When administering a medication that requires peak and trough levels, what is the nurse's best action?
Give the medication only when the client requests
Coordinate administration with laboratory timing for accurate peak and trough levels.
Administer the medication at any time
Ensure the client consumes a high fat meal with the medication.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Give the medication only when the client requests: Administering medication on the client’s request may not align with the timing needed for accurate peak and trough levels. This approach can compromise therapeutic monitoring and safety.
B. Coordinate administration with laboratory timing for accurate peak and trough levels: Peak and trough levels measure the highest and lowest concentrations of a medication in the blood to ensure efficacy and prevent toxicity. Proper coordination of dosing and lab draws is essential for accurate monitoring and safe medication management.
C. Administer the medication at any time: Giving the medication without regard to timing can result in inaccurate peak and trough measurements, increasing the risk of underdosing or toxicity. Timing is critical for medications requiring serum level monitoring.
D. Ensure the client consumes a high-fat meal with the medication: Food content may affect absorption of some medications, but a high-fat meal is not a universal requirement and does not replace correct timing for peak and trough monitoring. It is not the primary consideration in this scenario.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. "Drinking alcohol is fine as long as you limit your drinking to one or two servings while on your medication.":Even small amounts of alcohol can dangerously enhance the sedative effects of alprazolam. This advice is unsafe and may place the patient at risk for respiratory depression, sedation, or overdose.
B. "Drinking alcohol with your medication can increase its action. Best practice is to cut your dosage in half if you plan to drink.":Adjusting the alprazolam dose while continuing to drink alcohol is unsafe. The interaction is unpredictable, and CNS depression can occur even at reduced doses. Dose manipulation is not a safe strategy in this context.
C. "Combining these two substances can lead to severe CNS suppression which is potentially fatal. These two substances should never be mixed together.":Both alprazolam and alcohol are central nervous system depressants. When combined, they can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, or death. Education on avoiding alcohol is critical for patient safety.
D. "Combining the two substances can have a synergistic effect. This should help greatly with your anxiety.":While the combination does enhance sedative effects, it is extremely dangerous rather than therapeutic. Misleading the patient to view the interaction as beneficial could result in life-threatening consequences.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Discard the medication and obtain a new one from the pharmacy:Medications past their expiration date may have reduced potency or unknown chemical changes, making them unsafe or ineffective. The correct and safe practice is to discard expired medication and obtain a current supply.
B. Administer the medication if the client has taken it before without issues:Previous tolerance does not guarantee safety or effectiveness of an expired medication. Administration could result in subtherapeutic effects or adverse reactions.
C. Check with another nurse if it's okay to administer:While collaboration is important, the ultimate responsibility is patient safety. Expired medications should not be administered under any circumstances, regardless of peer approval.
D. Continue with administration and notify the healthcare provider later:Administering an expired medication compromises patient safety. The healthcare provider should be informed beforeadministration if an alternative is needed, not afterward.
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