Reading Medication Labels and Syringes

Chapter 9

1. Which of these statements is true regarding the names of medications?
2. A medication can only have one trade name.
3. A medication can have more than one generic name.
4. The trade name of a medication can only be used by the company that owns the trademark.
5. The generic name of a medication describes its chemical properties
6. A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a patient. The patient is unable to swallow whole tablets. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
7. Crush the medication after referring to a reliable resource to ensure that the action of the drug is not altered by crushing.
8. Dissolve the drug in a large quantity of water.
9. Hold the medication until the patient can swallow.
10. Call the provider.

Use the following label to answer questions 3–6.

1. What is the generic name of this drug? ____________________________
2. What is the dosage strength of this drug? __________________________
3. What volume (mL) of medication does this vial hold? _________________
4. How should this drug be administered? ____________________________

Use the following label to answer questions 7–11.

1. What is the generic name of this drug? ____________________________
2. What is the dosage strength of this drug? ____________________
3. Who is the manufacturer of this drug? _________
4. What volume of medication does this vial hold? _________
5. By which route(s) can this drug be given before dilution? _________________
6. The nurse receives an order to administer 2 g of magnesium sulfate in 50 mL of D5W over 60 minutes. The nurse knows that to prepare this infusion, the following steps will be taken:
7. How many vials will the nurse need to prepare the infusion? ________ vials
8. How many mL of the medication will be drawn up from the vials? ________mL
9. What size syringe should the nurse use to draw up the medication?

1. 3 mL

2. 1 mL

3. 5 mL

4. Tuberculin

Calculate the number of tablets to be administered per dose for these oral medications in solid form. Round to the nearest ½ tablet.

1. A provider orders enalapril 7.5 mg, PO, once daily. The pharmacy provides enalapril in tablets containing 5 mg.
2. A provider orders erythromycin ethylsuccinate 400 mg, PO, every 6 hours. The pharmacy provides erythromycin ethylsuccinate in tablets containing 200 mg.
3. A provider orders nadolol 60 mg, PO, daily. The pharmacy provides nadolol in tablets containing 120 mg.
4. A provider orders levothyroxine 50 mcg, PO, once daily. The pharmacy provides levothyroxine in tablets containing 0.1 mg.
5. A provider orders penicillin V potassium, 125 mg, PO, every 6 hours. The pharmacy provides penicillin V potassium in tablets containing 250 mg.
6. A provider orders ropinirole, 2 mg, PO, three times daily. The pharmacy provides ropinirole in tablets containing 1 mg.
7. A provider orders temazepam 7.5 mg, PO, daily at bedtime. The pharmacy provides temazepam in tablets containing 7.5 mg.
8. A provider orders bumetanide 1.5 mg, PO, twice daily. The pharmacy provides bumetanide in tablets containing 0.5 mg.
9. A provider orders warfarin 5 mg, PO, twice daily. The pharmacy provides warfarin in tablets containing 2.5 mg.
10. A provider orders digoxin 0.125 mg, PO, once daily. The pharmacy provides digoxin in tablets containing 250 mcg.

Calculate the volume (mL) per dose to be administered for these oral medications in liquid form. Round to the nearest tenth.

1. A provider orders abacavir 300 mg, PO, twice daily. The pharmacy provides abacavir in an oral solution containing 20 mg/mL.
2. A provider orders phenytoin 120 mg, PO, three times daily. The pharmacy provides phenytoin in an oral suspension containing 125 mg in 5 mL.
3. A provider orders bismuth subsalicylate 262 mg, PO, every 30 minutes for four doses maximum. The pharmacy provides bismuth subsalicylate in a liquid containing 525 mg in 15 mL.
4. A provider orders isoniazid 300 mg, PO, daily. The pharmacy provides isoniazid in a flavored syrup containing 50 mg in 5 mL.
5. A provider orders phenobarbital 10 mg, PO, three times daily. The pharmacy provides phenobarbital in an elixir containing 20 mg in 5 mL.
6. A provider orders methyldopa 500 mg, PO, twice daily. The pharmacy provides methyldopa in an oral suspension containing 250 mg in 5 mL.
7. A provider orders azithromycin 1 g, PO, one dose only. The pharmacy provides azithromycin in an oral suspension containing 200 mg in 5 mL.
8. A provider orders diphenhydramine 25 mg, PO, once daily at bedtime. The pharmacy provides diphenhydramine in an elixir containing 12.5 mg in 5 mL.
9. A provider orders lamivudine 150 mg, PO, twice daily. The pharmacy provides lamivudine in an oral solution containing 10 mg/mL.
10. A provider orders aminophylline 200 mg, PO, every 12 hours. The pharmacy provides aminophylline in an elixir containing 80 mg in 15 mL.

Calculate the volume (mL) per dose to be administered for these parenteral medications. Round to the nearest tenth mL.

1. A provider orders methylergonovine 200 mcg, IM, every 12 hours for five doses. The pharmacy provides methylergonovine in vials containing 0.2 mg/mL.
2. A provider orders peginterferon alpha-2a 180 mcg, subcut, once weekly for 8 weeks. The pharmacy provides peginterferon alpha-2a in a prefilled syringe containing 0.18 mg in 0.5 mL.
3. A provider orders furosemide 40 mg, IV, daily in the morning. The pharmacy provides furosemide in vials containing 40 mg in 4 mL.
4. A provider orders ketorolac 30 mg, IM, every 6 hours, PRN for moderate pain. The pharmacy provides ketorolac in vials containing 15 mg/mL.
5. A provider orders nalbuphine 10 mg, IM, every 3 hours, PRN for moderate pain. The pharmacy provides nalbuphine in vials containing 20 mg/mL.
6. A provider orders pegfilgrastim 6 mg, subcut, after chemotherapy today. The pharmacy provides pegfilgrastim in vials containing 6 mg in 0.6 mL.

Calculate the volume (mL) per dose to be administered for these parenteral medications. Round to the nearest tenth mL. Then answer the related syringe questions.

1. A provider orders digoxin 500 mcg, IV, as a bolus. The pharmacy provides digoxin in vials containing 0.25 mg/mL. _____________

What size syringe would be the best choice for the nurse to administer this medication?

1. 3-mL syringe

2. Insulin syringe

3. 1-mL syringe

4. Tuberculin syringe

1. A provider orders dantrolene 2 mg, IV, one dose STAT. The pharmacy provides dantrolene in a vial containing 0.333 mg/mL after reconstitution. ____________________

Fill the syringe with the determined dose.

1. A provider orders apomorphine 3 mg, subcut, daily. The pharmacy provides apomorphine in a prefilled pen with an apomorphine concentration of 10 mg/mL. _______________

What size syringe would be the best choice for the nurse to administer this medication?

1. 10-mL syringe

2. Insulin syringe

3. 1-mL syringe

4. 5-mL syringe

1. A provider orders enalaprilat 0.625 mg, IV, every 6 hours. The pharmacy provides enalaprilat in vials containing 1.25 mg/mL. __________________

Fill the syringe with the determined dose.