The physician prescribes an oral medication for the patient. What is the primary nursing assessment of the patient prior to receiving this medication?
The patient's understanding of the medication
The patient's ability to swallow
The patient's allergies
The eyesight
The Correct Answer is B
A. The patient's understanding of the medication:
While it's important for the patient to understand their medication, assessing their understanding is typically done through patient education and counseling. This assessment is vital for promoting adherence and safe medication practices but is not the primary consideration immediately before administration.
B. The patient's ability to swallow:
This is the correct answer. Assessing the patient's ability to swallow is crucial before administering oral medications to ensure that the patient can safely and effectively take the prescribed medication without the risk of aspiration or choking.
C. The patient's allergies:
Assessing the patient's allergies is an essential step in medication administration, but it is generally part of the overall medication safety process. It may not be the primary assessment immediately before administering an oral medication, but it is a crucial consideration.
D. The eyesight:
The patient's eyesight is not typically a primary assessment before administering oral medications. While visual impairments can affect a patient's ability to read medication labels or instructions, it is not the immediate concern when assessing readiness for oral medication administration.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. As requested by the patient.
Administering the drug only when requested by the patient may not provide adequate prophylaxis against chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. These medications are often prescribed on a schedule to prevent symptoms rather than treating them reactively.
B. 1 hour after chemotherapy administration.
Waiting until 1 hour after chemotherapy administration may not cover the full period during which nausea and vomiting are likely to occur. The administration schedule for antiemetics is often more extended to provide better coverage.
C. The night before the treatment, the day of the treatment, and for 24 hours after the treatment.
This is the correct choice. Administering phenothiazine antiemetics according to this schedule helps ensure continuous coverage during the critical period when chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are most likely to occur.
D. The day of treatment.
Administering the drug only on the day of treatment may not provide sufficient coverage for the entire duration when chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can occur. Again, the schedule mentioned in option C is more comprehensive for prevention.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. A respiratory rate of 14
A respiratory rate of 14 is within the normal range and is not typically a reason to hold benztropine. Respiratory depression is not a common side effect of this medication.
B. A pulse of 102
A pulse rate of 102 is also within the normal range, and changes in heart rate are generally not a prominent side effect of benztropine. This finding alone is not a typical reason to hold the medication.
C. Blood pressure of 88/60 mmHg
This is the correct choice. Anticholinergic medications, like benztropine, can cause side effects such as a decrease in blood pressure. A blood pressure of 88/60 mmHg may be a concern, and the nurse should hold the dose and notify the physician.
D. A temperature of 100.2°F
An elevated temperature of 100.2°F is not a direct contraindication to benztropine administration. Fever is not a typical side effect of this medication, so an increased temperature alone is not a reason to hold the dose.
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