Which actions should a nurse take to prevent medication errors?
Select all that apply.

Ask the charge nurse to administer the medication

Know the recommended dose range for the drug

Calculate all drug dosages by body surface area

Question a drug dose that appears incorrect

Recalculate the drug dosage if in doubt

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : B,D,E

Preventing medication errors is a crucial aspect of nursing practice to ensure patient safety. Here are the explanations for the correct options:

b. Know the recommended dose range for the drug: It is essential for nurses to be knowledgeable about the recommended dose range for the medications they administer. Understanding the appropriate dosages helps in identifying any potential errors or discrepancies.

d. Question a drug dose that appears incorrect: If a nurse comes across a drug dose that seems incorrect or questionable, it is important to clarify and verify the dosage with the prescribing healthcare provider or pharmacist. This helps to prevent the administration of potentially harmful doses.

e. Recalculate the drug dosage if in doubt: If a nurse has doubts or uncertainties about the calculated drug dosage, it is crucial to double-check the calculations and recalculate to ensure accuracy. Being cautious and thorough in dosage calculations reduces the risk of medication errors.

a. Ask the charge nurse to administer the medication: While it is always advisable to seek guidance or clarification from senior nurses or charge nurses, the responsibility of administering medications lies with the nurse who has the knowledge and training to do so. Depending solely on the charge nurse to administer medications may not be practical or feasible in all situations.

c. Calculate all drug dosages by body surface area: Calculating drug dosages based on body surface area is necessary for certain medications, especially those with narrow therapeutic ranges or when administering chemotherapy drugs. However, it is not applicable to all medications. The method of dosage calculation varies depending on the medication and prescribed dosage regimen.

Therefore, the correct actions a nurse should take to prevent medication errors are knowing the recommended dose range for the drug, questioning a drug dose that appears incorrect, and recalculating the drug dosage if in doubt.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

To determine the correct answer, we can use a proportion to find the equivalent amount of oral suspension

based on the given dosage.

The ratio of amoxicillin in the oral suspension is 200 mg per 5 mL. We need to find how many milliliters (mL) of the oral suspension contain 500 mg of amoxicillin.

Setting up the proportion, we have:

200 mg / 5 mL = 500 mg / x mL

Cross-multiplying, we get:

200 mg * x mL = 5 mL * 500 mg

Simplifying, we have:

200x = 2500

Dividing both sides by 200, we find:

x = 2500 / 200

x ≈ 12.5 mL

Therefore, the correct answer is c. 12.5 mL. The nurse should administer 12.5 mL of the amoxicillin oral suspension to deliver a dose of 500 mg of amoxicillin to the patient with a sinus infection.

A. Draw up the NPH insulin into the insulin syringe followed by the regular insulin. B. Draw up one-half of the NPH insulin followed by one-half of the regular insulin and repeat. C. Draw up the regular insulin into the insulin syringe followed by the NPH insulin. D. Draw up one-half of the regular insulin followed by one-half of the NPH insulin and repeat. E. Draw up one-half of the regular insulin followed by one-half of the NPH insulin and repeat.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

When mixing regular and NPH insulin, it is important to follow the correct steps to ensure proper administration. The general rule is to inject air into the NPH vial, then inject air into the regular vial, draw up the regular insulin, and then draw up the NPH insulin¹.

A. Drawing up the NPH insulin first would be incorrect because it could contaminate the regular insulin with NPH insulin.

B. Drawing up one-half of each insulin at a time would be incorrect because it could result in an inaccurate dosage.

D. Drawing up one-half of each insulin at a time would be incorrect because it could result in an inaccurate dosage.

View Question and Answer

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Which actions should a nurse take to prevent medication errors? Select all that apply.

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Amoxicillin 500 mg is ordered for a patient with a sinus infection. Amoxicillin oral suspension 200 mg per 5 mL is available. How many mL should the nurse administer?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The patient needs regular insulin and NPH insulin subcutaneously. The nurse will mix both insulins in the same syringe. What is the correct technique for preparing this insulin order?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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Which actions should a nurse take to prevent medication errors?
Select all that apply.