A practical nurse (PN) is caring for an adult client with a history of a seizure disorder. The client has no known allergies and their morning vital signs are stable. The provider's prescription states: "phenytoin mg, PO, every hours." The pharmacy supplies the medication in a liquid suspension labeled "phenytoin mg / mL." Which of the following actions should the PN take to safely administer this medication?
- Verify the client's identity using their full name and date of birth, then administer mL of the suspension.Answer
- BScan the client's identification band and the medication barcode, then administer mL of the suspension.
- CAsk the client to confirm their name and date of birth, then administer mL of the suspension.
- DConfirm the client's identity by checking the room number and bed assignment, then administer mL of the suspension.
Answer
The practical nurse should verify the client's identity using their full name and date of birth, then administer mL of the suspension.
Safe medication administration requires fulfilling all the 'rights' of medication administration. First, the practical nurse must calculate the correct dosage. Using the formula , the calculation is . Second, the nurse must verify the 'right client' using at least two distinct, acceptable identifiers. The client's full name and date of birth are standard, safe identifiers. Therefore, the option that combines the accurate mL dose with these valid identifiers is the only safe and correct action.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Safe medication administration involves both precise dosage calculation and strict adherence to the rights of medication administration, including proper client identification.