Medication Administration Flashcards
7 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medication Administration flashcards as text
A patient receiving IV heparin develops sudden hematuria and petechiae. The LVN should first:
Answer: Stop the infusion and notify the charge nurse or provider immediately
Signs of bleeding are serious adverse effects of heparin; the infusion must be stopped and the provider notified immediately.
The LVN must administer an enteric-coated aspirin. Which instruction to the patient is correct?
Answer: Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water
Enteric-coated tablets must be swallowed whole to protect the stomach lining and ensure proper drug release.
Which medication route provides the fastest absorption into the bloodstream?
Answer: Intravenous (IV)
IV administration delivers the drug directly into the bloodstream, achieving the fastest and most complete absorption.
A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin sublingual for angina. The nurse instructs the patient to:
Answer: Place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve
Sublingual nitroglycerin is absorbed rapidly through the mucous membranes under the tongue for quick onset.
When administering a transdermal patch, the LVN should:
Answer: Remove the old patch, clean the skin, and rotate sites with each new patch
Removing the old patch, cleaning residual medication, and rotating sites prevents skin irritation and ensures consistent drug delivery.
Which assessment is the priority BEFORE administering digoxin to a patient?
Answer: Apical pulse for one full minute
Digoxin is held and the provider notified if the apical pulse is below 60 bpm, making it the priority pre-administration assessment.
A patient is ordered 'NPO after midnight' for surgery but has a morning cardiac medication. The LVN should:
Answer: Administer the cardiac medication with a sip of water after clarifying with the surgeon
Most cardiac medications are critical to continue perioperatively; the nurse clarifies the NPO order with the surgeon and administers with a minimal sip of water if approved.