Question

6. A nurse on a Medical-Surgical floor is receiving the orders for the new admission. What order would need to be clarified by the physician for this patient?

A. Aspirin 325 mg PO daily  

B. Lopressor 2.5 mg IVP q. 6 hrs. as need for >125 bpm

C. Digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily

D. Morphine 1 mg IVP q. 4 hrs. as needed for pain > 5 (1-10)

(Explain why the chosen answer is correct)

Answer 1

Option B needs to be clarified with the physician, because the rest of the orders are correct.

Usually the treatment with Inj.Lopressor (Metoprolol,

Beta blockers) begins in the early phase with the intravenous administration of 3 bolus injections of 5 mg of Lopressor each ; give the injections at approximately 2 minutes intervals.

In patients who tolerate the full Intravenous dose 15 mg ,initiate lopressor tablets 50 mg every 6 hours, 15 minutes after the last intravenous dose and continue for 48 hours. Thereafter the maintenance dose is 100mg orally twice daily.

But in the given order, the doctor advised to continue the medication every 6 hourly .So as a nurse you have to clarify the order with the physician.