Pharmacology and Medication Administration Flashcards
6 cards from real BSN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Pharmacology and Medication Administration flashcards as text
A nurse is administering morphine sulfate IV to a postoperative patient. Which finding requires the nurse to hold the medication and contact the provider?
Answer: Respiratory rate of 9 breaths/min
A respiratory rate below 12 breaths/min indicates opioid-induced respiratory depression, requiring immediate intervention.
Which antidote should the nurse have readily available when administering IV opioids?
Answer: Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression by competitively binding mu-opioid receptors.
A patient is ordered to receive vancomycin IV. The nurse administers the drug too quickly and the patient develops flushing and erythema of the face, neck, and chest. This reaction is known as:
Answer: Red man syndrome
Red man syndrome is caused by rapid vancomycin infusion and is characterized by flushing and erythema of the upper body.
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving aminoglycoside antibiotic therapy. Which laboratory value must be monitored closely to detect early nephrotoxicity?
Answer: Serum creatinine and BUN
Aminoglycosides are nephrotoxic; rising serum creatinine and BUN are early indicators of renal damage.
A patient taking lithium carbonate reports nausea, tremors, and confusion. The nurse suspects lithium toxicity. What is the priority nursing action?
Answer: Hold the next dose and obtain a serum lithium level
Signs of lithium toxicity require immediately holding the dose and checking the serum level to confirm and guide treatment.
Which instruction is most important when teaching a patient who is starting corticosteroid therapy for an extended period?
Answer: Do not stop taking the medication abruptly
Abrupt discontinuation of long-term corticosteroids can cause adrenal insufficiency due to HPA axis suppression.