Question

5A nurse is reviewing a client's admission record. The nurse notes that there are prescriptions for several medications. Which of the following factors should the nurse recognize is of primary consideration when determining the schedule of administration?

Institutional policies regarding routine medication administration times
Specific characteristics of the medications
Schedule of administration that the client follows at home
Time at which the medication can be available from the pharmacy

Answer 1

The primary consideration when determining the schedule of medication administration is the specific characteristics of the medications, such as half-life, dose-dependence, and time-dependence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should recognize that the specific characteristics of the medications are of primary consideration when determining the schedule of administration. This includes factors such as the drug's half-life, which can vary between drugs, and whether the drug is dose-dependent or time-dependent. For example, some drugs have a short half-life and need to be administered multiple times a day, while others have a longer half-life and can be given once a day. Additionally, dose-dependent drugs may need to be administered in large doses for a short time, while time-dependent drugs are more effective when lower levels are maintained over a longer period.