Why does the nurse administer lorazepam intramuscularly (IM) to the patient rather than into the subcutaneous tissue?

The patient does not have enough body fat to give the medication subcutaneously.

Intramuscular injections require smaller needles than subcutaneous injections.

The medication will be absorbed and begin to work more quickly when given IM.

Intramuscular injections are preferred for patients with a high risk of bleeding.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: Body fat levels influence subcutaneous absorption but are not the primary reason for choosing IM over SC injection in this scenario.

Choice B reason: Needle size varies by medication and patient factors, but this is not the defining reason for selecting IM over SC injection.

Choice C reason: IM injections deliver medication directly to muscle tissue with a rich vascular supply, ensuring faster absorption and onset compared to subcutaneous administration.

Choice D reason: IM injections are not inherently safer for patients at risk of bleeding; they carry similar risks and require proper assessment before administration.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Blood aspiration indicates vascular entry; discarding prevents IV administration of a drug meant for another route, avoiding rapid absorption risks or contamination.

Choice B reason: Giving despite blood risks unintended IV delivery; drugs like IM injections aren’t formulated for this, potentially causing toxicity or embolism.

Choice C reason: Changing the needle doesn’t address blood-mixed medication; it remains unsafe for injection, as the dose is compromised and potentially contaminated.

Choice D reason: Omitting skips treatment unnecessarily; the issue is procedural, not the order, and restarting ensures the patient receives the intended therapy safely.

A. Check the patient's identification number on the wristband. B. Check the patient's name on the wristband and compare it with the MAR. C. Check the name and hospital number on the wristband and compare them to the MAR. D. Call each patient by his given name, ask for his birthday, and compare with the MAR.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: An ID number alone lacks context; without name confirmation, it risks mismatching if wristbands are swapped, missing a critical identity check.

Choice B reason: Name alone may coincide with common names; without a unique identifier like a hospital number, this method risks errors in a busy unit.

Choice C reason: Name and hospital number provide dual identifiers; this matches the MAR precisely, ensuring accuracy for an unconscious patient per safety standards.

Choice D reason: Calling an unconscious patient is futile; they can’t respond, making this impractical and unreliable compared to objective wristband verification.

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Why does the nurse administer lorazepam intramuscularly (IM) to the patient rather than into the subcutaneous tissue?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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