A nurse is teaching a group of newly licensed nurses about the prevention of medication errors. Which of the following factors should the nurse identify as the most frequent cause of fatal medication errors?
Incorrect packaging, such as a topical medication packaged as an oral medication.
Delivery device problems, such as an infusion pump malfunction.
Name confusion between two medications with similar sounding names.
Incorrect labeling of a medication dispensed by the pharmacy.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Incorrect packaging, such as a topical medication packaged as an oral medication, can lead to medication errors. However, it is not the most frequent cause of fatal medication errors. Packaging errors are relatively rare and usually caught before administration.
Choice B rationale
Delivery device problems, such as an infusion pump malfunction, can cause medication errors. These errors can be serious but are not the most frequent cause of fatal medication errors. Device malfunctions are often detected and corrected by healthcare professionals.
Choice C rationale
Name confusion between two medications with similar sounding names is the most frequent cause of fatal medication errors. This type of error occurs when medications with similar names are confused, leading to the administration of the wrong drug. This can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences.
Choice D rationale
Incorrect labeling of a medication dispensed by the pharmacy can lead to medication errors. While labeling errors are a significant concern, they are not the most frequent cause of fatal medication errors. These errors are often identified and corrected before administration.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Asthma is not a contraindication for sumatriptan. Sumatriptan is a selective serotonin receptor agonist used to treat migraines by constricting blood vessels in the brain. It does not have a significant impact on respiratory conditions like asthma.
Choice B rationale
Kidney disease is not a contraindication for sumatriptan. However, caution is advised when using sumatriptan in patients with severe renal impairment due to potential accumulation of the drug and its metabolites.
Choice C rationale
Rheumatoid arthritis is not a contraindication for sumatriptan. Sumatriptan’s mechanism of action does not interfere with the inflammatory processes involved in rheumatoid arthritis.
Choice D rationale
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a contraindication for sumatriptan. Sumatriptan can cause vasoconstriction of coronary arteries, which can exacerbate CAD and increase the risk of myocardial infarction or other cardiac events.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose, including respiratory depression. It binds to opioid receptors and displaces the opioid molecules, reversing their effects.
Choice B rationale
Bisacodyl is a stimulant laxative used to treat constipation. It does not have any effect on opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Choice C rationale
Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist used to reverse the effects of benzodiazepines, not opioids. It is not effective in treating opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Choice D rationale
Pentazocine is an opioid agonist-antagonist used for pain relief. It does not reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression and can potentially worsen the condition.