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 B

Explanation

Choice A reason: 60 gtts/min assumes 100 mL in 100 minutes; this underestimates the 1-hour order, delivering Levaquin too slowly, risking subtherapeutic antibiotic levels.

Choice B reason: 100 gtts/min is correct; 100 mL over 1 hour (60 min) with 60 gtts/mL equals 6000 gtts total, divided by 60 minutes matches the ordered rate.

Choice C reason: 120 gtts/min overestimates; it implies 100 mL in 50 minutes, infusing too fast, potentially causing Levaquin-related side effects like tachycardia or irritation.

Choice D reason: 200 gtts/min is excessive; 100 mL in 30 minutes doubles the rate, risking toxicity or infusion reactions, far exceeding the 1-hour prescription safely.

A. Lungs B. Liver C. Kidney D. Colon

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Lungs excrete volatile drugs like anesthetics; most medications aren’t metabolized here, as they lack the cytochrome enzymes needed for broad drug breakdown.

Choice B reason: The liver is the primary site; cytochrome P450 enzymes metabolize most drugs, converting them into active or excretable forms, critical for pharmacokinetics.

Choice C reason: Kidneys excrete metabolites; they filter, not metabolize, most drugs, relying on prior liver processing, making them secondary in the metabolic pathway.

Choice D reason: The colon absorbs some drugs but doesn’t metabolize most; its role is minimal compared to the liver’s extensive enzymatic drug transformation capacity.

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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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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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