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You receive a telephone order to mix 20 mEq of potassium in an IV bag of 250 mg normal saline and administer it to your patient STAT. What do you need to do first? A) Make sure that the patient wants to take the medication. B) Prepare 20 mEq of potassium in a syringe using aseptic technique. C) Contact the pharmacist to see if the medication can be prepared in the pharmacy. D) Gather all the supplies you will need to mix the medication in the medication room.

Answer :

Final Answer:

You receive a telephone order to mix 20 mEq of potassium in an IV bag of 250 mg normal saline and administer it to your patient STAT. D) Gather all the supplies you will need to mix the medication in the medication room.

Explanation:

The nurse's first step in this situation should be to gather all the necessary supplies to safely and accurately mix the medication before administering it to the patient. Here's the explanation:

Option D is the correct choice because it emphasizes the importance of proper preparation before administering any medication, especially one like potassium, which must be handled with care. Gathering all the required supplies ensures that the nurse is ready to follow the correct procedures for mixing the medication, such as checking compatibility, calculating the correct dosage, and using aseptic technique.

Options A, B, and C are not the appropriate first steps in this scenario. While it's important to confirm the patient's consent and educate them about the medication, that typically comes after the nurse has prepared the medication. Option B suggests preparing the medication immediately in a syringe, which skips the necessary preparation steps and could lead to errors. Option C involves contacting the pharmacist, which is not the nurse's first responsibility when receiving a telephone order for a medication.

In summary, D) the nurse should first gather the required supplies in the medication room to ensure the safe and accurate preparation of the potassium medication before administering it to the patient.

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