The nurse is caring for a patient receiving benzodiazepine intermittently. The nurse understands that the best way to administer such drugs is to:
a. administer around the clock, rather than as needed, to ensure constant sedation.
b. administer the medications through the feeding tube to prevent complications.
c. give the highest allowable dose for the greatest effect.
d. titrate to a predefined endpoint using a standard sedation scale.
D
The best approach for administering benzodiazepines (and all sedatives) is to administer and titrate to a desired endpoint using a standard sedation scale. Administering around the clock as well as giving the highest allowable dose without basing it on an assessment target may result in excessive sedation. For greatest effect, most benzodiazepines are given intravenously.
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