A Patient Is in Preterm Labor, and the Prescriber Orders

question 12

Multiple Choice

A patient is in preterm labor, and the prescriber orders magnesium sulfate for its neuroprotective effect on the fetus. The order calls for 4 gm given as an intravenous bolus over 20 minutes, followed by a maintenance infusion of 2 gm/hr. What will the nurse do?

• A) Administer the drug as ordered.
• B) Question the bolus amount.
• C) Question the bolus rate.
• D) Question the maintenance amount.

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Definitions:

Otto Loewi

A pharmacologist and psychobiologist who discovered the first neurotransmitter and won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1936.

Chemical Messages

Signals transmitted between cells or organisms through the release and receipt of chemical compounds.

Nervous System

The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

Parkinson Disease

A progressive neurological disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement, due to the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.