The nurse must be very careful \ \ \ \ \ \ administering high-alert medications - DSSSB 6 September 2024

DSSSB 6 September 2024

English

Medium

Appeared in: DSSSB 6 September 2024

Explanation

'While' is a conjunction used to connect two actions or states that are happening at the same time.
The sentence structure requires a word that links the state of 'being careful' with the ongoing action of 'administering'.
The phrase 'careful while administering' correctly implies that the caution must be present throughout the entire process of giving the medication.

Option A: 'For' is a preposition that typically indicates purpose or reason. It does not fit grammatically to link two simultaneous actions.
Option C: 'During' is a preposition that must be followed by a noun or noun phrase (e.g., 'during the procedure'). Using it with the gerund 'administering' is grammatically awkward.
Option D: 'With' is a preposition used to indicate accompaniment or the tool/object being handled. A nurse is 'careful with the medication' (the object), but the sentence describes being careful during the action of administering.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Grammar: Use of Conjunctions and Prepositions helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
High-alert medications, as defined by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), have a high risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error. This requires heightened vigilance.
Protocols for high-alert medications often include independent double-checks, where two nurses separately verify the drug, dose, and patient before administration.
What if? If the medication was a routine, non-high-alert drug like a simple vitamin, the standard 'Seven Rights' of medication administration still apply, but the protocol might not mandate an independent double-check.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the grammatical structure of the sentence. It has a subject ('The nurse'), a state ('must be very careful'), and an ongoing action ('administering high-alert medications').
Recognize that the blank needs a connecting word to link the state of being careful with the simultaneous action of administering.
Evaluate each option's grammatical function. 'For', 'during', and 'with' are prepositions, while 'while' is a conjunction.
Test each word in the blank. 'Careful for administering' and 'careful with administering' are grammatically incorrect in this context.
'Careful during administering' is awkward. 'During' works better with a noun, like 'during administration'.
'Careful while administering' correctly uses the conjunction 'while' to show that two things are happening at the same time.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QR1mMoCj--_9RowwWqOa0T

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 pp. 147-149, 149-151