile could delay crucial treatment. For a STAT order, immediate administration takes precedence.
C. Schedule the medication to be given at noon: Scheduling is not appropriate for a STAT order, which requires immediate administration due to its urgency.
D. Administer the medication now: This is the correct answer. STAT orders are meant to be administered as quickly as possible to address critical conditions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Verify dosage based on weight calculation. This is the most critical safety action, as pediatric dosages are often weight-based to prevent overdosing or underdosing, ensuring the child's safety and the medication's efficacy.
B. Make sure that the medication has a barcode. While barcode scanning is important to verify the correct medication, it is a secondary action compared to ensuring the correct dosage based on weight.
C. Have a glass of water at the bedside. While having water available can be helpful, especially for oral medications, it is not a critical safety action. The focus should be on the correct dosage.
D. Ask the child if they have taken this medication before. While it can be useful to know a child's previous experience with a medication, this is not a priority safety action compared to verifying the correct dose.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Hemoglobin 12 mg/dL: Hemoglobin levels reflect the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and are not directly related to kidney function or medication dosage adjustments. This value is within the normal range and does not suggest a need for medication dosage changes.
B. Glucose 100 mg/dL: Blood glucose levels are not directly related to kidney function and do not indicate the need to adjust medication dosages. This value is within normal limits.
C. Creatinine 8 mg/dL: Creatinine levels are a key indicator of kidney function. A creatinine level of 8 mg/dL is significantly elevated, suggesting severe renal impairment. Medications that are excreted by the kidneys may need to be dosed lower or avoided altogether to prevent toxicity.
D. Potassium 4.0 mEq/L: This is a normal potassium level and does not indicate the need for medication dosage adjustments. While potassium levels are important in kidney disease, this specific value does not suggest a dosage change is necessary.
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