The nurse is preparing to administer a medication from a unit-dose system. The nurse verifies that the medication, dose, and time are correct and that the expiration date was the day prior. Which action is correct?
Administer the medication and observe for adequate drug effects.
Notify the pharmacist and provider of a medication error.
Return the medication to the pharmacy to be replaced.
Verify the right patient and administer the medication.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Administering an expired medication is unsafe. Even if the medication appears unchanged, its potency, stability, and effectiveness may be compromised.
B. There is no medication error in this scenario, as the nurse has not yet administered the drug. However, the pharmacy should be notified so that a replacement can be provided.
C. The appropriate action is to return the expired medication to the pharmacy for a replacement. Medications should not be administered if they are past their expiration date, as this can affect efficacy and patient safety.
D. Verifying the right patient is part of safe medication administration, but it does not address the issue of the expired medication. The correct response is to obtain a non-expired dose from the pharmacy.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","C"]
Explanation
a) Teaching the patient how to cope with therapy is part of the nurse's responsibility to ensure the patient understands the treatment regimen, side effects, and how to manage any challenges, thus improving outcomes.
b) Providing therapy refers to administering medications, but nurses generally do not "provide therapy" in the broader sense (such as deciding what therapy a patient needs beyond the prescribed drug regimen).
c) Evaluating the effectiveness of therapy is the nurse's responsibility as part of the ongoing assessment. The nurse should monitor how well the drug is working and identify any adverse effects.
d) Altering the drug regimen is outside the nurse’s scope of practice. Nurses can suggest changes or communicate concerns, but altering drug regimens requires a healthcare provider’s approval.
e) Recommending over-the-counter medications for adverse effects is not within the nurse's scope unless advised by a healthcare provider. Nurses should guide patients based on provider orders and not independently suggest over-the-counter remedies.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
a) The Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) is a valuable resource but is primarily designed for physicians. It contains drug manufacturer information but may lack nursing-specific details like patient education, nursing interventions, and administration guidelines.
b) A Nurse's Drug Guide/Handbook is the best resource for nurses because it includes essential nursing considerations such as patient education, side effects, contraindications, nursing interventions, and administration tips.
c) A drug package insert provides useful information but is not comprehensive and does not include nursing-specific recommendations. It primarily contains manufacturer-provided details on indications, dosing, and warnings.
d) Drug Facts and Comparisons is a resource primarily used by pharmacists for comparing medications rather than providing nursing-focused drug information.
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