BSN Pharmacology and Medication Administration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse is administering morphine sulfate IV to a postoperative patient. Which finding requires the nurse to hold the medication and contact the provider?
- Respiratory rate of 9 breaths/min (Correct answer)
- Pain score of 7/10
- Blood pressure of 130/82 mmHg
- Heart rate of 78 bpm
Correct answer: Respiratory rate of 9 breaths/min
A respiratory rate below 12 breaths/min indicates opioid-induced respiratory depression, requiring immediate intervention.
Question 2: Which antidote should the nurse have readily available when administering IV opioids?
- Naloxone (Narcan) (Correct answer)
- Flumazenil (Romazicon)
- Protamine sulfate
- Vitamin K (phytonadione)
Correct answer: Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression by competitively binding mu-opioid receptors.
Question 3: 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:
- Red man syndrome (Correct answer)
- Anaphylaxis
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Serum sickness
Correct answer: Red man syndrome
Red man syndrome is caused by rapid vancomycin infusion and is characterized by flushing and erythema of the upper body.
Question 4: The nurse is caring for a patient receiving aminoglycoside antibiotic therapy. Which laboratory value must be monitored closely to detect early nephrotoxicity?
- Serum creatinine and BUN (Correct answer)
- Serum potassium level
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Liver function tests (AST/ALT)
Correct answer: Serum creatinine and BUN
Aminoglycosides are nephrotoxic; rising serum creatinine and BUN are early indicators of renal damage.
Question 5: A patient taking lithium carbonate reports nausea, tremors, and confusion. The nurse suspects lithium toxicity. What is the priority nursing action?
- Hold the next dose and obtain a serum lithium level (Correct answer)
- Administer an antiemetic for nausea relief
- Encourage increased fluid intake and salt intake
- Reassure the patient that these are expected side effects
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which instruction is most important when teaching a patient who is starting corticosteroid therapy for an extended period?
- Do not stop taking the medication abruptly (Correct answer)
- Take the medication on an empty stomach
- Expect a permanent decrease in appetite
- Avoid all live and inactivated vaccines indefinitely
Correct answer: Do not stop taking the medication abruptly
Abrupt discontinuation of long-term corticosteroids can cause adrenal insufficiency due to HPA axis suppression.
BSN Pharmacology and Medication Administration 2
A nurse is administering morphine sulfate IV to a postoperative patient.
Which finding requires the nurse to hold the medication and contact the provider?