LVN Pharmacology & Medication Administration 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The LVN is preparing to give an enteric-coated tablet. Which action is correct?
- Crush it and mix with applesauce for easier swallowing
- Administer it whole without crushing or chewing (Correct answer)
- Dissolve it in water before giving
- Cut it in half to reduce dose
Correct answer: Administer it whole without crushing or chewing
Enteric-coated tablets must be swallowed whole to protect the stomach lining and ensure the medication dissolves in the intestine.
Question 2: A patient develops urticaria and wheezing shortly after a penicillin injection. The LVN recognizes this as:
- A common side effect requiring monitoring only
- An anaphylactic reaction requiring immediate intervention (Correct answer)
- A delayed hypersensitivity reaction
- A mild allergic response treated with antihistamines
Correct answer: An anaphylactic reaction requiring immediate intervention
Urticaria combined with wheezing after a medication indicates anaphylaxis, a life-threatening emergency requiring epinephrine and immediate intervention.
Question 3: When using the Z-track method for IM injection, what is the primary purpose?
- Reduce patient anxiety
- Prevent medication from leaking into subcutaneous tissue (Correct answer)
- Increase absorption rate
- Reduce the risk of hitting a blood vessel
Correct answer: Prevent medication from leaking into subcutaneous tissue
The Z-track method displaces and then releases the tissue after injection, sealing the medication in the muscle and preventing leakage into subcutaneous tissue.
Question 4: An LVN is preparing insulin. Which type of insulin is always drawn up first when mixing two insulins in one syringe?
- Long-acting (cloudy) insulin
- Short-acting (clear) insulin (Correct answer)
- Either order is acceptable
- The insulin with the higher dose
Correct answer: Short-acting (clear) insulin
Clear (short-acting) insulin is drawn up before cloudy (long-acting) insulin to prevent contaminating the short-acting vial with long-acting insulin.
Question 5: A patient taking a statin medication (e.g., atorvastatin) reports muscle pain and weakness. The LVN should:
- Reassure the patient that this is a normal expected side effect
- Report to the charge nurse/physician immediately as this may indicate rhabdomyolysis (Correct answer)
- Advise the patient to take the medication with food
- Suggest the patient increase physical activity
Correct answer: Report to the charge nurse/physician immediately as this may indicate rhabdomyolysis
Muscle pain and weakness in a patient on statins may indicate rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition causing muscle breakdown and potential kidney failure.
Question 6: Which assessment finding would cause the LVN to hold a scheduled dose of metoprolol?
- Blood pressure of 140/88 mmHg
- Heart rate of 48 beats per minute (Correct answer)
- Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
- Temperature of 99.1°F
Correct answer: Heart rate of 48 beats per minute
Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that slows heart rate; it should be held and the physician notified if the heart rate is below 60 bpm.
Question 7: A medication order reads: 'Amoxicillin 500 mg PO TID x 10 days.' How many total doses will the patient receive?
- 10 doses
- 20 doses
- 30 doses (Correct answer)
- 14 doses
Correct answer: 30 doses
TID means three times daily; 3 doses/day × 10 days = 30 total doses.
LVN Pharmacology & Medication Administration 5
The LVN is preparing to give an enteric-coated tablet.
Which action is correct?