Level: Foundational
Difficulty: Easy
Subtopic: Pharmacokinetics
NCLEX: A 34-year-old client on a telemetry unit is being evaluated for a newly prescribed medication regimen. Assessment…
Pharmacology Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Case Study
A 34-year-old client on a telemetry unit is being evaluated for a newly prescribed medication regimen. Assessment data include the client has respiratory rate 10/min and is difficult to arouse after opioid administration. Which error is most dangerous on the NCLEX and in practice?
Question
A. Teaching the client after stability is confirmed.
B. Reassessing the client after an appropriate intervention.
C. Using SBAR to notify the provider about abnormal findings.
D. Choosing an intervention before identifying assessment cues and immediate safety risk.
B. Reassessing the client after an appropriate intervention.
C. Using SBAR to notify the provider about abnormal findings.
D. Choosing an intervention before identifying assessment cues and immediate safety risk.
Rationale
Correct answer: D. Choosing an intervention before identifying assessment cues and immediate safety risk.
Rationale: The most dangerous NCLEX trap is treating before assessing, which can miss life-threatening deterioration.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: The most dangerous NCLEX trap is treating before assessing, which can miss life-threatening deterioration.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.