The nurse is giving an intramuscular (IM) injection. Upon aspiration, the nurse notices blood return in the syringe. What should the nurse do?
Give the injection and hold pressure over the site for 3 minutes.
Administer the injection at a slower rate.
Withdraw the needle and prepare the injection again.
Pull the needle back slightly and inject the medication.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Continuing with the injection after seeing blood return increases the risk of injecting into a blood vessel, which is not safe for IM injections.
B. Administering at a slower rate does not address the issue of possible intravascular injection.
C. If blood is aspirated, the correct procedure is to withdraw the needle, dispose of the medication, and prepare a new dose to prevent intravascular administration, as IM injections are meant to be given into muscle tissue, not into a vein.
D. Pulling the needle back slightly is not recommended because it does not ensure that the needle is completely out of the blood vessel.
Free Nursing Test Bank
- Free Pharmacology Quiz 1
- Free Medical-Surgical Quiz 2
- Free Fundamentals Quiz 3
- Free Maternal-Newborn Quiz 4
- Free Anatomy and Physiology Quiz 5
- Free Obstetrics and Pediatrics Quiz 6
- Free Fluid and Electrolytes Quiz 7
- Free Community Health Quiz 8
- Free Promoting Health across the Lifespan Quiz 9
- Free Multidimensional Care Quiz 10
View Related questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Certification relates to additional qualifications and does not directly involve independent nursing actions in patient care.
B. Licensure is the legal permission to practice nursing but does not describe decision-making and action in patient care.
C. Autonomy is demonstrated when the nurse independently assesses the patient’s fluid status and takes action to promote health by encouraging fluid intake. This reflects the nurse’s ability to make decisions and act based on professional judgment.
D. Accountability refers to being responsible for one's actions but does not specifically cover the independent decision-making shown here.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Vision is not commonly affected by vancomycin, so it is not a priority to assess.
B. Heart tones are not directly impacted by vancomycin and do not require immediate monitoring unless there are specific cardiovascular concerns.
C. Bowel sounds are not directly influenced by vancomycin and do not need to be prioritized in this case.
D. Vancomycin is known to be ototoxic, especially in high doses or with prolonged use, so monitoring for signs of hearing loss or tinnitus is essential to prevent potential irreversible damage.