A client hospitalized on a medical-surgical unit reports difficulty swallowing and asks the practical nurse to crush their scheduled morning medications. The client's medication administration record includes enteric-coated aspirin, extended-release potassium chloride, and a scored acetaminophen tablet. Which action should the practical nurse take?
- Crush the scored acetaminophen tablet, withhold the aspirin and potassium chloride, and notify the registered nurse.Cevap
- BAccept a delegation from the registered nurse to administer the medications via intravenous push instead.
- CCrush all three medications and administer them after using the client's room number as the single identifier.
- DCalculate a halved dose of the extended-release potassium chloride before crushing it to avoid toxicity.
Cevap
The practical nurse should crush only the scored acetaminophen tablet, withhold the enteric-coated aspirin and extended-release potassium chloride, and notify the registered nurse.
The correct action demonstrates safe pharmacological practice and adherence to the practical nurse's scope. Scored standard tablets like acetaminophen can be crushed. However, crushing enteric-coated aspirin destroys the coating designed to protect the stomach lining, and crushing extended-release potassium chloride causes immediate release of the entire dose, which can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias. The nurse must withhold the uncrushable medications and notify the registered nurse so alternative prescriptions can be obtained.
Adım Adım Çözüm
Anahtar Kavram
Safe medication administration and the practical nurse's scope of practice regarding uncrushable medications.