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A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 15 units/ by continuous IV infusion.

What is the appropriate method for administering heparin in this scenario?
a) Intramuscular injection
b) Oral administration
c) Continuous IV infusion
d) Subcutaneous injection

User Will WP
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1 Answer

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The correct answer is c) Continuous IV infusion for administering heparin. Parenteral routes, like IV or IM, are preferred for treating systemic infections and for medications poorly absorbed orally. An isotonic saline solution is given for dehydration.

The appropriate method for administering heparin 15 units by continuous IV infusion is c) Continuous IV infusion. This mode of administration ensures that the patient receives a constant and controlled dosage of the medication, which is often required for substances like heparin that have a narrow therapeutic range and are used to prevent or treat blood clots.

When considering other routes for administration of medications such as antimicrobials for treating systemic infections, the parenteral route (which includes intravenous or intramuscular injection) is often preferred in healthcare settings, especially if the drug is not adequately absorbed through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. For most drugs, intravenous administration results in substantially higher plasma levels than oral or intramuscular routes.

Regarding fluid administration for a dehydrated patient, the correct answer is b. saline at a concentration that is isotonic with respect to body fluids. This isotonic saline solution helps to restore fluid balance without causing shifts in fluid distribution that can occur with hypotonic or hypertonic solutions.

User Connor Dickson
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