NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

What is the priority nursing intervention when preparing to administer a topical medication?

1. Assess the patient's skin where the medication will be applied

2. Check the medication for interactions with other medications

3. Educate the patient to not disturb the patch

4. Take the patient's vital signs

The correct answer is: Assess the patient's skin where the medication will be applied

When preparing to administer a topical medication, the priority nursing intervention is to assess the patient's skin where the medication will be applied. This step is essential to ensure that the skin is intact, clean, and suitable for application of the medication. By assessing the skin, the nurse can identify any potential issues such as cuts, abrasions, rashes, or other skin conditions that may affect the absorption or effectiveness of the medication. This assessment also helps in preventing adverse reactions or complications that may arise from applying the medication to compromised skin. Checking for medication interactions, educating the patient about not disturbing the patch, and taking the patient's vital signs are important steps, but assessing the patient's skin is the priority to ensure safe and effective medication administration.