Stupid Q: what comes first - identifying patient or drawing medication?

azor · Jun 25, 2007

identifying a patient comes first of course.why do u ask that

:uhoh3:

azor · Jun 25, 2007

ok,u have to identify ur patient,draw ur medication then check the ID bracelet to make sure u have the right patient before u give.thats how i mean.

Nuieve · Jun 25, 2007

Isn't checking a bracelet a part of identifying? You ask his name and check his bracelet, and only then start the medication administration procedure. It's not like he could be mysteriously replaced between asking his name and when you draw the medication at his bedside so you have to check his bracelet when you hold your syringe ready in hand? I think I'm going nuts... :uhoh3:

ukstudent · Jun 25, 2007

Saunders is correct. When you get a new order to give a med you do not go to the patient room and check id prior to drawing up the med. You take the med book into the med room, get the med. Take med book and med into the pt's room and check pt's id against the med book and the med against the med book again prior to giving the med.

Nuieve · Jun 25, 2007

Saunders is correct. When you get a new order to give a med you do not go to the patient room and check id prior to drawing up the med. You take the med book into the med room, get the med. Take med book and med into the pt's room and check pt's id against the med book and the med against the med book again prior to giving the med.

Oh... I was for some reason thinking about drawing the med right at patient's table... :idea:

Thanks!!! :)

jjjoy, LPN · Jun 25, 2007

This is an NCLEX review book? Nursing school questions too often (in my opinion) leave out context in order to make the questions seem more difficult and to supposedly force students to use "critical thinking skills."

What's the point here? Nurses should check patient ID prior to giving a medication. However, it's not WRONG to check the ID band prior to drawing a medication. Nurses needn't be vigilantly AVOIDING checking the ID band prior to drawing a med. Checking the ID band prior to drawing a med isn't time efficient, as you should still do it again just prior to giving any med.

To me, what's important is that students need to learn to always automatically check the armband when they're next to a patient getting ready to give a medication, not to worry whether it's wrong to check an ID band prior to drawing up a med. I don't think this type of question emphasizes what's important; otherwise, the student would've been able to understand the rationale for the correct answer.

In this case, the student was imaging being in the patient room with the MAR and the drugs and drawing it up at the bedside. I don't see why such questions can't give a bit more context such as "You are at the nurses' station reviewing the MAR. Mr. B has XXX due now. What would you do next?" a. check the patient ID bracelet b. retrieve the prescribed medication c. call the doctor to confirm the order d. ask the medication aide to give the patient the medication

You are about to give XXX mg of XXX IM. What should you ALWAYS do before administering any medication in an inpatient facility? a. check the patient ID band b. ask patient to rate their pain c. clean the skin at the site to be injected d. sign the MAR that the drug has been administered

What should always be done just prior to giving a medication in an inpatient facility? a. check the patient's ID bracelet b. check that the prescribed amount is correct c. check your drug book for contraindications d. have the patient state their name

You shouldn't give a medication to a hospital patient until a. you've checked the patient's ID bracelet b. you've talked directly to the doctor c. the patient can tell you all of the potential side effects d. the patient has food in their stomache.

Nuieve · Jun 25, 2007

This is an NCLEX review book? Nursing school questions too often (in my opinion) leave out context in order to make the questions seem more difficult and to supposedly force students to use "critical thinking skills."
What's the point here? Nurses should check patient ID prior to giving a medication. However, it's not WRONG to check the ID band prior to drawing a medication. Nurses needn't be vigilantly AVOIDING checking the ID band prior to drawing a med. Checking the ID band prior to drawing a med isn't time efficient, as you should still do it again just prior to giving any med.
To me, what's important is that students need to learn to always automatically check the armband when they're next to a patient getting ready to give a medication, not to worry whether it's wrong to check an ID band prior to drawing up a med. I don't think this type of question emphasizes what's important; otherwise, the student would've been able to understand the rationale for the correct answer.

When I answer these questions I always imagine myself standing right next to the patient with everything within a reach (drugs, equipment, other nurse)... (ideal NCLEX world) These questions are always tricky because you never know if it asks you for a real-world answer or NCLEX one... Sometimes its one, sometimes its the other. Very confusing...