Physical Care Flashcards

All of the following are required sources to confirm the patient's identity before administering medication EXCEPT:

Answer: Patient's room/bed number

While a patient's room/bed number might be used for initial location, it is NOT a reliable source for confirming patient identity for medication administration. Room numbers can change, or patients can be mistakenly placed in the wrong room. Essential identifiers include the patient's identification bracelet, asking the patient to state their name and date of birth, and cross-referencing with the patient's chart or medication administration record (MAR).

What is NOT an appropriate action when a patient, who is legally responsible for their care, refuses medication?

Answer: Force the patient to take it anyway.

Forcing a legally responsible patient to take medication against their will is a violation of their rights and constitutes assault and battery. Patients have the right to refuse treatment, even if it is deemed beneficial. The appropriate actions include educating the patient on the consequences of refusal, notifying the physician, and documenting the refusal and education provided.

What is the minimum number of times that you check the medication label before administering the medication?

Answer: 3

The "three checks" rule is a fundamental safety practice in medication administration to prevent errors. The medication label should be checked against the medication administration record (MAR) at least three times: when retrieving the medication, when preparing the medication, and immediately before administering it to the patient. This systematic approach significantly reduces the risk of administering the wrong drug, dose, or route.

You must administer the medication within _____ of the scheduled time.

Answer: 30 minutes

Medications should generally be administered within a specific timeframe around the scheduled time to maintain therapeutic drug levels and ensure effectiveness. The standard guideline in many healthcare settings is to administer medications within 30 minutes before or after the scheduled time. This "30-minute rule" helps ensure timely and consistent dosing while allowing for some flexibility in nursing workflow.

How many times do you check a medication calculation?

Answer: 3

Medication calculations, especially for high-alert medications or pediatric doses, require extreme precision to prevent serious errors. It is a critical safety practice to have medication calculations checked independently by at least two, and ideally three, qualified individuals (e.g., two nurses or a nurse and a pharmacist). This triple-check system significantly reduces the chance of a calculation error leading to an incorrect dose.

Which of the following is used to minimize skin irritation by sealing the medication in muscle tissue?

Answer: Z-track method

The Z-track method is a specific intramuscular injection technique used to prevent medication from leaking back into the subcutaneous tissue, which can cause irritation, pain, or discoloration. By pulling the skin and subcutaneous tissue to one side before injection and releasing it after, the needle track is sealed, ensuring the medication remains deep within the muscle. This method is particularly useful for irritating medications.

Which part of a syringe is pushed to move the fluid out?

Answer: Plunger

The plunger is the component of a syringe that is pushed or pulled to move fluid in or out of the barrel. When pushed, it creates pressure that expels the medication through the needle. When pulled, it creates a vacuum that draws fluid into the barrel.

Which part of a syringe holds medication.?

Answer: Barrel

The barrel is the main cylindrical body of the syringe that holds the medication or fluid. It typically has calibrated markings to measure the volume of the substance being drawn up or administered. The plunger slides within the barrel to control the movement of the fluid.

Which injection is given into the subcutaneous tissues for a sustained release? (insulin)

Answer: Subcutaneous

Subcutaneous injections are administered into the fatty tissue layer just beneath the skin. This route is ideal for medications like insulin or heparin that require slower absorption and a sustained release effect, as the subcutaneous tissue has fewer blood vessels compared to muscle. This allows for a more gradual and prolonged action of the drug.

What must be done by the nurse to ensure key steps are followed while administering medication?

Answer: Check for discoloration and expiration of the drug.

Before administering any medication, a crucial step for a nurse is to visually inspect the drug for any discoloration, precipitates, or changes in consistency, and to verify its expiration date. This ensures the medication's integrity, potency, and safety, as expired or compromised drugs can be ineffective or harmful. This is part of the "right drug" and "right time" checks.

During medication administration how can the nurse properly confirm he or she has the right patient?

Answer: Ask the patient to state their full name along with their date of birth and compare this information to the medication administration record and the patient's ID arm band.

To properly confirm the "right patient" during medication administration, a nurse must use at least two patient identifiers. The most reliable method involves asking the patient to state their full name and date of birth, and then comparing this verbal information against both the medication administration record (MAR) and the patient's identification armband. This multi-faceted approach minimizes the risk of administering medication to the wrong individual.