NCLEX: A 66-year-old client in an outpatient clinic is being evaluated for pain assessment during hospitalization. Asses…

Health assessment Reduction of Risk Potential

Case Study

A 66-year-old client in an outpatient clinic is being evaluated for pain assessment during hospitalization. Assessment data include respiratory rate 8/min, shallow breathing, and SpO2 86% on room air. Before a medication-related action, what must the nurse verify?

Question

A. Right client, medication, dose, route, time, allergies, indication, and relevant monitoring per protocol.
B. Administer on schedule even when the client is unarousable.
C. Skip allergy checks if the drug was given previously without reaction.
D. Delegate medication judgment to UAP to save time.

Rationale

Correct answer: A. Right client, medication, dose, route, time, allergies, indication, and relevant monitoring per protocol.

Rationale: Medication safety requires full rights verification and monitoring; shortcuts increase error risk on the NCLEX and at the bedside.

Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.

Level: Foundational

Difficulty: Easy

Subtopic: Pain assessment