Which pain medication may be administered to the patient as needed?

Fentanyl transdermal patch 25 mcg every 3 days

Acetaminophen with oxycodone 10 mg/325 mg PO every 6 hours

Morphine extended-release 60 mg PO every 12 hours

Ketorolac 10 mg IV every 4 hours as needed

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: Fentanyl patches provide continuous opioid delivery for 72 hours; their fixed schedule isn’t “as needed,” making them unsuitable for acute, variable pain management.

Choice B reason: Acetaminophen with oxycodone is scheduled every 6 hours; this fixed interval lacks the flexibility of “as needed,” limiting its use for breakthrough pain relief.

Choice C reason: Morphine extended-release is designed for sustained release over 12 hours; its fixed dosing isn’t “as needed,” restricting its role to chronic, not acute, pain control.

Choice D reason: Ketorolac IV every 4 hours prn allows flexible dosing; this NSAID targets inflammation and pain acutely, ideal for as-needed administration within safe limits.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Consulting ensures safety; not all drugs can be altered, and the provider adjusts the order, preventing errors in bioavailability or efficacy.

Choice B reason: Liquid may work, but without approval, it’s unauthorized; some drugs lack liquid forms, and this bypasses necessary prescriber oversight.

Choice C reason: Parenteral needs an order change; administering without it violates scope, and it’s invasive, escalating care unnecessarily as a first step.

Choice D reason: Crushing alters pharmacokinetics; many tablets (e.g., extended-release) can’t be crushed, and doing so without checking risks toxicity or inefficacy.

A. In the medication room B. Outside the door to the patient’s room C. At the medication cart D. At the patient’s bedside

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Removing in the medication room risks mix-ups; tablets could be dropped or misidentified before reaching the patient, compromising the three-check safety protocol.

Choice B reason: Outside the door is premature; without the patient present, verification against the MAR is incomplete, increasing error risk before final identity confirmation.

Choice C reason: At the cart is too early; medication stays packaged until bedside to ensure the right patient, right drug match, reducing handling errors or contamination.

Choice D reason: Bedside removal allows final MAR check with patient ID; it ensures accuracy, prevents mix-ups, and aligns with safety standards for administering oral medications.

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Which pain medication may be administered to the patient as needed?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is caring for a client who has difficulty swallowing a large tablet of a prescribed drug. What action should the nurse take first?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to administer a tablet to the patient. When should the nurse remove the medication from its unit dose package?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

What are the concepts considered to be rights of medication administration? (Select all that apply.)

When categorizing medications, drug classifications may be defined by the effects of the drug and:

Using the label, what is the strength of the medication? (No label; assuming Zestril from prior context.)

The physician orders Salagen 10 mg po twice a day for dry eyes. The medication is supplied in 5-mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer?

How will the nurse administer a nitroglycerin sublingual tablet to the patient?

The nurse is reviewing medication errors. Which situation is an example of a medication error?

See the syringe diagram, what part is #7? (Assuming #7 refers to a common syringe part; no diagram provided, so standard parts assumed.)

After receiving Nembutal PO at bedtime, a client is wide awake all night instead of going to sleep. What kind of adverse reaction to a drug does this situation represent?