Which of the following medication order is administered immediately and only once?

Appeared in: WCL Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

A Stat order, derived from the Latin word 'statim' meaning 'immediately', is a directive to administer a single dose of a medication without delay.
This type of order is reserved for emergencies or urgent situations where a patient's condition changes suddenly.
The key characteristics of a stat order are its immediacy and the fact that it is a one-time dose.
An example is ordering an IV antihypertensive medication for a patient experiencing a hypertensive crisis.

Option A: A PRN (pro re nata) order is given 'as needed' based on a patient's symptoms, not necessarily immediately, and can be given multiple times.
Option C: A single order is given only once, but it is typically at a specified time, not necessarily immediately. For example, a pre-operative antibiotic is a single order.
Option D: A standing order is a routine order that is carried out until it is canceled or for a specified number of days. It is not a one-time, immediate order.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Types of Medication Orders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the different types of medication orders is fundamental to safe nursing practice and ensures patients receive timely and appropriate treatment.
Misinterpreting an order can lead to serious medication errors. A nurse must prioritize a stat order above all other routine tasks.
What if? If a nurse receives a 'now' order instead of a 'stat' order, the urgency is slightly less. A 'now' order should be administered quickly, typically within 90 minutes, but does not have the immediate priority of a stat order.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'immediately' and 'only once'.
Next, analyze each option based on its definition in medication administration.
PRN means 'as needed' and can be given multiple times, so it's incorrect.
A Single Order is given 'only once' but not necessarily 'immediately'. This is a close distractor.
A Standing Order is a routine, ongoing order, so it's incorrect.
A Stat Order is defined as being given 'immediately' and 'only once', which perfectly matches the question's criteria.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 pp. 144-146, 145-147

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 846-848

Practise the full WCL Staff Nurse - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.