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Difficulty: EasyPharmacological Therapies

A registered nurse (RN) is caring for a client who was recently admitted with severe sepsis. The RN is busy initiating an emergency blood transfusion for another client and asks the practical nurse (PN) to assist with the septic client's medication administration. Which pharmacological task is most appropriate for the PN to accept?

  1. Administering a scheduled oral dose of acetaminophen for an elevated temperatureAnswer
  2. B
    Administering the initial dose of an intravenous (IV) broad-spectrum antibiotic
  3. C
    Titrating a continuous IV infusion of norepinephrine based on blood pressure trends
  4. D
    Assessing the client's therapeutic response shortly after an IV push analgesic was given

Answer

Administering a scheduled oral dose of acetaminophen for an elevated temperature
The administration of standard, scheduled oral medications is a fundamental skill well within the practical nurse scope of practice. Even when a client is acutely ill, giving a basic oral antipyretic does not require the advanced clinical judgment or immediate physiological assessment that intravenous therapies demand.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the client's condition and the tasks being delegated by the registered nurse.
The client has severe sepsis, but the tasks involve different routes and levels of clinical judgment.
Delegation must match the legal scope of practice for a practical nurse, regardless of how busy the unit is.
2
Evaluate each pharmacological task against the standard practical nurse (PN) scope of practice.
IV push medications, initial IV antibiotic doses, vasoactive titrations, and primary evaluations are identified as out of scope.
These tasks require advanced nursing assessment, clinical judgment, and interpretation of unstable physiological changes.
3
Identify the task that involves routine administration without the need for advanced initial assessment.
Providing a scheduled oral antipyretic is identified as a safe, within-scope task.
Oral medication administration is a core competency for practical nurses.

Key Concept

LPN/LVN Scope of Practice in Pharmacological Therapies
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Pharmacological Therapies

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