What action should the nurse take if a coworker asks them to administer a medication they prepared?
Administer the medication since it was prepared by a trusted colleague.
Ask the client if they are expecting this medication before administering it.
Politely decline and suggest the coworker administers it themselves.
Verify the medication with the pharmacy before administering it.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Administer the medication since it was prepared by a trusted colleague: Administering a medication prepared by someone else violates the “five rights” of medication administration and increases the risk of errors, regardless of trust. Accountability for safe administration rests with the nurse who gives the medication.
B. Ask the client if they are expecting this medication before administering it: While confirming with the client can help identify discrepancies, clients may not always know medication names or doses, making this an unreliable sole verification method. It does not replace professional responsibility for safe administration.
C. Politely decline and suggest the coworker administers it themselves: Nurses are responsible for administering only medications they have personally prepared or verified. Declining ensures adherence to safety standards, prevents errors, and maintains professional accountability. This approach aligns with ethical and regulatory guidelines.
D. Verify the medication with the pharmacy before administering it: Although verifying with the pharmacy is a safety measure, it is not practical for an immediate administration scenario and does not replace the nurse’s responsibility to prepare or personally verify the medication prior to giving it.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. QHS: This abbreviation stands for “every night at bedtime” and is used to indicate the timing of medication administration, not frequency on alternating days.
B. BID: BID means “twice a day” and specifies that the medication should be administered approximately every 12 hours. It does not indicate alternating day dosing.
C. QOD: QOD is the standard abbreviation for “every other day,” indicating that the medication should be given on alternating days. This abbreviation is commonly used in outpatient and inpatient orders to simplify scheduling.
D. TID: TID stands for “three times a day,” usually spaced about every 8 hours, and does not reflect an every-other-day schedule.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. 2.0 mg: Writing a trailing zero before the decimal point can cause a tenfold overdose if the decimal is missed or misread. This is a high-risk notation and is not recommended for safety.
B. 0.2 mg: Leading zeros before a decimal point are required for doses less than one to prevent misinterpretation. “0.2 mg” clearly indicates two-tenths of a milligram and minimizes the risk of a tenfold dosing error.
C. 0.20 mg: Although technically correct, the extra zero may be unnecessary and could be misinterpreted in some handwritten contexts. The standard safe practice emphasizes clarity and minimal ambiguity, which “0.2 mg” provides.
D. 2 mg: This represents two milligrams, not two-tenths of a milligram. Using this notation would result in a tenfold overdose if intended as 0.2 mg.
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