Safe Medication Administration Flashcards

A patient is prescribed metformin 500 mg PO BID. When is the best time to administer this medication?

Answer: With meals to reduce GI upset

Metformin should be taken with meals to minimize gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhea.

Which action should the RPN take first when a medication error is discovered?

Answer: Assess the patient for adverse effects

Patient safety is the priority; the RPN must first assess the patient for any adverse effects from the medication error.

A nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous insulin injection. Which site rotation principle is most important?

Answer: Rotate sites within each anatomical region before moving to another

Rotating within one anatomical region before switching to another ensures consistent insulin absorption rates.

When administering an IV piggyback medication, the RPN should verify compatibility with which primary solution first?

Answer: Review the pharmacy compatibility reference or pharmacist

Drug compatibility must be verified through a reliable pharmacy reference or pharmacist before mixing or co-administering IV medications.

A patient refuses a prescribed medication. What is the appropriate RPN response?

Answer: Document the refusal and notify the prescriber

Patients have the right to refuse treatment; the nurse must document the refusal and inform the prescriber so the care plan can be adjusted.

Which is the safest method to confirm a patient's identity before medication administration?

Answer: Use two patient identifiers such as name and date of birth

Using two independent patient identifiers (e.g., full name and date of birth) is the standard for safe patient identification.

An RPN prepares a dose of warfarin and notices the INR result is 4.8. What is the priority action?

Answer: Hold the dose and notify the prescriber immediately

An INR of 4.8 is supratherapeutic and indicates bleeding risk; the nurse must withhold warfarin and contact the prescriber for further orders.